<p>soozievt, You may not have the arches in your capitol, but you have Ben and Jerry’s, which is so much better anyway (expensive in $ and calories, but definitely worth it). I was also put in a word in for your Cabot cheese!</p>
<p>^HOLD IT! You can buy generic ice cream at the store for cheaper. Ben and Jerrys is disgusting compared to Sams Choice Vanilla Ice Cream. MMMMMM, delicioso!</p>
<p>Actually, why would you even need to spend money on ice cream in Vermont at all? Couldn’t you just eat the snow?</p>
<p>^Not sanitary, no thanks!</p>
<p>Is Sams Choice something they sell at Walmart?</p>
<p>We have Ben & Jerrys at the grocery store here, but I don’t much like ice cream with * stuff* in it , thank you for asking.
But we also have [Double Rainbow](<a href=“http://www.doublerainbow.com/aboutus/index.html”>http://www.doublerainbow.com/aboutus/index.html</a>) brand in the stores, that Cook’s Illustrated recommended ( I am assuming/hoping that everyone knows about Cook’s illustrated magazine- even if you hardly ever cook at home</p>
<p>( I think fresh snow is sanitary enough- if you are healthy , your stomach acids will kill whatever little goolies made it through the atmosphere)</p>
<p>Yeah, plus aren’t there like, berries and stuff growing in Vermont? Plus a lot of cows? You could scoop up some snow, pick some berries off the trees and bushes, and happen by a cow, milk it, and have sort of a sundae. </p>
<p>Wouldn’t cost a dime. Well of course except for the time invested. But there wouldn’t be any dirty dishes, so, savings on soap, hot water, etc. Probably create more laundry though.</p>
<p>LatetoSchool, now that is a hilarious idea!
Actually we do have wild berries growing right on our land and cows up the road. The berries are not out at the same time of the year as the snow, though. The snow is clean as this ain’t the city. Actually, have you ever heard of “sugar on snow”? This is a commonly enjoyed treat in VT around March. Fresh snow is scooped into a bowl and then fresh maple syrup from sugaring season (same time of year) is drizzled over it. So, your idea is not SO far fetched after all. </p>
<p>Well, I have never heard of Sam’s Choice Ice Cream. I do indeed live in Ben and Jerry’s land and my kids’ peers work at the factory giving tours and scooping ice cream. Anyone who works there gets six free pints per day. They can’t eat that much and often give it away. B and J for me all the way (now I am getting hungry and I haven’t gotten B and J in a very long time as I like it too much and it is very fattening to eat).</p>
<p>NortheastMom, indeed Vermont has very good food products and the name sells. Cabot Cheese is just one such product, as is B and J. </p>
<p>UVMLauren, yes, I do live in VT. I have been to that Chili’s in Williston but not to Outback Steakhouse (Robert E. Lee’s fave). But there are no chain stores or restaurants where I live (which is NOT in Burlington). Actually, my town has many fine dining establishments as it is a resort area. Dining out is a treat here. We do enjoy good food. One of my D’s has served dinner at two restaurants in our town, one at a country inn. The only reason I went to Chili’s in Williston is when I was back to college shopping with my kids on various occasions which as you know, is all located where Chili’s is and so it was convenient and actually, I thought it was pretty good. But normally, if in Burlington, I’d eat out on Church Street. This time of year is very lovely with the outdoor cafes. </p>
<p>Well, off to milk the cow…(j/k…I don’t have cows but will pass some on my way to the market now).</p>
<p>Oh Robert would have a kniption but one of my D’s is eating out in NYC right now and the other is eating out in Chamonix, France. Shudders, such a “waste” of money. Both are having a blast.</p>
<p>REL is a real killjoy. NOt only is eating out a waste of money, but it’s downright sinful: think of all the money you could be giving to charity, he says. Why does it have to be an either/or?</p>
<p>I just saw a recipe for something that sounds downright yummy. But it calls for some exotic ingredients which, I’m sure, I would not use very often and a trip to at least three different markets. And after having made that yummy sounding dish, I probably would be throwing out much of the stuff I’d bought as it does not keep. Restaurants, however, can make use of most of what they purchase. Besides, I earned quite a bit of tips the summer I spent as a waitress. Help a poor graduate student!</p>
<p>“kniption”? I wondered how that was spelled. Thanks Soozievt</p>
<p>(Robert E. Lee’s fave). </p>
<p>No, if I HAD to go out to eat, I would eat at the Outback Steakhouse.</p>
<p>Latetoschool, that is a noteworthy idea, however, you would have to put the ice in a bowl. You would then have to wash the bowl which would require water and soap, which is expensive. You could, in Vermont, find an abandoned bird’s nest, and use that as a make shift bowl. Bring on the money saving hints!</p>
<p>I thought it was spelled conniption.</p>
<p>Anyother ways to save money? Thanks!</p>
<p>kniption - right or wrong, I like it!</p>
<p>Well I just sorta thought you could scoop up handfuls of it and munch while you walk around. Or maybe roll the window down as you’re driving, scoop it off the trees. That way you’d save money AND time, which I imagine would please Robert E Lee enormously. </p>
<p>SoozieVT, I turned green with envy when I read your post - I couldn’t choose if I should be more jealous of the person who will dine in VT tonight, or the one in NYC or the one in France.</p>
<p>Oy, I knew that my spelling of conniption (kniption) was not correct but I had never seen it in print. CC is really a learning tool, ya know? Thanks, Marite! </p>
<p>LTS, I must admit the dining choices where I live are pretty darn good. I know it is great and much bigger in NYC where D2 is for today, and I will have to hear of the delights that D1 came across in Chamonix tonight (I only spoke with her upon her arrival and she was about to go out and enjoy the scene). No Olive Garden or Outback or Taco Bell for any of us! </p>
<p>Now, I am going to make dinner (Robert will be proud of me)…tuna on the grill. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Why do I get the feeling that REL is Justinian’s way of pulling a fast one?</p>
<p>hey, soozievt…if you find yourself back in burlington in the near future, make a reservation at the trattoria delia. It’s not on church street (instead it’s hidden on the corner where the park is, where main street crosses with st. paul street) but it’s this lovely rustic little trattoria with five star service and to-die-for food. If it hadn’t been pointed out to me I never would have noticed it was even there. </p>
<p>check it out: <a href=“http://www.trattoriadelia.com%5B/url%5D”>www.trattoriadelia.com</a></p>
<p>Their pasta bolognese and blackened steaks are to die for. It’s some of the best northern italian cuisine I’ve ever had, and my favorite restaurant in burlington (american flatbread is second!)</p>
<p>The outback in burlington is down dorset street where the UMall is…nothing exciting, but we do have one. It certainly is never anywhere near as busy as sweetwaters or the church street tavern/ Ri-Ra is.</p>
<p>Why do I get the feeling that REL is Justinian’s way of pulling a fast one?</p>
<p>Justinian? From my history studies, he was the greatest ruler of the Byzantine empire, but how does that have relevance to this discussion. Please elaborate.</p>
<p>UVMLauren, thanks for the Italain trattoria tip. I haven’t heard of Trattoria Delia but will check it out sometime. I don’t have dinner too often in Burlington as my husband works near there and we live 50 miles away and so when he gets home, it is hard to go right back. I used to go to Burlington a lot as my kids were involved in activities in that area regularly. We know the owners of American Flatbread (the company) and many who make it. Their daughter went to school with mine.</p>
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<p>What an answer. Good deflection! :D</p>