Fresh Mint Ice Cream Food

MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Blend mint, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt together on high speed until the mint leaf bits are tiny, about 1 minute. Add heavy cream and blend until uniform, about 15 seconds.
• Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions, about 20 minutes, adding chocolate chips during the last 5 minutes. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 4 hours.

FRESH MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the milk, salt, sugar and 1 cup of the heavy cream in a pot and heat over medium-low heat, stirring often, until everything combines. Add the mint leaves and stir to get them all wilted in the hot milk. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the milk return to room temperature. When it hits room temperature, chill overnight in the fridge.
• The next day, strain the mixture through a fine-meshed sieve. It's OK if a few tiny mint leaf specks get in there. Reheat the mixture over medium-low heat. Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl. In another bowl, pour in the other cup of heavy cream and set the fine-meshed strainer over it.
• When the mint-cream mixture is hot, about 150°F, you are ready to temper your eggs. With one hand whisking the eggs, slowly pour in a ladle of the hot cream. Do this three times total, whisking and pouring the whole way. Then pour the egg-cream mixture into the pot and stir to combine.
• Cook the mixture slowly, stirring often, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 160°F. Pour it through the strainer into the bowl with the other cup of heavy cream; doing it this way cools the mixture quickly. Chill everything down and churn according to your ice cream maker's directions.

FRESH MINT CHIP GELATO

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, stir the sugar and cornstarch to blend. Whisk in the cream and milk and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, about 10 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble.
• Transfer the cream mixture to a heatproof bowl and add the mint. Set the bowl over a bowl of ice water to cool the mixture down quickly and stir occasionally until cool; discard the mint after 5 minutes. (Don't steep the mint for too long or it will impart a grassy flavor; a quick steep while the cream cools will do.) Cover the mint cream and refrigerate about 4 hours, or until completely cold.
• Freeze the mint cream in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions until frozen.
• Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, set it over a saucepan of simmering water and stir the chocolate until it has just melted. Remove from the heat and cool until the chocolate is barely warm and still fluid.
• Transfer the gelato to a large bowl set over a bowl of ice. Working quickly, drizzle the melted chocolate into the gelato while whisking or stirring vigorously. The chocolate will flake apart as it hits the cold gelato, forming bits of chocolate throughout. If you prefer larger pieces of chocolate throughout the gelato, use a wooden spoon to slowly stir in the melted chocolate. Serve immediately, or transfer to a container and freeze until firm, 3 to 4 hours.
• Curtis serves his homemade gelato between waffle cookies.

FRESH MINT & CHOC CHIP ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a plastic bag, seal and freeze for at least 30 mins. Bash the frozen chocolate with a rolling pin until it shatters into small chunks inside the bag.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium heavy-based pan, then add the vanilla pod, scraping the seeds into the mixture. Heat the creamy milk, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling. Add the mint leaves and stalks, cover with a lid, and leave for 15 mins.
• Strain the liquid, pressing the mint with a spatula to extract maximum flavour. Discard the leaves and stalks, and scoop out the vanilla pod.
• Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar until thick and pale - about 5 mins if you are using an electric whisk. Return the minty cream to a clean pan and bring back to almost boiling.
• Pour half the hot liquid onto the egg and sugar mixture, whisking to combine everything before adding the remaining liquid. Return the custard to the rinsed-out pan and cook over a low heat, stirring all the time, until lightly thickened - about 3-4 mins. Take care it doesn't get too hot or it may curdle. Strain the custard into a bowl and leave to cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming. Chill the custard until really cold - it's a good idea to leave it overnight.
• Churn the custard in an ice-cream machine until frozen. Add the chocolate pieces just before it sets. If you don't have a machine, pour the custard into a chilled container and freeze for 2-3 hrs until the sides become icy. Whisk thoroughly to break up any crystals, then add the chocolate and freeze until solid. Leave to soften in the fridge for 20-30 mins, then serve in bowls or cones.

FRESH SPEARMINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Cook mint in a small saucepan of boiling water until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mint to ice-water bath. When cool, drain, and squeeze out excess water. Reserve ice-water bath.
• Puree mint and milk in a blender until mint is finely chopped. Transfer to a medium saucepan, add cream, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, whisk together eggs and sugar in a medium bowl.
• Gradually whisk 1/3 of the cream mixture into the egg mixture, then pour egg-cream mixture into the saucepan with the remaining cream mixture. Set over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 8 minutes. (Do not let the mixture come to a simmer.)
• Strain through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl, pressing on mint to extract liquid. Set bowl in ice-water bath. Let cool completely, stirring occasionally. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container, and freeze until firm, about 4 hours (or up to 1 week).

NO-CHURN FRESH MINT AND CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Bring mint and 1 cup cream to a bare simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit 30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring glass, pressing on solids; discard solids. Chill cream until very cold, about 30 minutes.
• Just before cream is ready, heat chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water), stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, heat in 20-second increments in a microwave, stirring between bursts.) Mix together sweetened condensed milk and salt in a medium bowl.
• Pour remaining 1 cup cream into infused cream in measuring glass. (You should have 2 cups; add more if needed.) Transfer to a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat cream, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high as it thickens, until billowy and stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes.
• Add a dollop of whipped cream to condensed milk mixture and mix in with a rubber spatula (this is just to lighten it so that the next stage-folding-is easier). Add remaining whipped cream, then sift in cocoa powder. Fold in, running spatula down sides and along bottom of bowl, then lifting up through center and over top while rotating bowl to integrate without deflating, until very few streaks of condensed milk mixture remain and cocoa powder is combined.
• Scrape about one quarter of ice cream base into a loaf pan that's at least 8½x4½". Using a fork, drizzle about one third of melted chocolate over. Repeat layering process, finishing with a layer of ice cream base, to create 4 layers of ice cream base total and 3 layers of drizzled chocolate. Cover with plastic wrap or an airtight silicone lid and freeze until solid, at least 8 hours.
• To serve, transfer loaf pan to refrigerator and let ice cream soften 10 minutes before scooping into bowls.
• Do Ahead: Ice cream can be made 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.

