Tangy Lemon Pudding With Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Food

LEMON THYME PUDDING

Steps:

• For the crumb base: Add the cookies and melted butter to a food processor and pulverize. Divide among 6 martini glasses.
• For the pudding: Stir together the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the milk and egg yolks and whisk to combine. Add the thyme and lemon zest and heat over medium heat, stirring, until the mixture barely comes to a boil. Simmer gently until it's thickened like custard, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Divide the pudding among the glasses over the base and chill for at least 2 hours.
• For serving: Top each pudding with mounds of whipped cream, then add a handful of blueberries and some mint to each one.

LEMON MERINGUE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the custard and the single cream.
• Whip the double cream until it forms soft peaks, then stir in the lemon zest and juice. Fold this into the custard mixture.
• Pour into an ice cream machine and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. Gently fold in the meringue, then spoon into a freezer container and freeze. Remove from the freezer at least half an hour before serving. To serve, scoop into the ice cream cones and eat immediately.

FROZEN LEMON MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• Make meringue layers:
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 200°F.
• Using the bottom of the springform pan as a guide, draw 2 (8-inch) circles on one sheet of parchment and a third (8-inch) circle on the second sheet of parchment. Turn paper over (circles will be visible).
• Beat whites with cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then increase speed to high and continue beating until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks, about 4 minutes in a stand mixer or 8 to 10 minutes with a handheld. Divide meringue mixture among 3 circles, spread evenly within lines, and gently smooth tops. Bake until firm and very pale golden, about 2 hours, then let stand in turned-off oven (door closed) until firm, about 1 hour. While meringues bake, put ice cream in refrigerator to soften.
• Slide parchment sheets with meringue layers onto racks to cool completely. Carefully lift meringue and peel off parchment.
• Make curd while meringues bake:
• Whisk together lemon juice, zest, sugar, yolks, whole eggs, and salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in butter and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until mixture is thickened and just reaches a boil, about 6 minutes. Transfer lemon curd to a bowl and chill, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Assemble cake:
• Line springform pan with 2 crisscrossed sheets of plastic wrap. Arrange 1 meringue layer (trimming if necessary) flat side down in springform pan and spread 1 cup ice cream over it, then evenly spread half of lemon curd over ice cream. Cover curd with another meringue layer, then spread remaining cup ice cream over meringue. Spread remaining curd on top, then cover curd with remaining meringue layer, flat side down. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
• About 1 hour before serving, put cake in refrigerator to soften slightly. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to platter, then cut into wedges with a long serrated knife.

LEMON MERINGUE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Make meringue:
• Preheat oven to 250° F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with salt until they hold soft peaks. Gradually beat in sugar and beat until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks. Spread meringue 1/2 inch thick on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in middle of oven 1 hour, or until firm to the touch. Turn off oven and let meringue stand 1 hour. Transfer meringue on parchment to a rack and cool. Peel off parchment and, working over a bowl, break meringue into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces. Meringue may be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
• In a heavy saucepan bring cream, milk, sugar, zest, and salt just to a boil, stirring occasionally. In a bowl beat yolks until smooth. Add hot cream mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until a thermometer registers 170° F. Pour custard through a sieve into a clean bowl and stir in lemon juice. Cool custard. Chill custard, its surface covered with plastic wrap, at least 3 hours, or until cold, and up to 1 day.
• Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker. Transfer ice cream to a bowl and fold in meringue. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.

EASY LEMON MERINGUE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a bowl mix the custard with the single cream.
• whip the double cream until it forms soft peaks, then stir in the lemon juice and zest.
• Fold this into the custard mixture.
• Pour into the icecream machine with the motor running and churn according to the manufacturer.
• When ready fold in the meringues gently and spoon into a container and freeze.
• Remove from the freezer about 30 minutes before serving and scopp into nice decorative glasses or ice cream cones.