Thursday, May 17, 2012

Honey-Peach Ice Cream

 As we searched for different ways that we could enjoy our favorite fruit, my mom and I searched and searched trying to find recipes, realizing that most of them tasted disgusting. Until one day, we were at the farmers market when I was about 8 years old, I stood by the honey stand, and the stand right next to it was the peach stand, as we all know kids minds are quite creative. I stood there in my own world creating this recipe that sounded quite great, so I went on and told my mom, while her face looked quite grossed out, we went home and searched for a recipe and tried this one. Ever since that day, I can remember each and every detail as we picked out this amazing recipe.



 Ingredients:
  •  4 large ripe peaches (about 2 pounds), peeled and pitted
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  1. To peel and pit the peaches: Fill a large pot with enough water to cover your peaches. Bring the water to a boil. Using a paring knife, lightly score the bottom of each peach with an X. Then add the peaches to the boiling water for 45 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peaches to a bowl of ice water for 30 seconds. Remove the skin with your fingers or a paring knife. Cut along the seam of each peach to the pit, running your knife all the way around the fruit. Twist each half in opposite directions to free one half from the pit. Remove the pit with your fingers or the knife.
  2. Coarsely chop half the peaches into 1/2-inch chunks, and toss them into a small saucepan. Add honey, and bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are soft but not mushy, about 10 minutes. Puree the mixture using a blender, food processor or immersion blender. Set aside.
  3. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the milk and cream to a boil.
  4. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the yolks and sugar together. Still whisking, drizzle in about one third of the hot liquid – this will temper the eggs so they don’t curdle. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the remaining liquid. Pour the custard back into the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring without stopping, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. The custard should reach at least 170 degrees F, but no more than 180 degrees F, on an instant-read thermometer. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, and pour the custard into a 2-quart glass measuring cup or clean heatproof bowl. Stir in the vanilla and peach puree.
  5. Refrigerate the custard until chilled before churning it into ice cream.
  6. Scrape the chilled custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker, and churn according to manufacturer’s directions. While the ice cream is churning, finely dice the remaining 2 peaches, then, just before the ice cream is thickened and ready, add the peaches and churn to blend. Pack the ice cream into a container and freeze it for at least 2 hours, until it is firm enough to scoop.

Coffee Ice Cream

Coffee Ice Cream

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups whole coffee beans (decaf unless you want the caffeine in your ice cream)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon finely ground coffee (press grinds through a fine mesh sieve)

Directions:


1 Heat the milk, sugar, whole coffee beans, salt, and 1/2 cup of the cream in a medium saucepan until it is quite warm and steamy, but not boiling. Once the mixture is warm, cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.

2 Pour the remaining 1 cup of cream into a medium size metal bowl, set on ice over a larger bowl. Set a mesh strainer on top of the bowls. Set aside.

3 Reheat the milk and coffee mixture, on medium heat, until again hot and steamy (not boiling!). In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks together. Slowly pour the heated milk and coffee mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly so that the egg yolks are tempered by the warm milk, but not cooked by it. Scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
4 Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof, flat-bottomed spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula so that you can run your finger across the coating and have the coating not run. This can take about 10 minutes.

5 Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Press on the coffee beans in the strainer to extract as much of the coffee flavor as possible. Then discard the beans. Mix in the vanilla and finely ground coffee, and stir until cool.

6 Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

 Cookie Dough Ice Cream:

Personally whenever I eat Ice Cream I always crave putting in cookie dough chunks, I know that many people enjoy just eating it by the spoonful,but this recipe puts those two favorite summer sweets together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) cool unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Ice Cream Base:

  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 9 egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup sugar

Directions

Cookie Dough: Cream the butter in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand-held beater) until soft and fluffy. Add both sugars and mix. Add the vanilla and 1 egg and mix. Add the remaining egg and mix. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix. Add the chips and mix just until just combined.

Using your hands, roll the dough into a long thin rope; then cut into small bits. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Make the Ice Cream Base: In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half, cream, and vanilla, whisking occasionally, to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat and let the flavors infuse for 10 minutes. Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk half of the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan containing the rest of the cream mixture.

Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees F., the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees F, it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. (If you don't have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough.) When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.

Meanwhile, put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in the bottom of a bowl, and add cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Chill for 3 hours.

Freeze the cream mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Meanwhile, put a bowl in the freezer. When the ice cream is frozen, remove the bowl from the freezer, and transfer the ice cream to it. Fold in the chocolate chip cookie dough (you may not need all of it). Pack the ice cream into sealable containers and return to the freezer. 
Notes about the recipe: Homemade ice cream is an inexpensive luxury, and an easy one. In this recipe, we use lots of fresh cream, not milk, which makes a dense and satisfying mixture. The key to great flavor is using whole vanilla beans. If you are lucky enough to be choosing among vanilla beans from around the world, here's a quick flavor guide: Mexican beans are creamy, with spicy overtones. Madagascar beans are even more creamy, but Indonesian ones have a sweet, woody flavor. Tahitian vanilla is very fruity, with an strong flavor of ripe cherries. Most extracts are made by blending the four into the basic vanilla flavor we recognize; whole beans have more individuality.
20111028-176739-snickers-ice-cream.jpg
  Snickers Ice Cream
 
 When the first snickers ice cream candy bar first came out it was the most delicious tasting candy bar ever, but now searching through recipes and finding that this recipe is better then eating the rectangle shaped figure.
  1. In a blender, combine half and half, peanut butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and vanilla. Blend until smooth, then transfer to an airtight container and chill for 3 hours or until very cold.

