Chocolate Farina and a new ice cream flavor at The Hop.

I don't have anything too exciting to post, but wanted to at least keep rolling on this thing. There are two notable food experiences from last weekend that I can share. One, I had the cockamamie idea to put cocoa powder in my cream of wheat. I guess it's because of all the leftover cocoa from the whoopie pie extravaganza. If you're from the south, you may not have the connection some of us do to cream of wheat - also known as farina. To me, that stuff is pure comfort. It tastes like childhood and being taken care of by my parents. When I was a kid, I liked it when the lumps formed and I got chewy chunks of cream of wheat stuck together. Yes, I was a weird kid, why do you ask? Anyway, in the south, they eat grits. Despite my hometown being below the Mason Dixon, we have a bunch of northern influence in our food. Grits stop being common at the Virginia line. Though I've come to love grits (and nearly everything else about the South, including cute boys with southern accents) they don't have the same effect as cream of wheat. If you've had it, and like it, you know what I mean. It can't be described. I started eating the stuff for my pre-long run meal because it has even less fiber than instant oatmeal, a good thing when you're about to go run for 3-4 hours. So, I had this idea to add cocoa powder and I was correct to do that. I have invented a way to eat desert for breakfast or any time of day that you need some love because it's like eating a hug! Seriously. Just add about a tablespoon to the regular recipe. I follow what's on the box and do the butter and sugar to taste (aka a whole damn bunch because butter and sugar are awesome). Just so you know, if you're celiac or otherwise wheat intolerant, they make a rice version. I haven't tried rice farina but I'm thinking about it just to see what it's like. If it measures up, I'll probably switch, just cause I seem to do better if I limit my gluten. By no means am I celiac or anything even close, I just notice I'm less sluggish with less wheat flour in my diet.

My other food adventure happened on Saturday night. I went out to dinner with some friends (can I just tell you how grateful I am to have friends who like to go out to eat - like for every meal plus snack and desert and coffee? it's rad) and then we went to this ice cream place called The Hop, which makes amazing ice cream and smells like I hope heaven will, which is like sugar pretty much. When we walked in the girl was like "Hey we have a new flavor. It's called Elvis." So I asked her if it was peanut butter and banana, since that was Elvis' favorite sandwich. And she said it was but that there was a secret ingredient and got my friend to try and guess. Turns out it was bacon! So I had to try some and oh my, now I understand why everyone on the planet is putting bacon in their cupcakes and frosting and toffee and covering it in chocolate because Sweet Debbie, it was f-ing amazing! It was a completely smooth ice cream, no banana, peanut butter or bacon chunks. Incredibly creamy with a perfect balance of all three flavors. The bacon is subtle and serves to bring out the best in the banana and peanut butter. Holy crap. If I can't have sex, I'll take Elvis. Thank you The Hop, I will be back for a pint later this week.