Lavender Tapioca Ice Cream Food

LAVENDER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat half-and-half to 175°. Remove from the heat; add lavender. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain, discarding lavender., Return to the heat; stir in sugar until dissolved. Whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon., Remove from the heat. Cool quickly by placing pan in a bowl of ice water; stir for 2 minutes. Stir in whipping cream. Press waxed paper onto surface of custard. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight., Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer; freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. When ice cream is frozen, transfer to a freezer container; freeze for 2-4 hours before serving.

LAVENDER (OR PEPPERMINT) ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small, heavy saucepan, combine cream, milk, sugar, and lavender. Place over medium-high heat and, with a wooden spoon, bruise and crush the herbs against the bottom and sides of pan while bringing mixture just to a boil. Remove from heat. Set aside for 15 minutes to allow the lavender flavor to infuse the cream mixture. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids. Discard the lavender flowers.
• Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Gradually whisk a ladleful of the cream mixture into the eggs, then pour the eggs back into the cream mixture, whisking.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring gently, for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Do not boil. Transfer this mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cold.
• Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
• Peppermint Ice Cream: Substitute 1/2 cup firmly packed clean, fresh peppermint leaves (1/4 cup dried) for the lavender. Proceed as above.
• Optional: The leaves won't give up much of their green color, so you can add 1 or 2 drops of red or green food coloring. Also, you can add a handful of crushed peppermint candies just 1 second, not 2, before turning off the ice cream maker.

LAVENDER AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Bring the milk slowly to boiling point in a saucepan.
• Meanwhile, mix together the egg yolks and sugar until thick. Pour into this the hot milk with the vanilla extract, whilst continuously stirring.
• Then pour the mixture back into the pan and heat gently, stirring until the custard thickens - do not boil or it will curdle.
• When you can see a film form over the back of your spoon it's time to remove the saucepan from the heat. Leave to cool.
• When the custard base is cold, stir in the cream and the lavender essence.
• Transfer the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months; bring to room temperature about 5 minutes before serving. Serve with poached gooseberries, rhubarb, apple pies and crumbles.