Crystallized Ginger Ice Cream Food

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine cream, milk, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, clove and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cover, remove from heat, and let steep for 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the cream into the yolks, then whisk yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer).
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions, adding the candied ginger during the last few seconds of churning. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed. Serve topped with extra candied ginger if desired.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk ice cream with 1 tablespoon ginger and cinnamon until blended.
• Return to carton and refreeze until ready to use, at least 15 minutes.
• Spoon scoops of ice cream into dessert glasses and sprinkle remaining chopped ginger on top.

CANDIED GINGER-MASCARPONE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn?t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let sit 10 minutes to infuse the flavor. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees F it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you do not have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat. Whisk in the mascarpone.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, put in 2 handfuls of ice cubes and add cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve or chinois (to remove the vanilla bean pieces) and into the smaller bowl. Chill until cool, about 1 hour, then stir in the crystallized ginger and continue according to the directions of your ice cream maker to freeze.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan combine the cream, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, vanilla extract and ginger. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat and let sit for 1 hour.
• In a small bowl, combine the eggs and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat to a homogeneous consistency.
• Bring the cream-ginger mixture back to a boil and turn the heat off. Immediately strain and whisk a third of the cream mixture into the egg-sugar mixture and then immediately whisk the egg mixture back into the remaining cream mixture.
• Chill the mixture over an ice water bath.
• Churn the chilled mixture in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions.
• Serve as is, or to make ice cream sandwiches, place 1 generous scoop of ice cream on the bottom of 1 Molasses Cookie and place another cookie on top. These can be done ahead and frozen. Let warm for 5 to10 minutes before serving.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and then the molasses. In thirds, gently mix in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out the cookie dough into 1-inch balls onto a sheet tray covered with turbinado sugar. Gently toss the cookies in the sugar, covering them completely. Place the sugar-coated dough balls on another sheet tray and gently squish a little.
• Bake for 9 to 10 minutes. Remove the cookies to a rack to cool.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large bowl lightly whisk yolks. In a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook sugar, fresh gingerroot, and water over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add half-and-half and bring to a simmer. Add hot half-and-half mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until a thermometer registers 170°F. (Do not let boil.)
• Pour custard through a sieve into cleaned bowl and stir in cream and vanilla. Cool custard. Chill custard, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 3 hours, and up to 1 day.
• Finely chop crystallized ginger. Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker, adding crystallized ginger three fourths of way through freezing process. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

Steps:

• Place ginger in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Partially cover saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil until ginger is almost cooked through but still slightly al dente, about 1 hour. Drain.
• Weigh cooked ginger and return it to saucepan with an equal amount of sugar. Add 2 tablespoons water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until ginger becomes translucent, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat and continue cooking, stirring, until ginger is crystallized and begins to clump in the middle of the pan.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle a large rimmed baking sheet with sugar. Pour crystallized ginger onto prepared baking sheet and roll in sugar, separating pieces. Transfer to a sterilized jar and store in a cool place for 3 to 6 months.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Simmer the water, sugar and ginger for 3-4 minutes in a saucepan, stirring occasionally to make a light syrup.
• Set aside and cool for 5 minutes.
• In another saucepan, scald the milk and cream.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup sugar and the ginger syrup.
• Set aside for 15 minutes to let flavors blend.
• Strain the ginger solids from the milk mixture and discard.
• Whisk in the egg yolks and crystallized ginger.
• Return to heat, either in a double boiler or heat diffuser.
• Heat gently, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes a thin custard. It will thicken slightly but should not be heated to a simmer or boil.
• Cool and prepare according to your ice cream maker instructions.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine milk, cream and ginger slices in saucepan over low heat.
• When bubbles start to appear, stir constantly for 5 minutes.
• DO NOT ALLOW MIXTURE TO BOIL.
• Remove from heat and discard ginger slices.
• Add sugar to mixture and stir until sugar dissolves.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Stir in chopped ginger.
• Refrigerate until mixture is very cold.
• Transfer mixture to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's directions.
• Freeze in freezer or serve immediately.
• If freezing let ice cream soften in refrigerator for 20 minutes before serving.