Creme Fraiche Ice Cream With Pink Peppercorns And Lemon Thyme Food

QUICK AND EASY FRENCH COGNAC AND CREME FRAICHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Whisk the crème fraiche, icing sugar and Cognac together - it will become thin but keep whisking until it thickens slightly.
• Pour it into a 450g (1lb) bread (loaf) tin, or an old plastic ice cream container that has been lined with Clingfilm, then cover and freeze for up to one month. If using an ice cream maker, churn at this stage and then put the mixture into the bread/loaf tin or an old plastic ice cream container.
• To serve: Dip an ice cream scoop into a jug of boiling water and then shape and scoop the ice cream into balls. Serve with hot puddings, stewed fruits, rumtopf or just by itself with wafers.

CRèME FRAîCHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a blender, blend together all ingredients, scraping down sides until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Chill until cold and freeze in an ice cream maker.

CRèME FRAîCHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-sized bowl with a mesh strainer over the top and set it in an ice bath.
• Warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
• Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof plastic spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir until cool over an ice bath. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.
• Once cool, whisk in the crème fraîche, then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• If crème fraîche is your refined cousin from France, mascarpone is the rugged Italian uncle from New Jersey that no one in the family likes to talk about. To make Mascarpone Ice Cream, substitute 2 cups (480 g) mascarpone for the crème fraîche. Mascarpone ice cream makes a terrific affogato: douse a couple of scoops with a shot of warm espresso.
• Make Cherries Jubilee by warming Candied Cherries (page 215) with 2 tablespoons kirsch or curaçao (or another liqueur) and then spooning the warm cherries over scoops of Crème Fraîche Ice Cream.