Creme Fraiche Ice Cream With Pink Peppercorns And Lemon Thyme Food

SPINACH FETTUCCINE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND LEMON THYME

Steps:

• Melt butter and oil in a large saute pan and add onions. Cook covered over gentle heat for 40 minutes to one hour, until the onions are a deep golden brown. You may need to add water or stock to prevent the onions from burning. Stir in the fresh thyme, and toss with the pasta. Serve.

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.

STRAWBERRY CRèME FRAîCHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Remove the tops from the strawberries and put in a food processor with the sugar. Blitz to make a rough purée - a few chunky bits add texture to the ice cream.
• Tip the crème fraîche into a bowl and stir in the strawberry purée. Put in an ice-cream maker to churn or put the bowl into the freezer until the ice cream is firm 3cm in from the edge - about 1-2 hrs. Remove from the freezer and whisk to break down the ice crystals, return to the freezer for 1 hr longer, then whisk again. Transfer the ice cream to a freezerproof container with a lid and freeze until firm.
• To serve, transfer the ice cream to the fridge for about 20 mins until it is soft enough to scoop.

CRèME FRAîCHE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Whisk together the milk, sugar, crème fraîche, lemon zest and vanilla. Set aside for 10 mins for the sugar to melt. Churn in an ice-cream machine, following manufacturer's instructions, before freezing. Or freeze for 1 hr, then give a good whisk and return to the freezer for another hour. Repeat 3 or 4 times until it becomes solid.

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.

CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Mix together buttermilk and heavy cream. Let sit at room temperature for six to eight hours.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.