Better Than Ice Cream

On Valentine's Day, Tim treated me to a home cooked dinner.  He spatchcocked a chicken and roasted it.  It was chicken at its best served along side rice and asparagus.  The grand finale, though, was the dessert he picked up at Whole Foods.

Madisono's Dark Chocolate Orange Gelato. 

Before I even tasted it, I appreciated that my husband purchased locally.  Madisono's is Cincinnati's first gelato company.  When we lifted the pint's lid, I could immediately smell the intense flavors of chocolate and orange.  How had I forgotten these two were a match made in heaven?  Then when I had a scoop I nearly exclaimed (in the manner of Willie Wonka), "The orange tastes like orange!  The dark chocolate tastes like dark chocolate!"  The flavors were individual yet blended and the result is reminiscent of a Chocolate Orange that my mom used to slip into our Christmas stockings. 

Every bite was smooth and creamy with none of the iciness you often get from pints of ice cream.  That richness is gelato's best asset.  Even the next day when we polished off the pint, there was still no graininess, no apparent ice burn, and the flavors were still strong.  Honestly, I can't see how a pint would last more than a day or two in our house anyway.  It would be dangerous to stock up on this stuff--to say it's addicting is an understatement.

For a list of locations you can get Madisono's gelato, just visit Matt Madison's blog.  We picked ours up at Whole Foods in Mason, and when we went there last night, the choices were slim as many of the flavors seemed sold out.  We did get the last Dark Chocolate Orange to indulge in while we watched Sons of Anarchy, so I'm hopeful that they get more in soon.  I'm not sure how long I will last without it. 

First Sighting

Today it is 40 degrees outside.  I stood on our back patio with bare feet, looking out at the brown grass.  Just a few days ago this was covered in snow, and I had finally accepted that I must burrow beneath several blankets and wear thick wool socks just to feel warm enough.  Now this welcome break in the cold weather has jolted me back to life. 

Tim and I have been living a world of Netflix, Jet's pizza delivery, and crackling fires in our wood-burning stove.  Sure, I cook occasionally, but it's been foods like Potato Soup the way my mom used to make it with bits of ham for extra flavor or creamy Chicken Pot Pie made with a short cut using puff pastry as the crust.  I don't use a recipe for these dishes but cook by taste and memory.  There has been little recipe research, menu planning, or keeping a dining schedule, and I think it's been nice--for Tim and for me.  He has been getting greasy, cheesy, deep-dish pizza (with mushrooms on half for him) nearly every week, and I have had the chance to spend my evenings enjoying his company.  Win-win. 

And now today with the sun shining and snow receded, I finally inspected our long neglected flour pots; the former homes of fresh herbs so fragrant you could just barely brush past them and smell their perfume.  Much to my surprise, in one of the pots were green leaves.  Our parsley, the same parsley that had refused to grow last summer in time for us to use any of it, was suddenly vibrantly green and firmly rooted in the potting soil. 

It seems that parsley has decided to come out of it's slumber at the same time I have. 

I have lots to tell you about.  I hope you'll visit again soon.