Project 41: June

It's time for June's Project 41, my plan to try each flavor-of-the-month at Baskin-Robbins with a different friend as a year-long celebration of my 41st birthday. It's been four months now and it has been awesome. I highly recommend turning your birthday, whatever the number, into a year-long celebration!

This month, I asked my friend Justin to join me. I met Justin five years ago when he became the youth director at our church. I hesitated to ask him at first, as this is a really busy time of year for him. Not only is he planning a fundraising golf tournament, VBS, and a Mexico mission trip, but he's getting married in 3 weeks! But he enthusiastically agreed to take time from his schedule to meet me for the flavor-of-the-month.

Part of the adventure of Project 41 is that not knowing what the month's flavor will be. Will it be something I don't like? Something I don't expect to like, but end up loving? Will I find a new favorite? Will my friend not like the flavor, or be nervous to try it, or end up loving it? It's all part of the fun! So you can imagine how I felt when I saw that June's flavor was Triple Vanilla.Vanilla? Seriously Baskin-Robbins?

 

Baskin-Robbins says, "We've swirled together Classic Vanilla, French Vanilla, and Vanilla Bean to create a premium new flavor!" I ask again... seriously? So much for adventure.   

Three vanillas swirled together. Oooh, thrilling! So new! So premium!

Justin and I got our ice cream ("2 of the swirled vanillas, please!") and headed out to the courtyard.  

 

The time flew by. Before I knew it, it was time to pick up Trevor. Justin and I both enjoyed the ice cream, but there's really nothing to say about it. It was vanilla, vanilla, and vanilla, all swirled together. There was no discernible difference between the three except in appearance. It was tasty, of course, as vanilla ice cream is, but as far as flavor-of-the-month status, it is a flop.

This led me to think - what would I have chosen for June's flavor-of-the-month? Well, National Donut Day is in June... how about a chocolate ice cream with maple glazed donut chunks in it? June is also National Candy Month... maybe an ice cream loaded with mini M&Ms, or Nerds, or crushed Smarties? (Or all 3!) Maybe something that ties in to Flag Day or Father's Day. So many possibilities! Who knows... maybe in a future month I'll be facing Salmon Eyeball Ice Cream (any Iron Chef fans remember that?) and longing for the days of Triple Vanilla.

Thanks to Justin for joining me for Project 41!