  2. While ice cream is churning, heat 1/2 cup sugar with just enough water to moisten in a heavy saucepan. Cook on high heat until sugar melts and caramelizes, rotating pan to correct for hot spots on burner. When sugar turns a dark amber and smells slightly smoky, quickly stir in butter until fully incorporated, then remaining salt and cream. Caramel will bubble up and steam. When caramel is cool enough to taste, add more salt if desired.

  3. Transfer ice cream to a very large mixing bowl, and quickly fold chocolate and peanuts with a large spatula. Then pour warm caramel sauce into ice cream, folding quickly and constantly with spatula to distribute caramel into an even, thread-like swirl.  Transfer ice cream to freezer in an airtight container to firm up for several hours before serving.

  • 2 3/4 cups half and half
  • 1 cup no-stir peanut butter
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons cream
  • 2 ounces dark chocolate (about 66%), chopped fine, chilled in freezer
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chilled in freezer
 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012


Chocolate Toffee Crunch Ice Cream


Chocolate Toffee Crunch Ice Cream

Chocolate Toffee Crunch Ice Cream

Ingredients
  • 1
    cup sugar
  • 1/4
    cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2
    cups whipping cream
  • 1
    cup milk
  • 1
    teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8
    teaspoon salt
  • Cubed or crushed ice
  • Rock salt*
  • 3/4
    cup chocolate-covered toffee pieces
Directions
1. In canister container for an 4-quart ice cream freezer, combine sugar and cocoa powder. Stir in cream, milk, vanilla, and salt. Whisk thoroughly until sugar is dissolved.
2. Place lid over ice cream freezer container. Place container in bucket. Attach motor piece to lid and sides of bucket according to manufacturers directions. Pack 6 cups of ice around the container. Sprinkle ice with 1 cup rock salt. Repeat packing with 6 cups ice and sprinkling with 1 cup rock salt until bucket is filled to the top of the container. Plug in electric ice cream maker. When motor comes to a stop, unplug immediately. Stir in toffee pieces.
3. Serve immediately or place in freezer to harden ice cream; use within 1 week. Makes about 1 quart ice cream (about 4 cups).

Saturday, May 12, 2012










the pudding didn't set

butterscotch ice cream
Butterscotch Ice Cream


Makes one quart
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons bourbon (optional)
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
2 cups half-and-half (light cream)
6 large egg yolks (hint: if you make a hazelnut brown butter cake, you should have these in your fridge already!)
1. In a 1- to 2-quart pan over medium heat, stir brown sugar and butter until butter is melted, sugar is dissolved, and mixture is bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup whipping cream until smooth; remove butterscotch mixture from heat. Add vanilla and bourbon, if using.
2. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over medium-high heat, combine remaining 1 cup whipping cream and the half-and-half; bring to a simmer.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat egg yolks to blend. Whisk 1/2 cup of the warm cream mixture into egg yolks, then pour egg yolk mixture into pan with cream. Stir constantly over low heat just until mixture is slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Immediately remove from heat.
4. Pour through a fine strainer into a clean bowl and whisk in butterscotch mixture. Chill until cold, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours; or cover and chill up to 1 day.
5. Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Serve softly frozen, or transfer ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons bourbon (optional)
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
2 cups half-and-half (light cream)
6 large egg yolks (hint: if you make a hazelnut brown butter cake, you should have these in your fridge already!)
1. In a 1- to 2-quart pan over medium heat, stir brown sugar and butter until butter is melted, sugar is dissolved, and mixture is bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup whipping cream until smooth; remove butterscotch mixture from heat. Add vanilla and bourbon, if using.
2. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over medium-high heat, combine remaining 1 cup whipping cream and the half-and-half; bring to a simmer.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat egg yolks to blend. Whisk 1/2 cup of the warm cream mixture into egg yolks, then pour egg yolk mixture into pan with cream. Stir constantly over low heat just until mixture is slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Immediately remove from heat.
4. Pour through a fine strainer into a clean bowl and whisk in butterscotch mixture. Chill until cold, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours; or cover and chill up to 1 day.
5. Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Serve softly frozen, or transfer ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Looking for the non-generic ice cream recipes, I thought that I would give this odd, yet disgusting sounding ice cream a chance. The only positive thing about this recipe is that green tea is amazing for you!






Green tea ice cream
2 tablespoons green tea powder (matcha)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 egg yolks
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup heavy cream

1. In a small bow, mix the green tea powder with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg yolks and remaining sugar.

3. Pour the milk into a small pan and gently heat taking care not to let it boil (ideally the temperature of the milk should be 176 degrees F). Remove the from the heat and mix a few spoonfuls of the warm milk with the green tea powder and sugar in a small bowl. When you have a smooth paste, add it to the remaining milk in the pan, then gradually combine with the egg yolk mixture.

4. Return mixture to the stove and heat slowly over low heat (taking care to not let the mixture boil), until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, strain through a fine sieve, and allow to cool completely.

5. Lightly whip the cream and then add it to the cold green tea-milk mixture.

6. Transfer the mixture to a large container and [chill for an hour or two in the refrigerator] and then put it in the freezer. As ice crystals start to form, remove, and mix well with a spoon (use a wooden spoon and stir very vigorously) to break them up and return the mixture to the freezer. Repeat this a few times as it freezes to ensure that the ice cream is smooth.
Mocha Espresso Ice Cream

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brewed espresso, chilled
  • 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
  • 3/4 cup cocoa roast almonds, chopped
  • 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

Directions

  1. Mix heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, espresso, and chocolate syrup in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate until chilled.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions until it reaches "soft-serve" consistency. Stir in almonds and dark chocolate. Serve soft ice cream or transfer ice cream to a one- or two-quart lidded plastic container; cover surface with plastic wrap and seal. For best results, ice cream should ripen in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.