with illeana barcia
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Ice Cream..
Ice cream is a sweet treat that can be enjoyed in summer and winter. Now some of you may think differently that ice cream is a cold food so why eat it in the winter time when it's already 20 degrees outside. Well, I'll tell you why..
This is the same debate for having soup. Do you only eat soup when it's cold outside because it will warm you up inside and out? Or would you stop enjoying soup since Spring/Summer is coming up. Same thing applies with ice cream. Would you eat it just because it's a hot summer day in August so it can cool you down and make you feel good inside. The answer is... drumroll please... you eat it when you want to eat it. I cannot express this enough. You can eat ice cream whenever you are in the mood for a cup, or cone, of a melt in your mouth delight that is sweet, creamy and refreshing. The weather shouldn't apply when you want to eat something that makes you feel good. Now, I wouldn't say eat ice cream when you're outside in the freezing cold, but rather getting a tub of ice cream, throwing on your comfy clothes whatever that is for you, getting under the blankets on the couch, throwing on a show and relax with a spoon and a few scoops. If we are talking summertime time then going to the best creamery or ice cream shop around is the way to go since they have a massive amount of options to choose from. That's where the flavors come into play.
Maple walnut, vanilla bean, cookies and cream, peanut butter cup, cookie dough, coffee. You can even go sweet like mango or strawberry. I feel as though the limit does not exist when it comes to ice cream flavors, as well as toppings. Oreos, M&M's, chocolate chips, cookie dough bites, cheesecake bites, chocolate sauce, fudge, caramel. The list can go on and on. But, everyone knows the OG and best flavor of all time. Which is vanilla bean. Not just plain vanilla.. vanilla bean. Vanilla has a long stem look which is called the pod and it has this sorta paste on the inside which are the tiny seeds. Those are to be scrapped out and used for cooking, mostly baking or making ice cream. The seeds as well as the pod can be used in the cooking process. The reason it is called a pod because it is from the Mexican species. The Spanish word vaina, means pod or even sheath. Which, vanilla beans are long and skinny. If you noticed in the store the pods or even the extract are expensive, since it is very labor intensive.
This probably won't persuade you that much to eat ice cream any time of the year. But let me just ask you something.. why would you not eat something that fully pleases and satisfies you? We think too much about what is right vs what is wrong. Ice cream should never be categorized in the wrong.
The Buddhist Circle which is also called enso. The meaning of the word is circle. It's a meditative practice that includes using a singular brushstroke technique going in a circle. Your body is supposed to feel light and to just let go. That circle is also sometimes called The Circle Of Togetherness. I am currently in an airport reading a book called A Really Big Lunch by Jim Harrison. He relates a plate to the Buddhist Circle. It is an interesting analogy because it's a circle as well as a circle (plate) that brings togetherness. The shape of plates today around round, rectangle, triangle, deep, naarow, even ruffed edges. The shape of the plate matters. Why did you buy it? Do you like that shape or style? Did you like the way it will look on your kitchen or restaurants table? There is also a reason why you got it or have it. That meaning will remind you why you put it on the table. It will show off the food picture perfect. It will fit a large amount. Once the food is placed on that plate, it will be satisfy your eyes and your tastebuds. Sitting down eating duck breast, letting the juice fall all over the creamy polenta or parsnip puree. The juice drip alone opens up a discussion. No phones, no TV, just food and conversation. In the Middle Ages they used to have stale bread used as a plate. Some would cut a bigger piece and slice a little bit through the middle and make it into a bowl. The staler the better it was so the more sturdy the "plate" is. So from stale bread to what we have now, the transition over the years has improved don't you think? A plate placed a on table with others near it or next to it already expresses that it will either 1. Be a good meal or 2. An even better meal while being surrounded with good company. Have you ever been to a restaurant and on your way there you think about the interesting topics or discussions you could be having while enjoying your food? You could just be talking about food, drinks, sex, debates on which method is better to cook a steak, cast iron vs grill. Honestly, once among other people with food and drinks there is no way it lasts less than 3-4 hours (or all night for that matter). I think the message with food goes far back as tradition and culture. It is passed on from generation to generation. Don't throw away that recipe your grandmother gave you. Because 99.9% it was from her grandmother. Before that though her grandmother got it from her mother and then her mother got it from her mother. You catch my drift. It starts with the plate. The point is, it matters what the shape of that plate is, it matters what goes on that plate and it matters who is in your circle.
Divert Your Mind From Food. What?
