Sunday, March 24, 2013

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon


3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed, small spouts left whole, larger spouts halved
Salt and pepper, to your taste
1 cup chicken broth

Brown bacon in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan, 1 turn. Add shallots to the pan and saute 1 to 2 minutes. Add Brussels spouts and coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook Brussels sprouts 2 to 3 minutes to begin to soften, then add broth. Bring broth to a bubble, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook 10 minutes, until tender. Transfer sprouts to a serving dish with a slotted spoon and top with cooked bacon bits.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream in the World

Makes a generous quart.

Chocolate Syrup:
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (55-70% cacao), finely chopped

Ice Cream Base:
2 cups whole milk
1 tbls plus 1 tsp corn starch
1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/8 tsp fine sea salt
1 cup heave cream
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbls light corn syrup.

PREP:
For the chocolate syrup:
Combine the cocoa, coffee, and sugar in a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar, and boil for 30 seconds.  Remove from heat, add the chocolate, and let stand for 5 minutes.
Stir until smooth and set aside.

Fir the ice cream base:
Mix about 2 tbls of the milk with the cornstarch in a small bowl to make a slurry.
Whisk the cream cheese, warm chocolate syrup, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

COOK:
Combine remaining milk, cream, sugar, and corn syrup, in a 4 qt. saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat and boil for 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry.
Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until slightly thickened, about one minute.  Remove from heat.

CHILL:
Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese mixture until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a gallon zip-loc and submerge in an ice bath until cold - about 30 minutes.

FREEZE:
Pour ice cream base into frozen canister and spin until thick and creamy.
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a double boiler.  Remove from the heat and let cool until tepid but still fluid.

Chill at least 4 hours.

MY NOTES:
I chilled it in a tupperware in the fridge instead of the zip-loc (too much trouble)
Source: Jenni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home
I haven't made this recipe, but Em has and highly recommends it.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Makes about 1 quart.

2 cups whole milk
1 tbls. plus 1 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 ounces (3 tbls.) cream cheese, softened
1/8 tsp fine sea salt
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbls light corn syrup
1 vanilla bean (I used vanilla bean paste)

PREP:
Mix about 2 tbls of the milk with the cornstarch in a small bowl to make a slurry.
Whisk the cream cheese and salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

COOK:
Combine remaining milk, cream, sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla (seeds and bean) in a 4 qt. saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat and boil for 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry.
Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until slightly thickened, about one minute.  Remove from heat.

CHILL:
Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese mixture until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a gallon zip-loc and submerge in an ice bath until cold - about 30 minutes.

FREEZE:
Remove the vanilla bean.
Pour ice cream base into frozen canister and spin until thick and creamy.
Chill at least 4 hours.

MY NOTES:
I used the equivalent of vanilla bean paste (read the jar for the amount)
I chilled it in a tupperware in the fridge instead of the zip-loc (too much trouble)
Source: Jenni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home

The Buckeye State Ice Cream

Makes about 1 quart.

2 cups whole milk
1 tbls plus 1 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 ounce (3 tbls) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted, natural peanut butter
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt (less if using salted peanut butter)
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbls light corn syrup
2 tbls honey
4 ounces chocolate (55%-70% cacao), chopped

PREP:
Mix about 2 tbls of the milk with the cornstarch in a small bowl to make a slurry.
Whisk the cream cheese, peanut butter, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

COOK:
Combine remaining milk, cream, sugar, corn syrup, and honey in a 4 qt. saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat and boil for 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry.
Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until slightly thickened, about one minute.  Remove from heat.

CHILL:
Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese mixture until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a gallon zip-loc and submerge in an ice bath until cold - about 30 minutes.

FREEZE:
Pour ice cream base into frozen canister and begin to spin.
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a double boiler.  Remove from the heat and let cool until tepid but still fluid.
When the ice cream is thick and creamy and almost finished, drizzle the melted chocolate slowly through the opening in the top of the ice cream machine and allow it to solidify and break up in the ice cream for about 2 minutes.
Chill at least 4 hours.

MY NOTES:
I used plain ole' Jiff of whatever I had around and just reduced the salt
I chilled it in a tupperware in the fridge instead of the zip-loc (too much trouble)
Source: Jenni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home

Lemon Frozen Yogurt

Frozen Yogurt Base:
1 qt. plain low-fat yogurt (or 1 1/4 cups Greek Yogurt)*
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tbls. cornstarch
2 ounces (4 tbls.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
zest from one lemon (reserved from below)

Lemon Syrup:
2-3 lemons
3 tbls. sugar

Advance Prep:
*Strain yogurt through 2 layers of cheesecloth for 6-8 hours (covered in the fridge).
Discard the liquid, and measure out 1 1/4 cups of the drained yogurt.

Prep:
For the lemon syrup:
Using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, remove the zest in large strips from 1 lemon; reserve for the frozen yogurt.  Juice enough of the lemons to make 1/2 cup.Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.  Remove from the heat and let cool.

For the Frozen yogurt base:
Mix about 2 tbls. of the milk with the cornstarch in a small bowl to make a smooth slurry.
Whisk the cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth.
Fill a large bowl with ice and water.

Cook:
Combine the remaining milk, the cream, sugar, corn syrup, and lemon zest in a 4 qt. saucepan, bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, and boil for 4 minutes.  Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry.
Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Chill:
Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the reserved 1 1/4 cups yogurt and the lemon syrup and whisk until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon zip-loc and submerge it in ice.  Let stand until cold, about 30 minutes.

Freeze:
Remove the zest from the frozen yogurt base.  Pour into canister and spin until thick and creamy.  Freeze at least 4 hours.

MY NOTES:

  • I used the immersion blender to mix the parts together (slurry, cream cheese, yogurt, etc.)
  • I tried the zip loc idea to cool it quickly once but not the second time.  It was too pesky to get it all out of the bag.
  • Source: Jenni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home