jeni’s ice cream

October 20, 2017

I have eaten a lot of ice cream in my day and I thought I had a couple favorite spots that couldn’t be beat. That is, until my recent trip to Ohio!

I found the ice cream by which all other ice creams should be measured! This super flavorful and perfectly textured dessert is sold at Jeni’s scoop shops throughout Ohio (and select other states). OMG. It is truly amazing!

I was visiting the motherland…all Jeni’s ice creams are handcrafted in the production kitchen in Columbus, Ohio. Talking to locals about the ice cream, we actually even found someone who planned their wedding colors around a Jeni’s ice cream flavor! (If you are curious, that flavor was brambleberry crisp.)

What flavors did I try? On my visits to Jeni’s while in Columbus, I ordered a ‘flight’ of half scoops – 3 half scoops served in a dish. This way I could try 3 different flavors per visit.

On one of my two trips to Jeni’s while in Ohio, cream puff was my favorite flavor of the three!

Cream puff is a salty-sweet custard vanilla reminiscent of the filling inside old world cream puffs. Jeni was inspired by the massive cream puffs served in the 100 year old Ohio restaurant, Schmidts when she created this yummy flavor!

My second flavor choice was salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks. This is the perfect flavor for anyone that loves peanut butter and chocolate together. Originally named ‘The Buckeye State,’ this regular flavor is made with salted ground roasted peanuts and rich chopped dark chocolate.

My third flavor choice was brown butter almond brittle. Made with a sticky almond toffee candy crushed into butter cream ice-cream, this flavor is inspired by Krokan – a Norwegian toffee-like treat.

In flight number 2, on my second visit to Jeni’s, the sweet cream biscuits and peach jam was my favorite flavor! Buttermilk ice-cream, crumbled shortcake biscuits and swirls of sweet-tart jam made from Georgia peaches made this flavor over-the-top delicious!

I also tried wild berry lavender – a berry flavor of pulverized black currants scented with sweet orange and lavender essential oils. Because of my love for lavender, I found this flavor very unique and tasty!

Lastly, I tried sun-popped corn. This flavor is made with organic popcorn kernels popped by the sun in kettles in the New York Hudson Valley. It truly tastes like a bowl of freshly popped popcorn!

Jeni’s is consistently adding new flavors – both temporary and standards, so there are always interesting flavors to try – like sweet potato éclair or super moon (blue violet and vanilla marshmallow swirled together)!

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams was founded in 2002 by Jeni Britton Bauer using whole ingredients with dairy from grass pastured cows and no synthetic flavorings or dyes. Jeni is a James Beard Award-winning author of two cookbooks and her New York Times best-seller Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has been dubbed the “homemade-ice-cream making Bible” by the Wall Street Journal with more than 100,000 copies in print!

sample spoons at Jenis ice cream in Ohio

Used sample tasting spoons at Jeni’s scoop shop in Columbus, Ohio

Guess what? If your mouth is watering and you wish you could try Jeni’s ice cream – you can! Jeni’s is available online as well as in select markets! If you don’t have a shop near you, I strongly recommend you order some at least once in your life – especially if you are an ice cream lover!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope I have inspired you to make or try a new flavor of ice cream!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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german village, columbus

October 13, 2017

The most picturesque place we found during my recent visit to Columbus with a friend was just south of the downtown – the quaint, historic neighborhood of German Village.

Settled back in the 19th century by German immigrants, the neighborhood is now a hip location to shop, dine, or just walk around. With many alley-like streets made of brick and pristine landscaping, German Village oozes with character.

We visited a few unique shops – like the 32-room bookstore called The Book Loft and the gift shop at the top of all the local’s list – Helen Winnemore’s.

We also stopped at a candy shop for award-winning fudge and some ‘buckeyes’ to take home. In case you didn’t already know, Ohio is the ‘buckeye state’ and Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University – and, believe me, Columbus certainly has buckeye fever! The candy version of a buckeye is a peanut butter flavored ball dipped in chocolate!

Another noteworthy visit while in German Village was to Jeni’s scoop shop – with shops located throughout the city, this mouth-watering ice-cream brand originated in Columbus. (I will share more about Jeni’s in its own upcoming post!)

For dining, tourists can find a classic German meal at Schmidt’s, but the hip locals favor Lindey’s. And, because Lindey’s has the best outdoor dining in the Village, that was our restaurant choice for dinner while in German Village.

Outdoor dining at Lindey’s in German Village, Columbus, Ohio

You can probably tell by my photos, that for us, the best part about visiting German Village in Columbus, Ohio was admiring the buildings and the landscaping! Walking around the neighborhood was like attending a garden tour!

I hope you have enjoyed my little piece of German Village on today’s Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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picking asian pears

September 15, 2017

What is better than getting fresh fruit at a Farmer’s Market? Getting fresh fruit from a farm, of course! Today, for Friday field trip you are joining me as I pick some Asian pears!

Have you tasted an Asian pear? They are delicious! With a texture similar to apples, the light sweetness and crispy texture (maintained long after they are picked) of this pear make it a really great addition to salads.

Asian pears are native to Japan and China where they have been grown for over 3000 years. The most common grown in the U.S. are Japanese varieties which have a shape similar to an apple.

The first documented appearance of an Asian pear in the United States was recorded in 1820 when a Chinese sand pear was imported to Flushing, New York.

Today Asian pears are grown not only throughout Asia but in Italy, Spain, Australia, France, Chile and New Zealand as well. In the United States, the bulk of commercial production comes from California and Oregon with a smaller supply coming out of Washington State, Kentucky and Alabama.

