Mint Ice Cream Philly Style Food

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.

PHILADELPHIA-STYLE ICE CREAM BASE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine cream, milk, sugar, corn syrup and salt, and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer until sugar dissolves, then transfer mixture to a container and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours and preferably overnight.
• Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and freeze until hard.

THIN MINT ICE CREAM PIES

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until stiff peaks form. Fold in 6 finely chopped Thin Mints. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Place 1 small scoop mint chip ice cream into each of 6 mini graham cracker pie crusts. Spread until smooth, then freeze until firm. Top with the whipped cream, crushed Thin Mints and a Thin Mint half.

MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Special Equipment: Mix It In Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker
• Place milk and sugar in a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer on low speed for about 1 to 2 minutes or a whisk to mix until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream and mint extract. Add food coloring in drops to reach desired color. If not freezing immediately, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Turn on ice cream maker and pour in ingredients. Allow to mix and freeze until desired serving consistency is reached. Begin checking consistency after 12 to 15 minutes of freezing. If ice cream is not thick enough, pour back into the freezer bowl and continue mixing/freezing until desired consistency is reached, checking every few minutes.

PHILADELPHIA-STYLE VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, vanilla paste and salt in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly to dissolve as much of the sugar as possible. Add the heavy cream and whisk gently until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
• Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions until the consistency of soft serve. Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

MINT ICE CREAM, PHILLY-STYLE

Steps:

• Heat cream until just beginning to bubble around edges.
• Immediately remove from heat and add sugar, stirring until completely dissolved.
• Once cooled to room temp, add the peppermint extract, and a small splash of crème de menthe (be careful not to add to much! If you do, add a little cream or milk into the mixture.).
• If desired, add enough food colouring to give this a delightfully retro, min-green hue.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• You can chill it for just a few hours until very cold, but it the texture is superior if allowed to chill overnight.
• Add to ice cream maker and freeze; when partially set, pour in the chocolate-mint pieces.

MINT CHIP ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place the half-and-half and the heavy cream into a medium saucepan, over medium heat. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about 1/3 of the cream mixture has been added. Pour in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F. Pour the mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add the peppermint oil and stir to combine. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until it reaches 40 degrees F or below.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker; add the chopped candies and process according to the manufacturers directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.

THIN MINT ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch springform pan with plastic wrap with a 2-inch overhang.
• Put one box of the cookies in a food processor and process until finely ground. Mix together the cookie crumbs and melted butter in a bowl until the butter is incorporated and the cookie crumbs are fully coated.
• Spread the cookie crumb mixture on the bottom of the prepared pan; use your hands to pat the mixture down so it holds its shape and coats the entire bottom of the pan.
• Warm the fudge sauce briefly so it's just pourable; set aside to cool slightly. Coarsely chop one sleeve of the remaining cookies.
• Put the ice cream in a large bowl, add the chopped cookies and mix until the cookies are distributed throughout. Drizzle the hot fudge sauce on top and fold everything together so the chocolate forms a swirl throughout the ice cream.
• Spread the ice cream mixture on top of the cookie crust. Fold the plastic wrap up over the top of the ice cream cake and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Before serving, finely chop 2 of the remaining cookies; set aside. Press the remaining cookies flat-side in around the sides of the cake to surround it.
• Combine the cream and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Top the ice cream cake with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chopped cookies.