Spearmint Crunch Food

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).

ANDES PEPPERMINT CRUNCH CHUNKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
• On low speed, add baking soda and salt, and then flour. Mix completely.
• Stir in oats, coconut, pecans, and Andes baking chips.
• Measure out 2 tablespoons for large or 1 tablespoons for small cookies. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet two inches apart. Press lightly with a fork so they are about 1/4 thick (like peanut butter cookies).
• Sprinkle some of the remaining chips (from the 10 oz. bag) on top of each cookie.
• Bake for 20 minutes for large cookies or 12-15 minutes for small. Do not overbake.