Ice Cream Social

Happy Wednesday! Back from vacation *dramatic sigh* and back to blog! I've started receiving emails about Labor Day sales and, quite honestly, I refuse to let this happen. Soooo, to counteract this propaganda, I shall pretend that the summer will last forever (and perhaps pretend that it's not raining - a girl can dream). Let's call it Ice Cream Social day! This post is dedicated to the sweet, messy, cold dessert that always warms our hearts.

(Need an ice cream maker? This one is worth the price - it comes with an extra freezer bowl. Leave one in the freezer at all times if you can, and switch them as you use the one. Needs to freeze at least 48 hours to be nice and cold for ice cream!)

Protein-filled option...
Greek Yogurt Ice Cream
Mathew Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 cup whole-milk Greek-style yogurt*
• Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Combine 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 cup whole milk, and 1/2 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Bring mixture to simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. 
2. Whisk 3 large egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in large heatproof bowl until blended. Gradually add hot cream mixture to yolk mixture and whisk until blended. 
3. Return mixture to saucepan and stir over medium low heat until custard thickens slightly and coats back of spoon when finger is drawn across and instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 170°F, about 3 minutes (do not boil). 
4. Pour custard through strainer set over medium bowl. Place bowl with custard in larger bowl filled halfway with ice and water. Whisk occasionally until custard is almost cool to touch, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl with custard from ice water. Whisk yogurt and pinch of salt into custard. Refrigerate custard until well chilled.
5. Transfer custard to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer yogurt ice cream to freezer container. Cover and freeze until ice cream is firm. 

DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.
* A thick yogurt; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores (such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods) and Greek markets. If unavailable, place regular yogurt in cheesecloth-lined strainer set over large bowl. Cover and chill overnight to drain.

A flavor my father would love...
Pine Nut Honey Ice Cream
Bruce Weinstein, The Ultimate Ice Cream Book

Ingredients

• 1 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the pine nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in oven until lightly toasted, about 5 to 10 minutes. Take care not to burn the nuts.
2. Combine the hot nuts, honey, and sugar in a food processor and process for 2 minutes or until the mixture is smooth. Add the eggs and process until well blended, about 30 seconds.
3. Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy sauce pan. With food processor running, slowly pour the hot milk into the nut mixture through the feed tube. Process 30 seconds or until the nut custard is smooth. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from heat. Pour the hot nut custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the cream and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight.
4. Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in one or two batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.

Plain - ish...
Sour Cream Ice Cream
Gourmet January 1996

Ingredients

• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 8 large egg yolks
• 2 cups (1 pint) sour cream

Directions

1. In heavy saucepan combine half-and-half, 3/4 cup sugar, and vanilla bean and bring just to a boil. Remove pan from heat. in a bowl whisk together egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar and hot half-and-half mixture in a stream, whisking. Return custard to pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until 170°F. on a candy thermometer.
2. Remove pan from heat. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into custard until combined well and discard pod. Stir sour cream into custard until combined well and strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Chill custard until cold and freeze in an ice-cream maker.

Happy baking!