Food is my safe haven. Projects, quizzes, homework, meetings — my life has been stuck in a constant loop lately, and the only things bringing me peace right now are chocolate, ice cream, and solitaire (that one’s not food). And don’t worry, I’m not just here to rant. This is a food article, and it’s my job to offer you some tasty recommendations. So, let’s get into it. By the time this is published, Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day will have passed, but I got my hands on their Half Baked ice cream, and brownie and cookie never go wrong. It was incredibly chocolatey and rich, and the bites of cookie dough made it all the more decadent. The versatile flavors, the simplicity, and the comfort ice cream instantly delivers, and just makes ice cream a top-tier dessert. I love it so much that I invested in a Cuisinart ice cream machine to make my own butter pecan ice cream and dragon fruit sorbets. Every summer, we whip that machine out and experiment with different flavors and recipes, absolutely scrumptious. The butter pecan recipe is especially gooey and warm, slightly sweet and salty, with just the right crunch that makes it taste like the color gold. I toast the pecans in browned butter until that buttery movie-theater-popcorn aroma drifts through the air, then chop them up and toss them in the mix.
Ice cream comes in so many different forms like ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, tubs, and even dots. Speaking of Dippin’ Dots, the Unity Carnival hosted by the Stevens Ethnic Student Council (ESC) had a station with cotton candy, popcorn, and Dippin’ Dots that instantly caught my attention. The carnival featured an amazing spread of food from different cultures, including sweet and spicy chicken from the Korean Student Association (KSA), savory skewers from the Chinese Student Association (CSA), and luscious Nutella-covered strawberries from the Italian Student Association. Dippin’ Dots are something I usually only have at places like Six Flags or other amusement parks, so seeing them on campus made me really happy. I got the banana split flavor, and my friends got cotton candy and brownie blast. We all tried a bit of each other’s. Personally, the cotton candy was my favorite. It was soft, sweet, and had this whimsical taste to it. The banana split was a little too banana-heavy for me, but it was still fun to try. I also appreciated the brownie blast, because it had actual chunks of brownie in it.
Then, when I came home from the carnival, my mom told me she filled the entire freezer with tubs of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. We got strawberry cheesecake, cotton candy, raspberry white chocolate truffle, and birthday cake flavored ice creams. The names of these new flavors are enough to make your mouth water. Ice cream flavors can get so creative. I remember wanting to create a line of French pastry-inspired ice creams, like éclair or macaron flavors, but honestly, the work sounded like too much. Still, as finals season slowly approaches, consider this your sign to pocket five dollars and grab a 14-oz pint of Häagen-Dazs. The flavor variety is impressive, and you’re bound to find something you like. It might even increase your dopamine levels. Also, a huge thank you to Ben & Jerry’s for making my whole week.
