Day 32: A woman who knows exactly what she wants….

“Whenever you give up something, you must replace it with something.”

-Lou Holtz

 

Today’s Quest has taken me to a new place for a delectable sweet treat, but not of the Starbuck’s kind…  No, today my good friend, Starbuck’s let me down and had me searching for an alternative for a simple pleasure of the sweet kind.

It was about an hour to close and I arrived with an insatiable desire for a coffee beverage and something irresistibly sweet to indulge in.  I walked through the doors to the Starbuck’s and there in the display lay crumbs and a few treats that looked far from fresh. They were the unwanted pastries that were leftover from what was probably a busy day at Starbuck’s.  The lady at the counter saw my displeasure and stated that, indeed, they were cleaned out of all the preferred pastries.  I had to make a decision at that point as to whether I settle for coffee only or head out to find something new and delicious.  I told the Starbuck’s staffer that I would head elsewhere. I hopped in my car and made my way across the parking lot to “BJ’s restaurant”.

Why BJ’s?  I remembered seeing an ad for a delicious looking dessert and it was only two minutes across the way, so, “Why not?” I thought.  When I arrived at BJ’s, I was seated immediately.  I ordered a cup of coffee and perused through the menu.  I turned to the dessert page and it was as if the angels had been cued to sing their praises.  It was almost divine intervention that had guided me to the Pizookie Trio!!!  My mouth began to water and I thought to myself, “There is a God and he does love me!”

There in the picture sat 3 different cookies with a scoop of ice cream on top and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate for good measure.  I had a choice of what type of cookie to get and so, I went for it!  The waitress returned, and I ordered the cookies and cream, peanut butter and triple decadent chocolate one.  On many of my Quests in search of a delicious indulgence, I have to admit that there is a hint of guilt…. Today, there was none.

The coffee arrived and my hands found their way around the cup as to aid in keeping me warm.  The sensation was soothing after a long day.  I took one sip and I could feel my body relax and my mind clear.  Before I knew it, the first cup of coffee had been consumed and I ordered a second… mind you, it was a free refill.  Then out of the corner of my eye, I could see my waitress with the dessert dish making her way to my table.  I sat anxiously awaiting the arrival of this delectable treat.  She set the dish on the table and my eyes grew wide and I could feel my tongue anxious to feel the cold ice cream upon it.  I reached for my spoon and chose the peanut butter treat to try first.  I took a spoonful of cookie and ice cream and brought it to my lips.  I could feel the heat emanating from the cookie despite the cold ice cream.  I slowly placed it into my mouth and I swear I thought I had died and gone to heaven!  The peanut butter was rich and buttery, gooey and oh so warm.  The vanilla ice cream had nothing low-fat about it… and both melted into this delicious mixture of sweetness… And I savored that bite in my mouth for as long as I could before having to swallow.  I sat for a moment and thought, “I have just begun!”

The two others were just as sinfully delicious. The Pizookie Trio probably should have been deemed illegal in the 48 contiguous states, because I should have felt some serious guilt with this indulgence and there was none.  The triple chocolate treat was as rich as rich can be.  I was able to detect all three chocolate flavors.  The cookies and cream were as I had hoped, the cookie was also warm and sweet and the ice cream ever so creamy.  My indulging in these sweet treats was as responsible as possible.  But make no mistake, I had to savor every bite I allowed myself and I can still taste that deep rich chocolate that allowed the serotonin to flow and my heart to smile with such a delightful simple pleasure.

When the waitress arrived with my bill, I could hardly believe my eyes, $12.65 for Nirvana!  I would have paid $5 for a non-refillable drink at Starbuck’s and the sweet treat would have been just above convenient store quality. Sorry Starbuck’s, when it comes to simple pleasures of the sweet treat kind, you have been replaced.

Having indulged in a most sinful simple pleasure and not feeling an ounce of guilt.…. Wondering what tomorrow will bring.