Lemon Verbena Ice For Oysters Food

LEMON VERBENA ICE FOR OYSTERS

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in a blender (not a food processor); blend on high speed for several minutes. Strain mixture through a fine sieve, pressing any solids dry with the back of a spoon. Pour it into a small container and freeze until solid, about 6 hours.
• To serve, scrape the ice lightly with a soup spoon to create a flaky texture similar to that of a granite. Serve immediately alongside or atop 20 to 24 freshly shucked oysters on the half shell.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM FROM A FRENCH COUNTRY HERB GARDEN

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, warm the lemon verbena leaves with all of the milk, 100ml of the cream and the sugar Press the leaves with the back of a wooden spoon to help the flavours release. Once warm, remove from heat, cover, and let steep for one to two hours.
• To make the ice cream custard, pour the remaining cream into a large bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water, and put a sieve on top.
• Use a strainer or slotted spoon to skim the lemon verbena from the milk and squeeze the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible back into the saucepan, then discard them. Reheat the lemon verbena infusion then whisk the eggs together and slowing pour in the warm infusion, whisking constantly.
• Scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously with a heatproof spatula, until the custard leaves a clear path on the spatula when you drag your finger across it.
• Immediately strain the custard into the bowl of cool cream and stir well until cool.
• Chill thoroughly, then freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serve with fresh leaves for garnish and a little lemon syrup drizzled over for a flavour explosion!

FIRE AND ICE OYSTERS WITH HORSERADISH SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce by whisking together all ingredients except for the oysters; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until ready to serve.
• Rinse and scrub the oysters with a stiff brush.
• To open them, on a folded kitchen towel, grip the oyster flat side up with another kitchen towel protecting your hand.
• Find the small opening between the shells near the hinge and pry open with an oyster knife.
• Try to keep the juices in the shell.
• Loosen the oyster from the shell by running the oyster knife carefully underneath the body.
• Discard the top, flatter shell, keeping the oyster in the bottom, deeper shell.
• Grill the oysters, shell side down, over direct high heat until the juices around the oysters boil and almost completely evaporate, 2-4 minutes.
• Using tongs, carefully remove the oysters from the grill.
• Spoon a small dollop of sauce on top of each oyster and serve with cocktail forks while oysters are hot.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CUBES

Steps:

• Fill 2 ice trays halfway with water, and freeze. Top each cube with a lemon verbena leaf, cover with water, and freeze for up to 1 week.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Bring verbena, milk, cream, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, then remove from heat and let steep, covered, 30 minutes.
• Whisk together eggs and sugar until combined, then whisk in verbena mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard thickens slightly and registers 175°F on an instant-read thermometer (do not let boil).
• Immediately strain thourough a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. Cool custard, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Freeze custard in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, about 1 hour.