Fig Newton Vanilla Ice Cream Blast Food

CHOCOLATE, VANILLA AND FIG LAYERED ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Let the chocolate ice cream soften slightly at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Evenly spread it on the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Freeze until hardened, about 30 minutes. Arrange 18 of the fig cookies in an even layer over the ice cream (don't press them into it) so they fit snugly together, cutting to fit if necessary.
• Meanwhile, let the vanilla ice cream sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Evenly spread it over the cookies. Cover the top of the cake with plastic wrap, and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap and let the cake sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the 2 remaining fig cookies into thin slices. Whip the cream with an electric mixer on medium speed in a small bowl until firm peaks form; stir in the sugar.
• Run a knife around the cake edge, and remove the springform collar. Top the cake with the whipped cream, and sprinkle with the cookie slices. Cut into slices with a sharp, heavy knife.

PISTACHIO AND FIG LAYERED ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Let the butter pecan ice cream soften slightly at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Evenly spread it on the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan; freeze until hardened, about 30 minutes.
• Arrange the fig cookies in an even layer over the ice cream (don't press them down into it) so they fit snugly together, cutting to fit if necessary.
• Meanwhile, let the pistachio ice cream sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Evenly spread it over the cookies. Cover the top of the cake with plastic wrap, and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap and let the cake sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream with an electric mixer on medium speed in a small bowl until firm peaks form; stir in the sugar. Run a knife around the cake edge, and remove the springform collar. Top with the whipped cream, and sprinkle with the pistachios. Cut into slices with a sharp, heavy knife.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Place ice cream on counter to soften. In a small pot, combine vinegar and water and bring to a boil. Add figs and reduce heat to simmer. Stew figs in sauce until they are soft and sauce is thick and syrupy, about 12 minutes.
• Scoop ice cream into glass goblets or other dessert dishes and top liberally with hot balsamic fig sauce and whipped cream. Garnish the top of the whipped cream with a little freshly grated nutmeg.

MAPLE-FIG ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water and the figs to a simmer in heavy small saucepan over high heat. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, turning occasionally, until the figs are very tender, about 30 minutes. Transfer the figs and 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid to a food processor (or add some water to make 1/2 cup). Blend until the figs are pureed and no large lumps remain. Transfer to a small bowl, cover and chill. (Fig puree can be made 1 week ahead.)
• Whisk the whipping cream, sugar, maple syrup, salt and egg yolks in a heavy large saucepan until blended. Whisk over medium heat until the custard thickens enough to coat a spoon (and the temperature registers 170 degrees F to 180 degrees F), 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk 1/2 cup of the fig puree into the custard, reserving the remaining fig puree. Transfer the custard to a bowl and chill uncovered until cool, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Whisk in the sour cream and brandy.
• Process the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours and up to 3 days.
• Scoop the ice cream into goblets or bowls. Spoon some Brandied Maple-Fig Sauce on top, sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.
• Stir the fig puree, maple syrup and brandy in a small bowl until blended. Cover and chill until needed. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead.)

FIG NEWTON, VANILLA ICE CREAM BLAST

Steps:

• in a medium bowl stir the 4 cups icecrem till slightly softened. add in your fig newton cookies chopped and stir till mixed place 4 cups of the mixture into 4 , 1 cup serving dishes top with confetti candy. serve

ULTIMATE VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the canister from the machine into the freezer a day before you want to make the ice cream. Next day, pour the cream and milk into a medium heavy-based pan, then tip in half the sugar. Slit the vanilla pod down its length with a small sharp knife and scoop out as many of the tiny black seeds as you can into the cream mixture. Cut the pod into three and drop it into the pan.
• Heat the cream and milk over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until it almost boils - you'll see a few bubbles at the edge. Take off the heat and set aside for 30 minutes so the vanilla can infuse.
• Put the egg yolks into a bowl with the rest of the sugar and beat with an electric hand beater for about 2 minutes until the mixture has thickened, is paler in colour and falls in thick ribbons when you lift the beaters. Using a measuring jug, scoop out about 125ml/4fl oz of the cream mixture and beat into the egg yolks to slacken them. Reheat the cream until it just comes to the boil, take off the heat and stir in the egg yolk mixture.
• Return the pan to a low heat and cook, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Watch that it doesn't boil - as soon as you see any bubbles about to burst to the surface, it should be thick enough, so take the pan off the heat so the mixture doesn't curdle.
• Pour the custard into a heatproof bowl, then sit it in a bigger bowl one third full of iced water to cool (this takes about 20 minutes). Stir occasionally to stop a skin forming. Put the bowl of custard in the fridge for 3-4 hours, preferably overnight, so it gets really cold.
• Get the ice cream machine running, scoop out the vanilla pod pieces, then slowly pour in the cold custard. Leave it to churn for 10-30 minutes (depending on your machine). When it stops, it is probably too soft to eat, so spoon into a plastic container, cover with cling film, then a lid, and freeze for a minimum of 3 hours. (It will keep in the freezer for 3 months but don't take it out, then refreeze.) Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.
• To make it by hand: in step 1, heat the milk, vanilla, and half the sugar without the cream (the custard will be slightly thicker). At the start of step 6, whip the cream so it's light and floppy, not too stiff, and fold it into the cold custard. Freeze for 3-4 hours, stirring once an hour until almost frozen, then freeze as above.

CARAMELIZED FIGS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Arrange figs, cut sides up, in a large shallow baking pan. Sprinkle sugar evenly over fruit and broil 2 to 3 inches from heat until most of sugar is melted and deep golden in places, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Immediately serve figs over ice cream, drizzled with vinegar.