When author’s pick a topic to write about, readers often wonder why. In my case, it was being denied the scrumptious frozen treat at a very early age. I was seriously allergic to dairy products. Today, I can eat small quantities of ice cream. It’s my favorite dessert. Every time I take a bite, I’m thankful that I can now savor the once forbidden treat.

Here’s the story of the beginnings of my love affair with ice cream:

I couldn’t eat dairy products until age three. On summer days, I’d stand alone on the street corner watching my pals as they’d gobbled down chocolate-covered ice cream bars served up by the local Good Humor man.  Finally, the doctor decided that it was OK for me to eat ice cream and other cow’s milk products.  A few days later, my mother pulled a pint of vanilla from the small freezer compartment that sat atop our new white fridge. I can vividly recall how the frozen treat looked—creamy, light yellow with flecks of vanilla threaded throughout. She gave me a spoonful to taste. I took a bite and was totally hooked. I had never tasted anything so perfect, so creamy, so delicious. The vanilla shone through and I loved it. (Soon I became a chocolate fan.)  Finally, when the Good Humor man came around, and I heard the clanging of his bell, I could buy an ice cream just like the other kids.

A forever-fan of chocolate ice cream (especially soft serve dipped in chocolate), I share my scoops with my husband Randy Weiss.

To my father, Edmund Simonds, whose love of ice cream inspired this book.