Skip to main content

Anise Ice Cream

How do I love my ice cream maker - let me count the ways. There's chocolate, and vanilla of course. And then there's blueberry, burnt cinnamon and anise? Really anise? I was thumbing through recipes looking for something different. I didn't want to make plain old vanilla or chocolate and I stumbled on this recipe from David Lebovitz's book The Perfect Scoop. I changed it up a little because I did like  the whole egg version and thought I would give it a try again.

Anise Ice Cream (Inspired by The Perfect Scoop & Cuisinart Ice Cream Instruction Booklet)

2 t anise seeds
2 c half and half*
1 c heavy cream*
3/4 c sugar
pinch of salt
2 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
1 t vanilla.

Toast the anise seeds in the bottom of a sauce pan for about 3 minutes.  Add the half and half. Add sugar and heat until sugar is dissolved. Shut off heat, cover, and let steep for 1 hour.

Pour the heavy cream into a heat resistant bowl. Place a strainer over the bowl and then the bowl into a larger bowl of ice water. Set aside. Rewarm the half and half until just starting to bubble at the edges. Whisk eggs and yolk in a small bowl. Slowly whisk some of the warmed half and half into the eggs. Pour egg mixture back to the heated half and half and return to heat. Cook, stirring continually, until slightly thickened and coats back of spoon. Strain through strainer. Add vanilla. Stir mixture until cooled. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight. Prepare ice cream according to manufacturer's directions.

I have definitely decided that I do like this whole egg version and it's not just because you don't have all those extra pesky egg whites hanging around. I think I like it because you don't get the fat film in your mouth that you get sometimes from egg yolk only ice cream.


*Feel free to reverse these amounts. I just happened to have those measurements. Using 2 c of the heavy cream will just be a richer ice cream and who would be opposed to that??

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Waffled Hash Browns

I'm not that much of a fan of one-trick ponies taking up real estate in my kitchen. I know that a waffle iron can be classified as that, but now I can rationalize that it's not. Who knew you could make hash browns in it? Waffled Hash Browns (Adapted from Cooking Light ) 1 1/2 lb russet potato (shredded) salt/pepper to taste 1/4 t garlic powder 1 1/2T butter, melted Preheat waffle iron. Squeeze liquid out of potatoes by blotting between two paper towels. Toss potatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brush both sides of the waffle iron with butter. Spread potatoes evenly on waffle iron. Close and cook 2 minutes. Press iron closed completely and cook about 12 minutes or until golden brown. I did not feel that they browned as nicely as in the picture on the original recipe, but then again I don't have a food stylist do I? The drawback of this recipe is that you have to share this. Since they take about 15 minutes, it's a little difficult to make a second one...

Citrus Shortcake

In my mind, this cake is sort of a blank slate. The cornmeal gives it a little crunch but it is quite versatile. I drizzled a citrus icing on it this time around. I think there are many other things that you could do. You could macerate some berries in sugar and top the cake with them. I think some heated jam (orange, strawberry, or raspberry) drizzled over would be nice. I scoop of ice cream never hurt anyone. A dollop of whip cream never did either. I think you get the idea. Citrus Shortcake (Adapted from Cooking Light circa 2010) 3/4 c sugar 1/4 cup butter 2 eggs 1 T orange rind, grated 2T fresh OJ 1/2 t vanilla 1 c flour 2T cornmeal 3/4 t baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/4 t salt 2/3 c buttermilk Grease a 9" square pan set aside. Cream butter and sugar for 5 minutes in a mixer.  Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl). Set aside. Add eggs one a time to butter mixture; beating well after ...

Mensa Member?

I think Mickey is a member of Mensa. We heard him last night but could not determine where he was in the kitchen (or should I say the Sous Chef could not locate him - I certainly was not looking). He had been lurking in the toaster cabinet the night before and averted the glue trap. This is absolute torture. Still no cooking going on.