FRESH MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Begin by washing your pre-measured mint leaves carefully to remove any dirt, insects, or debris they may have on them.
• Strain the leaves and pat them dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
• Add the strained mint to the cup of whole milk in a small saucepan. Heat the milk over medium-low heat. It should be steaming but not boiling.
• Turn off the heat, cover the milk and mint leaves with the lid, and let it steep for at least two hours. You can let it sit for up to 24 hours, but be sure to refrigerate it after the first two.
• When the mint leaves are done steeping, pour the milk through a fine-mesh sieve and into a bowl to remove the leaves. Set the milk aside.
• Beat the egg yolks in a small mixing bowl until they are smooth.
• In a medium sauce pan, heat the cream and sugar together until it is steaming and the sugar has dissolved. It shouldn't be boiling.
• With a ladle, slowly drizzle some of the hot cream into the egg yolks. Whisk while you pour to avoid cooking the eggs.
• Once you've added about ½-¾ cup of hot cream, whisk the egg and cream mixture back into the sauce pan.
• Cook the custard over medium or medium-low heat until it thickens, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Avoid letting the custard bubble and boil, as it can curdle the egg yolks.
• Allow the custard to continue cooking until it is thick enough that you can run a finger across the spoon and see the trail you left. If it is runny and covers up where your finger crossed the spoon, continue to cook it for a few minutes more.
• Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard and refrigerate it until it is completely chilled. This will take several hours, and it will thicken as it gets colder.
• Prepare your ice cream freezers according to it's directions. If you need to put the machine's container in the freezer, make sure to do that the day before you are planning to churn the ice cream.
• Assemble the ice cream machine, turn it on to begin churning, and pour the chilled mint custard into the bowl.
• Allow the ice cream to churn for about 30 minutes, or until it's nearly at a soft-serve stage.
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt down 3 oz. (about 1/2 cup) of the chopped chocolate with the coconut oil. Heat it in 20-30 second increments, stirring after each to keep the chocolate from scorching.
• Once the chocolate is all melted, drizzle it slowly into the ice cream while it's churning. The chocolate will harden and distribute in tiny, crunchy bits.
• Remove the ice cream from the machine and immediately scoop it into a freezer-safe dish.
• Freeze the ice cream until it's firm. This will take at least six hours, but it's better left overnight.
• Pour the cooked custard through the sieve and into a clean bowl to remove any bits of cooked egg that may be in it.

FRESH MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine cream and milk. Add chopped mint leaves. Heat to a boil. Remove from heat. Cover. Let stand for about 15 minutes.
• In a bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. Strain the cream mixture and heat to a boil again. Pour cream mixture over egg-sugar mixture. Place bowl in a pan of hot water. Whisk until mixture is thick and creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Optional: Add food coloring.
• Remove bowl from hot water.
• Freeze ice cream in an ice cream maker for about 25 minutes or until thick.
• Transfer ice cream to another bowl and keep in the freezer until ready to serve. Scoop out ice cream into individual serving bowls. Garnish with whipped cream, grated chocolate, and fresh mint leaves.

FRESH MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Warm the milk, sugar, 1 cup (250 ml) of the cream, and salt in a small saucepan. Add the mint leaves and stir until they're immersed in the liquid. Cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Strain the mint-infused mixture through a mesh strainer into a medium saucepan. Press on the mint leaves to extract as much of the flavor as possible, then discard the mint leaves. Pour the remaining 1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream into a large bowl and set the strainer on top.
• Rewarm the mint-infused mixture. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mint liquid 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 spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Stir until cool over an ice bath.
• Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Perfect Pairings
• Make Good Scout Ice Cream Sandwiches by using Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies (page 223) to surround scoops of Fresh Mint Ice Cream. You can also get that same chocolate-mint cookie effect by layering the just-churned ice cream with a swirl of Fudge Ripple (page 210), Stracciatella (page 210), or crumbled bits of Chewy-Dense Brownies (page 221).

DOUBLE MINT CHIP ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the heavy cream, milk, peppermint extract, vanilla, salt and food coloring if using in a medium pot over medium heat and cook just until small bubbles start forming around the edge of the pot, 7 to 9 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat, add the mint leaves and set aside to steep at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a large, heatproof mixing bowl until ribbons form and the mixture is pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Strain the milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Whisk until the egg yolks are completely incorporated.
• Pour the mixture back into the same pot as the cream-milk mixture (do not wash the bowl). Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is very creamy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and an instant-read thermometer registers between 170 and 180 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes. Strain the mixture back into the bowl and cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. (For faster chilling, set the bowl over another bowl of ice water and stir frequently until cold, changing the ice water as needed.)
• Churn the mixture in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions until it's the texture of soft serve, 20 to 30 minutes for most models. Add the chocolate, reserving 1/4 cup for garnish, and continue churning just until incorporated, 5 to 10 seconds. Quickly transfer the ice cream to a chilled 9-by-5-inch loaf pan (a metal one will help keep the chill). Sprinkle the reserved chocolate on top of the ice cream and freeze for at least 1 hour before serving.