ice cream dreams

i once had a boyfriend 

who thought i should create

"the great american ice cream diet"

and he would go on it

lose lots of weight

and we would become

gazillionaires

instead

i told him to lose my number

and i immediately lost 250lbs

not because of the ice cream thing

just...

..because

i did however

at one time

want to open an ice cream store

back when i was living in a foreign country

as an executive for a large bank

where everybody seemed so unhappy

about everything

i used to tilt my head

and let my mind wander 

and think to myself

"no one leaves an ice cream store unhappy

everyone is saying 

please and thank you

and 

have a nice day

my next career

should be in dairy"

hasn't happened yet

but i am still

young

enough

mint chocolate-chip ice cream
(printable recipe)

*this ice cream is not like you get at the store. the fresh mint gives it a bit of a herbaceous flavor

i add peppermint extract to tame it a bit.  you can make it without fresh mint without issue.

1 1/2 cups milk

2 cups heavy cream--divided

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 cup lightly packed mint leaves

6 large egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1-1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (taste as you go)

few drops green coloring (optional)

1 cup bittersweet chocolate--melted

place the milk, 1 cup heavy cream, mint leaves and salt in a saucepan. bring to a simmer and then let steep for about 30 minutes to an hour.  drain off the mint leaves and bring the mixture back to a simmer.  meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla together.  temper this mixture with the steamed mint milk and then put back on the stove to thicken to a nappe (when it is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and if you wipe your finger through it, it will hold form--it is about the thickness of heavy cream).  remove from heat and add peppermint extract and food coloring (if using) and the remaining cup of cream.  cool and freeze according to ice cream maker instructions.  when your ice cream is just about finished churning, drizzle the melted chocolate in a steady stream. you will have both chunks and chips of chocolate in your finished product. 

i am participating in colors of the rainbow

for alphabe-thursday 

summer school

over at jenny matlock

this week

we honor the color GREEN