So I know it's been a while! I've been super busy, mostly with work but busy nevertheless.
Yesterday at work, I was trying to convince my fellow employees to give me ideas for some new ice creams as I am bored with my flavors. I've made maple, coffee, all sorts of fruit, multiple melon sorbets, and even a tomato sorbet (It was interesting for sure.) My co-workers weren't so kin on the idea and were not helping at all when one of the Sous Chefs excitedly said, "bay leaf". I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't.
Earlier that day we had received a lot and I mean a lot of fresh bay leafs by accident and apparently they wouldn't take them back so we were left with something we never use. I was convinced that my ice cream would not be a "leftovers" flavor again, until I tried a leaf.
Jamie was so adamant that I try one. I put a little leaf in my mouth and gave it a chew. Like bubble gum I thought, although not as chewy? As I sat peeling carrots while munching on my little leaf, I decided I had been missing out.
The first little bite I got a little sweetness and thought well at least it's sweet unlike the tomatoes I turned into sorbet. Then a few moments later I got cinnamon. It surprised me. I continued chewing and got cloves. I continued munching and I wish I could describe all the flavors. It was amazing and by the time I was done chewing I felt like I had just walked through the month of December at my parent's house. It was Christmas in a leaf. It was insane.
Today many of the bay leafs became ice cream. With a bit more sugar and some cream it was easy to picture falling snow, a Christmas tree, a little bit of home.
