cookie dough chocolate nice-cream (+ pudding)

This is how I got through the (horrific) run up to our wedding: the best chocolate nice-cream. In fact it is so good it has (nearly) made it better.

As we speak our wedding day is in the past, hopefully it was wonderful, that Dan was happy and not too ill, that everyone enjoyed themselves, and it all went smoothly, without me falling over, or kissing every single guest goodbye and saying the word lovely too much, or crying, or spilling something on my dress, or any other of the other thousands of things that could go wrong. Let’s face it, the worst thing has already happened, I’m ill, and it’s in the post for Dan.

I have the cold virus from hell, days from lift off, which has now gone down to my chest. I have an ear infection in both ears and a temperature, I feel and look dreadful. I’m on strong antibiotics as of today, something I avoid as they strip your gut flora, and as a coeliac this is especially bad news. I can’t remember any of the things I ought to be doing to make the day a success, my brain has gone number than normal, which is saying something. I have heart palpitations. I’m a wreck. As a type 1 diabetic, and a very sensitive one to boot, viruses make me especially unwell, my blood glucose levels are coma high, and rising. I’ve spent the last few days (is it a week, I can’t remember, I think it’s a week…) with an exploding face of germs and tissue wads stuffed up my nose, and then an itchy cough so shockingly awful I woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe and thought I was dying. It’s bad. This should be when I am looking and feeling my best, the photo’s to treasure of our happiest day, the sun shining (out of my…), the conversation flowing… not my chest rattling, my face flaking, and feeling like I’m about to collapse… not unable to string a sentence together.. not unable to enjoy those precious moments…

I don’t want the zombie bride look, Night of the Living Dead is a fantastic film but we’re not nut-job enthusiasts! I’ve already been a bit wacky with what I’m going to wear (think silver sparkly platform sandals, and an ivory silk All Saints dress from eBay that though I do really like I must admit is rocking the inside out Edwardian undergarment look…). Mum keeps trying to get me to wear tights because she’s so horrified at my short dress, or my legs, or both…

AAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you can see why at the right moment creating the best chocolate nice-cream (better than any ice-cream) I’ve ever had, and also equally amazing as a chocolate pudding, was a really good thing. It isn’t what I’d generally recommend for the sick, but it made me feel half human and for that I’m eternally grateful. Just when my taste buds are making a comeback (don’t worry I have had a second opinion on how amazing this nice-cream is from Dan, who is pretty particular, and now my competition for the rest of the tub, she says stuffing it into her face…).

The nice-cream really doesn’t taste of banana at all, the pudding slightly more so, but in a really gorgeous, silky smooth, rich, perfect chocolatey way…

Add cacao nibs for extra crunch…

Here’s to love, family and friends, to enjoying life and stoically making the most of things (no matter what happens). And to chocolate (and the important role that plays in the above!) ♥