Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” For me, that verse takes on a special meaning during the holidays, especially when it comes to food. While most people think of Christmas comfort food as cookies, cakes, or warm desserts, my favorite is the mint chocolate chip ice cream that brings back a lifetime of memories with my great-grandma, Ruby Stahlnecker.
Mint chocolate chip was Grandma Ruby’s favorite sweet treat. Before she passed away, she would come to Riverside during winter break to escape the cold of Virginia and stay with my family. Every time she visited, she made sure to spend hours talking with Pastor Chris Oberg. I always wished I could join them, knowing the two of them carried so much wisdom, wisdom I wanted to soak up. I remember curling up next to Grandma Ruby, watching her crochet and listening to her stories. She was one of the best mentors I’ve ever had, especially when it came to Adventism, education, and feminism. Her stories of being a missionary in India, Sri Lanka, and Guam helped me shape my own conviction to work in social justice, whatever way that manifests.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream also reminds me of the most painful memory I have of her. During the summer of 2020, when her health was declining, my Grandma Patti, her daughter, drove to Virginia to help care for her. On the night of August 11, I was drifting off to sleep when I suddenly heard my mom sobbing on the phone. At that moment, I knew Grandma Ruby was gone. I cried through the entire night. The next morning, my parents gathered my siblings and me to tell us officially. After we sat together, cried, and comforted each other, my parents went out and bought mint chocolate chip ice cream, Grandma Ruby’s favorite. We ate it together as a family, remembering her.
During the Christmas season, I get especially sentimental. I find myself thinking about the people I’ve lost, whether through death or shifting relationships. Anything that reminds me of Grandma Ruby makes me hope that she would be proud of the person I’m becoming. Every time I eat mint chocolate chip ice cream, I feel transported back to our quiet moments together, her crocheting, her gentle voice, her unwavering love.
This Christmas Eve, I’m planning to curl up with my journal, my cat, and a mug of hot chocolate topped with mint chocolate chip ice cream, and take time to reflect on my memories of her. I miss her deeply, and I hope that in the choices I make and the path I follow, I continue to honor the dreams she had for me.
In tasting this simple treat, it reminds me of Ecclesiastes 9:7, which says “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Mint chocolate chip ice cream not only brings me gladness but memories of my Grandma Ruby. God’s goodness often reveals itself in small, unexpected comforts, in memory, in love, and in the people who shape us. Mint chocolate chip ice cream isn’t just a treat; it is a reminder of finding ways to remember our loved ones through cherishing what they loved.
Easy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Prep Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 8
Yield: 2 quarts
Ingredients:
2 cups 2% milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon salt
3 drops green food coloring (Optional)
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
Step 1: Gather all ingredients.
Step 2: Stir milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt together in a large bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Mix in green food coloring.
Step 3: Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 4: Add chocolate chips about 10 minutes into the freezing. Continue churning until ice cream has thickened, about 20 minutes more.
Step 5: Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Then serve and enjoy!
Lia Kritzinger is a third-year political science major at La Sierra University, who hopes to work in criminal defense law as well as start an NGO, is the eldest of Pastor Devo and Leilani’s kids, and enjoys reading, writing, singing, and snuggling with her cat.