Nog, Nog, Who's Home?

It's been four days since I began drinking, praying and loving and I must say, I know more about myself than ever. Case in point: I learned just the other day that I will consume anything with the flavor of egg nog in it.

Just yesterday, I was at the local H.E.B. for a routine refill of lotion, deo and toothpaste when I took a trip to the dairy aisle to see if the classic holiday treat was in stock. I thought "Mark, you're here at the local H.E.B., why not make today's cocktail egg nog?" It seemed like a no brainer at the time.

Unfortunately, I was sidelined. On my way to the dairy section to pick up the egg nog, I was forced to pass the ice cream section. And there, to my left, was Bryers (or Dryers... I can never tell) slow-churn special edition egg nog flavored ice cream. Thinking to myself "Mark, you love egg nog... you love ice cream... why not try this sure to be delectable treat," I picked up the two-pinter and headed to the check out counter.

On the walk home, praying my ice cream wouldn't melt too much that I'd have to refreeze it before diving in with my spoon, I had some pretty sobering thoughts. Just because you like egg nog doesn't mean you'll like egg nog flavored things. I happen to have a good friend who loves cherries. She tells me all the time how much she loves cherries. But when it comes to cherry flavored anything, she can't stand the thought. From jolly ranchers, to limeades, add cherry flavoring to something and she'll punch you. Give her a cherry and she'll kiss you.

I must admit, I thought this all the way home. I was ready for the surefire disappointment that was sure to come. This egg nog ice cream that I had been so pumped about was destined to be my cherry jolly rancher... and it's not like I'd be able to return it when it failed to live up to the glory.

Refusing to be deterred, I returned home, took out my spoon and did, indeed, dive in. From the first bite, I knew... this wasn't a cherry jolly rancher. The creamy thickness of the ice cream took me back to the second time I ever tasted egg nog and all was right (The first time I tasted egg nog, my sister and I attempted to make our own brew. We substituted white rum for bourbon/whiskey and used twice the amount the recipe called for because we were convinced that rum had less alcohol content and therefore should be doubled in the recipe. Needless to say, the curdled watery mess didn't pass the taste bud inspection and all we were left with was a kitchen that could have passed for a meth lab circa 2002 and no eggs to cook breakfast the next morning.)

It was after I enjoyed two thirds of the two-pint in one sitting that I nodded off into day-dream land thinking of all of the wonderful things that would taste just a little bit better if they were infused by the flavor of egg nog: pudding mix, lattes, and of course jolly ranchers. Until next time.

Drink. Pray. Love.