La Dulce yumminess...

You don’t know how happy I got this morning when I walked into Vons. Ben & Jerry’s was FINALLY on sale…. 2 for $6! At least something in this economy is going down. I don’t think I could afford gas and Ben & Jerry’s. And sadly, I would have had to limit my driving. 

Dulce Delish Verdict:

This week doesn’t bring back any memory of my own…. but when ever I have something Caramel I always think of my youngest sister, Juliann. She would always get the Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks with EXTRA caramel. There was a time when she became addicted to those things. But we all stepped in and “helped” her.

Rich Caramel Ice Cream with Dark Caramel Swirls      

I scream, you scream, we all scream CARA-MEL! I had one concern with this flavor, TOO much caramel. It does say, Rich, right in the name so I worried it would be too rich. Luckily to my surprise it wasn’t over done at all. I found this flavor very smooth and perfectly portioned with Caramel and a side caramel. The after taste of the flavor allows you to just simply enjoy the simplicity of one flavor in two tones. Do I find myself getting this pint in desperate time? No! But I do see myself getting this pint when I just want to relax and enjoy a nice quiet, calm night in. 

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Who said chunky was a bad thing?!!!!!

It’s coming to that time when I have to pick a new grocery store to get my flavors because I am getting limited on my choices at the Vons by my house. The cashier this morning thought I was having Ben & Jerry’s for breakfast. I informed her it was a lunch treat and that I am trying all the flavors. She asked how many there were and I said, so far my list is at 58 and this is my 33^rd flavor. She replied… I didn’t know there were that many flavors. I think I have hit the crazy part of the journey….Oh well!

Bonnaroo Buzz Verdict:

I thought I was going to have NO memories of this flavor. Then I took a bite and BAM…memories started flashing back. When I was in Rhode Island last year I was told about this wonderful treat called, Coffee Cabinets from my cousin Dave. Well while I was in Massachusetts with my cousin Jen (his daughter) and her family, they treated me to this magical treat of the coffee cabinet. The mixture of the ice cream tasted JUST like the coffee cabinet I had at this general store that had been there for 100 years+. Well if my memory serves me correct that is. I remember sitting in the general store and my little cousin Luke was sharing his parents, and he was ADDICTED.  Even though the name of the “shake” was under debate, Dave won and I will always call it a coffee cabinet.

Coffee & Malt Ice Creams with Whiskey Caramel Swirls & English Toffee Pieces     

I have to say that the Coffee & Malt Ice Creams with Whiskey Caramel Swirl would be great just by themselves. You can easily taste the coffee, but it’s not overwhelming. I didn’t taste the whiskey…I am going with the fact they didn’t add enough in the ice cream, and not that I am a alcoholic.  The only negative belongs to those English Toffee “Pieces”…. those suckers WERE NOT pieces. Those things were the size of boulders. If they downsized those chunks to pieces, I would be perfectly happy. But then again, if they just removed the toffee pieces I would be even happier.

Even with the one flaw, I am still giving this flavor a full score. Not everything needs to be perfect in order to win me over.

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It may have EVERYTHING, BUT it sucks.

As I was standing in the freezer section this morning and staring at all the flavors it became all a blur. I could look at some and say…YEP had that one…and then others I just couldn’t tell you if I had them or fantasized about them.  I need to make a mini list for my phone so this never happens again. .

Everything but the…Verdict:

I have NO memory recollection for this flavor or any of the contents in it.

A Collision of Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Peanut Butter Cups Heath Bar Chunks, White Chocolate chunks & Fudged Covered Almonds    

This wasn’t just a collision of the above flavors. This is that fiery crash that closes the freeway and causes the onlookers on the opposite side of the freeway to slow and look at what is happening. We obviously know what’s happened, so is there a need to slow down and observe? NO!

I have to admit I was excited to try this flavor…. then “it” happened. I opened the lid and the first thing I saw was that damn Peanut Butter Cup. The memories of Peanut Butter Cup came back rushing in and all I could think was…Damn, the peanut butter cups are too big.  Basically the same issue happened again. I found everything they said was in there except the Heath Bar Chunks. I am not sure where they went. I would have to say the sometimes there is a thing known as TOO MUCH! This is a prime example. You had this, that and everything else in between in this pint. Everything stood out, but not for the good reasons.

I won’t say it was a horrible flavor.  It just wasn’t my flavor.

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Dough - Re - YUM!

This week I made the executive decision (as if any other opinion counts) to make this weeks flavor simple and not over board extreme. After last weeks misstep I needed to resort to something more familiar. And I feel like I accomplished that this week.  

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Verdict:

As a child my siblings and I would always fight over the beaters after my mom would make cookies…. and with there being so many of us you had to be creative to get that damn beater.  I am sure I ate more cookie dough in my lifetime to cause all types of salmonella. But look, I’m still alive.

