I have a few confessions to make... Let's call this ~ Me: "Before"
1. I never win anything.
2. I'm not a huge ice cream lover.
And now under the heading of "never say never"... Let's call this ~ Me: "After"
3. I recently won a Cuisinart ice cream maker from my friend Elle over at Elle's New England Kitchen
Isn't she beautiful? WOOT, thanks Elle!!!
4. I have a new found love of all things ice cream!!!
I was truly amazed at how fast, easy and fun making your own ice cream can be! If you don't already have and ice cream maker, I highly suggest this one by Cuisinart! I can hardly wait to experiment with all sorts of flavor combinations. Ben and Jerry, you'd better watch your back!
The first flavor I christened my machine with was one that will make your eyes roll back in your head and give a little groan of delight. I give you now...
MAPLE PISTACHIO ICE CREAM {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield - 2 quarts Prep time: 10 minutes
1 1/3 cups whole milk, well chilled
1 1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream, well chilled
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons maple extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups shelled and roughly chopped pistachios
-In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), combine the milk and sugar until the sugar has dissolved (about 1 - 2 minutes).
-Add the heavy cream and the vanilla and maple extracts. Blend.
-Add the salt and the chopped pistachios. Blend.
-Add the mixture into the pre-frozen bowl of your ice cream maker (follow your manufactures instructions), and allow the machine to work it's magic for approximately 20-25 minutes.
-You now have a soft serve ice cream that is ready to serve, if desired.
OR
-Transfer your soft serve ice cream into a freezer safe container and freeze for another few hours which will make your ice cream firmer and scoop-able.
Oh baby!!!! This ice cream will change your life! Well, maybe not, but it did make me a believer in all things frozen and creamy. So wrong and yet so right!
Until we eat again,
Labels: desserts, ice cream, ice cream maker, Let's Eat, maple extract, pistachio, pistachio nuts
