French Silk Ice Cream Food

FRENCH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, lightly whisk together the yolks and half of the sugar.
• In a non-reactive saucepan combine the cream, 1 cup of the milk, the remaining sugar, and the salt.
• Split the vanilla bean in half, lengthwise, to expose the tar-like seeds inside the pod. Scrape the seeds loose with a knife; add the bean and the seeds to the cream mixture.
• Heat the cream over medium-high heat until just at a boil. Remove from the heat. Gradually pour the hot liquid into the yolks, while whisking constantly. Return the cream-egg mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring the mixture constantly, with a wooden spoon in a figure-8 motion, until thickened, about 10 minutes. When the ice cream mixture is properly cooked it should coat the back of a spoon, be satiny thick, and be free of any bubbles on the surface. (If you taste the ice cream base it should have a slight egg-y taste.) When thickened, pour in the reserved milk to prevent the mixture from overcooking. Strain into a medium bowl. Add the cognac if desired.
• Fill another bowl with ice. Set the bowl of ice cream base in the ice and stir until thoroughly chilled. Freeze the base in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. (Take care not to over churn the ice cream or it will get a grainy texture.) Transfer the ice cream to the freezer to set up for at least 1 hour. Serve.

FRENCH SILK ICE CREAM ROLL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil or waxed paper; grease with shortening. In medium bowl, mix flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, the baking powder and salt; set aside.
• Beat eggs in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 5 minutes or until very thick and lemon colored. Pour eggs into large bowl; gradually beat in granulated sugar on low speed. Beat in water and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually mix in flour mixture, beating just until batter is smooth. Pour into pan, spreading batter to corners.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Loosen cake from edges of pan; turn upside down onto towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Carefully remove foil; trim off stiff edges of cake if necessary. While hot, roll cake and towel from narrow end. Cool on wire rack at least 30 minutes.
• Unroll cake, leaving end of cake rolled up; remove towel. Quickly spread ice cream over cake, pushing ice cream up into rolled-up end of cake. Roll up and place seam side down on piece of foil.
• Beat butter, powdered sugar, baking chocolate and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in medium bowl on low speed until blended. Gradually beat in milk until light and fluffy. Frost cake roll with frosting. Sprinkle with additional cocoa. Store covered in freezer.