Vanilla Ice Cream with Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough   

I feel as my readers I have to be honest with you all…so here I go. We didn’t even use bowls this week while eating the ice cream. Veronica and I stood around her desk and ate right out of the carton because it’s been on of the days, weeks, and months. Got to love tax season. We grabbed our spoons and went to town. It hit all the right spots. 

I know what you’re all thinking…it’s just chocolate chip cookie dough! But honestly, it’s the best CCCD I have ever had. I am not sure if it is the fair trade practices Ben & Jerry’s prides itself in, but the vanilla ice cream is so smooth and refreshing. The cookie dough tasted as if it just came off the beaters that I use to eat as a child. This was the PERFECT flavor for this week…simple, refreshing and well needed.

All I can say is….seconds?

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Berry bad news...

This morning as I was getting ready to leave Janna tells me: Don’t forget your Ben & Jerry’s because it’s been taunting me in the freezer for a few weeks. Lol. So I have FINALLY remembered to bring the forgotten pint in the freezer. 

Berry Voluntary Verdict:

Do I have memories of Raspberries that I can make a story out of? NO! What about white chocolate? NO! But I will now have a memory of these two…. and sadly not all memories are great. 

Raspberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with White Chocolatey Chunks &Raspberry Swirls  

This is luckily a Volunteer flavor and is only carried at Target. I know why they cut it out and hid it in the Target freezer section. IT WAS BLAH! The mix of it all just didn’t do it for me. I can’t wait to just take it home and let it get frostbite in the freezer.  The white chocolatey chunks were TOO big and the raspberry swirls we just ehh. I can’t ever describe this flavor because it was a total mess. My recommendation: NEVER produce this flavor EVER again. If you ever see it in your freezer section at Target just look at it like you would a gypsy on the streets of Italy and walk right on by.

If I recall correctly I think this is the FRIST ever 1 star flavor. 

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Milk & Cookieeeeeeees.

Once again I forgot my planned flavor in the freezer at home…But I had to get gas, so I just pulled into Von’s as well before I headed off to have my Friday coffee date with my dad. Which is the first in a month because his work has F’d up our morning meetings with their own meetings.

Milk & Cookies Verdict:

I think EVERY child had a memory of milk and cookies…. And if you don’t, you obviously missed out on a fundamental part of childhood. I remember always dunking Chips Ahoy in my milk and trying to get it to that perfect mix of cookie and milk. I like it when the cookie was soft, but not where it would break off and fall into your milk. It took a long time, but I finally mastered the art of cookie dunking.

Vanilla Ice Cream with a Chocolate Cookie Swirl, Chocolate Chip & Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies 

LOVE, LOVE , LOVE! Ok, so if you like Cookies N’ Cream you’ll love this flavor, it’s like Cookies N’ Cream on steroids. I L-O-V-E Cookies N’ Cream, it’s my favorite ice cream. But let’s make this clear… Ice cream and Gelato are two DIFFERENT things. Gelato CAN’T be beat. Ok back to Milk & Cookies, the reason I say steroids is because you have the chocolate chip cookie in the mix. It reminded me of the texture of the Chips Ahoy I use to dunk when I was a kid. We can also call this a hybrid of Cookies N’ Cream because even though it’s VERY similar, it’s still has it’s own identity. And true to the name, I actually tasted the milk. I am going to have seconds right now.

GO GET THIS FLAVOR! You won’t be disappointed.

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"Red rover, red rover, send... actually you can just keep this flavor to yourself.

This morning I realized I could be like a hooker…. I literally have a flavor of the week, every week. But at least Ben & Jerry are WAY less complicated than any man I know. And taste way better…. 

Red Velvet Cake Verdict:

The first time I remember having red velvet cake was a few years ago at my friend’s sisters wedding. The moment I had it I was HOOKED! Then my other friend Roni started making red velvet ding-dongs…. OMG is all I can say. So FREAKING amazing. Followed by the red velvet pizzookie at BJ’s now. Ok, so I stalk red velvet cake…get over it.

Red Velvet Cake Batter Ice Cream with Red Velvet Cake Pieces & a Cream Cheese Frosting Swirl

So I was honestly anticipating this flavor for the last week…. I think I was expecting more than they had to offer.  The cake batter part of the ice cream over took the entire flavor. I love cake batter ice cream and all, but I was hoping for more of the red velvet flavor to kick in. But to give them credit I did taste EVERY part of the description they gave on the carton in every bite. The red velvet pieces were placed evenly through the ice cream and the cream cheese frosting swirl was pretty damn dominant in each bite as well. Even though I enjoyed this pint, I won’t be jumping on it like I would a piece of red velvet cake. Oh, and the ice cream scooped sooooo smoothly. We all know how I like ice cream that scoops nicely.

Now where are my real red velvet cakes?????

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