Ice cream, two words that can excite most people. As you think back, what is my favorite ice cream? Is is different than what I liked as a child? Am I open minded about changing my favorite ice cream to something other than just chocolate or vanilla?
My answer is yes.
More than a year ago I borrowed a cookbook, Cucina Simpatica-Robust Trattoria Cooking
, from our friend's R's. This is the same great cookbook that gave us on of my favorite pizza recipes. What a wonderful cookbook!
, from our friend's R's. This is the same great cookbook that gave us on of my favorite pizza recipes. What a wonderful cookbook!
While I had the cookbook, I copied a number of recipes, including this one. As all cooks know, some recipes sound good, while others call to you. This ice cream recipe called out loud! I was expecting a nice strawberry ice cream, but what I got was a soft, sweet, bright and fresh ice cream. The basil acted like mint, it was super refreshing and so incredibly creamy rich ice cream with a super bright summer basil flavor. This ice cream is pink, and the smell is amazing, but it isn't a very sweet ice cream like you would get at the store. This is a unique (in the good way) ice cream. Please eat up!
Strawberry Basil Ice Cream
Recipe from Cucina Simpatica-Robust Trattoria Cooking
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1 pint strawberries, hulled, pureed, and strained
2 tablespoons Meyer's liqueur de fraise (optional)
Scald the cream, milk, sugar, and basil in a heavy saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and set aside for 1 hour, uncovered, to steep.
Strain into a bowl, discarding the basil leaves. Fold the strawberry puree and liqueur and chill for at least 1 hour.
Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer's instruction.
Makes 1 quart
Optional: I forgot to take out the basil leaves before I combined it with the strawberries. I love the flavor I got. Sweet but still savory. This is my new favorite, I know you will like it as well.
Cold Update: Ok, my heat is on and I am curled up under a blanket dreaming of summer. I was planning on holding this back for a few weeks, but man does it sound good! Stay warm while winter gets it's last laugh and spring will be here soon… if not then I am moving somewhere warmer than 24˚F. Cold nose, cold toes and cold cat do no make Kate very happy! (neither does my $250 electric bill for my 1 bedroom apartment)!
Our electric bill is always high too. Against my husband's wishes, I always crank up the heat.
ReplyDeleteThis ice cream looks yummy. I would have never thought to add basil.
I've had a similar combination with lemon instead of strawberry and was wowed with how good it tasted, now I need to try strawberry! And though I wish I could pity you for your heat, I cannot. We have been without heat for almost 2 months (our maintenance man is dragging his feet) and so the only thing I am feeling (beside the freezing 55 degrees we are currently living in) is jealousy. I want to be warm again!
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