We are so lucky to have some Asian pears growing here in Connecticut and people come from far away to pick them!

If you haven’t ever tried an Asian pear, I hope I have inspired you to do so! Sliced on a green salad and garnished with a fig vinaigrette…yum!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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nybg

August 25, 2017

The best part about visiting a botanical garden is knowing that every visit is unique. There are so many variables that contribute to creating the environment – ensuring that no two visits are ever the same! And, with 250 acres and over 1,000 plants, there is certainly plenty to admire!

For Friday field trip today, we are visiting the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Spanning 250 acres and containing over 1,000 plants, there is certainly plenty to admire and each visitor to NYBG is sure to experience it in a different way.

Here are a few of my favorite glimpses from a visit on a rainy day in August!

Enjoy!

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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eclipse cookies

August 18, 2017

I picked up a pair of glasses from my local library so I can watch the eclipse on Monday afternoon safely. But, after all the hype, is that it? Glance up to the sky wearing a pair of paper glasses? I feel like there should be more!

How about a special snack? For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing my eclipse snack idea…black and white cookies! Isn’t a classic New York black and white the perfect eclipse snack? I thought so!

I searched online for a recipe for the classic cookie and found many – I decided to go with a Gourmet Magazine recipe from February 2002.

Making the cookies makes the eclipse seem a little bit more like a celebration! Because, after all, don’t all good celebrations include good food?

My very first batch ever of black and white cookies was pretty successful! (My only advice is to avoid getting crumbs in the white frosting!) You still have time to make your own eclipse viewing snack! If not a black and white, how about making some whoopie pies?

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things!

Whoopie pies in 2024! Happy eclipse viewing, Jackie

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baby goats…cute or creepy?

August 11, 2017

Baby animals are cute, right? I thought so…until, I spent some time around baby goats and had some second thoughts on that!

For today’s Friday field trip, I will let you make your own decision!

They start out all cute and cuddly…

But then, maybe not so much?

And, what the heck is up with these eyes?!

Creepy?

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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harkness memorial state park

August 4, 2017

Today, I am sharing a few photos from my walk around Harkness Memorial State Park. The park is the home of Eolia, the former summer mansion purchased in 1907 by the Harkness family, set on over 230 seaside acres in Waterford, Connecticut.

Never having been to the park, my goal for my first visit was to explore the gardens on both the east and west lawns as well as the Alpine rock garden.

And, as it happened, the facility was being set up for a wedding on the afternoon I chose to visit, so I did not venture inside the mansion itself.

I hope you enjoyed a few photos of my walk around Harkness Memorial State Park. If you should be in the area, it is definitely worth a visit and the park is easily accessed from I-95.

The 200+ acres were left to the state of Connecticut in 1950; becoming a part of the state park system in 1952. The park is open from 8:00 am to sunset all year long and entrance only requires a minimal parking fee.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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naples botanical garden

June 27, 2017

June is coming to an end and since Friday’s post this week will be the monthly giveaway, today will be more like a field trip. I shared my favorite exhibit in the Naples Botanical Garden in a post this month…it was a temporary exhibit called Origami in the Garden. (Click here if you missed it!)

Today, in keeping with my garden focus, I am sharing my favorite floral spot in that garden. And, guess what? The flowers aren’t white! I know – out of character, but can you see why I fell for this gorgeous spot in The Naples Botanical Garden?

Once in a while, I am a sucker for some color! Like this:

Talk to you again on Friday. If you haven’t entered the book giveaway for June, you have a couple more days. I will pick the winner at midnight on Thursday. Click here to leave a comment on the giveaway post to be entered to win. Good luck!

A docent at the Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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artisan details

June 23, 2017

I know not everyone gets as caught up in details as I do. Some of the details of an event that really get me jazzed are things like paper products, fabric, ribbon, favors, flowers…

Beauty is absolutely in the details and I often obsess over many of them when I am planning an event. The details are what really ‘bring it home’ when creating an aesthetic.

Today on Friday field trip, I am sharing with you a supplier that is fabulous for some of these details. Silk & Willow creates labor-intensive plant dyed silk ribbon presented on hand carved and stained Acacia wood spools. Can you see how a detail loving person like me would go nuts over a product like this?!

The heirloom quality plant dyed silk ribbon is not the only product available from Silk & Willow. Other artisan quality items include handmade paper, handspun twine, and 100% natural fiber table linens.

To illustrate my point, the photos on today’s post are from a recent Silk & Willow order. Can you see how a detail like a ribbon or a table runner can be transformed by the choice of your supplier? These handcrafted details cannot be duplicated and truly make a special occasion special.

I hope you have enjoyed the photos on today’s Friday field trip. To see more about Silk & Willow, located in Hudson Valley, New York, visit their gorgeous website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a really fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. I wasn’t asked to endorse Silk & Willow and I have not received any consideration in exchange for this post.

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the fountain at the breakers, palm beach

June 16, 2017

This month I have been on something of a plant/garden kick…it always happens this time of year. I love go to nurseries and I love admiring plants and great plantings and containers. Of course, part of the whole garden experience is to add some interesting features. I have been thinking about and admiring water features of late and it got me thinking of the great fountain I saw on my recent Palm Beach trip.

The great fountain I am talking about sits in front of the iconic Breakers Hotel.

Of course it is not a water feature I could ever have in my garden, but I thought I would share it’s beauty with you on today’s Friday field trip.

When I stayed at the hotel, I saw more photos staged in front of this fountain than in front of the magnificent coastline – certainly that was the case with new brides and grooms at the hotel!