Rachel

i'd like to brag i recognized the ice creams as soon as i got "goes cuckoo over" and noticed the similarity of the o-v shape in the middle which was completely filled out. then i was more confident that vying was a word, so i filled that in to get the third ice cream. from there i figured out "tall order" and "scooped up" and i was able to finish the puzzle quite fast for someone who usually has to use auto-check on any non-monday puzzle

this week has been a pleasant surprise so far as someone who can't complete the monday sometimes without autocheck. it wasn't until i got to 66 across that i realized it was a rebus and then after that everything got easier. that's why i like rebuses that have a pattern to them. i get an extra burst of energy filling out those answers i skipped before thinking i had an answer that didn't fit.

i had this one so fast until i got stuck on 70A and 64D ("lemma" and "tam"), so i just googled it because i wasn't going to guess every letter with the popup telling me i'm close every time. by the way does anyone have a recommendation on crossword games i can play on my phone or computer that are good practice?

really good puzzle for a novice. i struggled to spell "hors d'oeuvres" but the theme saved me

I usually get the cooking measurements and music clues, but this time I never heard of either