Black Pepper Cinnamon Honey With Fruit And Ice Cream Food

WARM FRUIT COMPOTE OF CHERRIES, ORANGE AND CRANBERRIES OVER VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a microwave safe bowl, combine cherries and their juice, orange zest and juice and the cranberries. Loosely cover dish with plastic food storage wrap and microwave on high 1 minute. Stir fruit and microwave on high 1 minute longer. Let fruit stand 5 minutes, then spoon over scoops of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with ginger snaps, vanilla wafers or cinnamon sugar cookies.
• Compote may also be prepared on conventional stove top. Combine compote ingredients in a small saucepot and simmer over low heat 7 or 8 minutes or until cranberries plump.

EASY FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• To prepare the fruit: If you're using fresh strawberries or peaches, cut them into thin slices. If you're using small berries like blueberries or raspberries, you can use them whole. If you're using frozen fruit, no need to defrost or slice them before using.
• In a medium saucepan, combine your fruit of choice, sweetener of choice and dash of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. This will take about 5 minutes for fresh fruit or 10 minutes for frozen fruit.
• Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium. If you're using chunky fruit or prefer a smoother consistency, mash the fruit with a potato masher or serving fork until it reaches your desired consistency. Continue simmering, stirring often, until the compote has condensed to about half of its original volume, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the compote from the heat. I'm generally satisfied with my compote at this point, but if the compote isn't sweet enough for your liking, you can stir in a more sweetener, to taste. If you'd like it to be more smooth, mash it some more.
• Let the compote cool for a few minutes before serving. Allow leftover compote to cool completely before covering and refrigerating for up to 10 days.

BLACK PEPPER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Warm the milk, sugar, peppercorns, salt and 1 cup of the half and half in a medium saucepan. (I heated it until it almost boiled.) Cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for one hour.
• Rewarm the peppercorn-infused mixture. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the yolks, then pour it all back into the saucepan.
• Quickly rinse the bowl, pour the remaining half and half into it, and set a mesh strainer on top.
• Stir the custard constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula until it thickens. Pour the custard through the strainer, pressing the peppercorns gently to extract as much flavor as possible.
• Discard the peppercorns and stir the custard into the cream.
• Chill thoroughly (4-6 hours, or 2 hours over an ice bath).
• Freeze according to your ice cream maker's directions.

HONEY-CINNAMON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and cream. Break up the cinnamon stick into several pieces and toss them into the pan. Scald the milk mixture over medium-high heat (bubbles start to form around the edge of the pan, but the liquid is not boiling). Remove from the heat and let the cinnamon steep in the milk mixture for about 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended, and then slowly whisk in the honey, sugar, and ground cinnamon until combined. Return the milk mixture to medium-high heat and scald again. Slowly add the hot milk mixture to the egg-honey mixture, a little at a time, whisking constantly. When all of the hot milk mixture has been incorporated, return the contents of the bowl to the saucepan, and return the saucepan to medium heat. Cook, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon. The mixture will seem watery at first, then it will start to steam, and then it will start to develop a little body and get thicker. Remove from the heat and immediately strain through a fine-mesh sieve into an airtight container. Whisk in the salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until cold, or up to overnight.
• Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions.
• When the ice cream has finished churning, freeze it for at least 2 hours to allow it to ripen. During the ripening process, the ice cream becomes harder and smoother and the flavors more fully develop. The ice cream can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week.

BLACK PEPPER-CINNAMON HONEY WITH FRUIT AND ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the honey, pepper, and cinnamon stick in a small pot over low heat. When ready to serve, add the fruit to the honey mixture and toss.
• Put a scoop of ice cream into each serving dish and top with the honey mixture.
• Garnish with cookies and serve.

BLACK PEPPER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium-size saucepan, combine the cream, milk, sugar and pepper. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, whisk the yolks in a a mixing bowl until light. Whisking constantly and rapidly, gradually pour the boiling cream mixture into the yolks.
• Place over a bowl of ice to cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold. Freeze in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions.