Mocha Chip Gelato

I am moving in with my new roommate at the end of the month and since she is on a diet I need to start making things we can enjoy together.  I love mocha chip ice cream and I loved gelato when I had it in Italy, so I didn't think I could go wrong with this recipe....I was wrong.

First recipe fail, it called for cornstarch instead of eggs (which I later found out was an important ingredient in gelato, thanks to my mom who has been to Italy many times).  The second fail, it calls for instant coffee instead of espresso.  These fails lead to the strange thick texture and a weak coffee flavor.

I am still going to post the recipe so I know never to try it again!

1 3/4 cups 1% milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant-coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate

Stir together 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch.

Whisk together sugar, cocoa, and remaining 1 1/2 cups milk in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring. Whisk in coffee. Stir cornstarch mixture again and whisk into coffee mixture. Return to a boil, whisking, then remove from heat. 

Add vanilla, a pinch of salt, and half of chocolate to saucepan, stirring. 

Set saucepan in a large bowl of ice water to cool, whisking frequently. 

Freeze chocolate mixture in ice-cream maker. When nearly frozen, add remaining chocolate and churn until blended. 

Serve gelato sprinkled with almonds. 

If anyone has a good gelato recipe, I would love to try it.

Next time I will be looking for a recipe that calls for eggs and NOT cornstarch...gross!

Pumpkin Pie

Since I only love Fall for two reasons, and it is way too soon to dress up for Halloween, I decided to start making pumpkin everything to get into the spirit of the season.

1 can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cups packed light brown sugar (recipe called for dark but didn't have any)
5 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
pinch of salt
sprinkle of nutmeg
1 tablespoon bourbon (I didn't have this on hand. It was great without it but I would definitely advise using it if you have it around!)

Mix pumpkin and vanilla in a bowl, cover and refrigerate.  Whisk all the ingredients together.  Make sure the sugar is dissolved.  Whist in the pumpkin and blend very well.  Dump into the ice cream maker.

Now fill a glass with this ice cream and pour your favorite pumpkin beer over it for a Pumpkin Pumpkin Float.  Enjoy it with your friends during sunset on a roof deck, if possible!

Balsamic Roasted Strawberry

The next kind I tried was a little more creative.  I was very happy I tried something wild!

I just started off with a basic vanilla base (but this time I tried one with a couple eggs because it freezes better).  You can grab any recipe for this.

Now for the good part:

Large package of strawberries
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup

Toss the berries in the vinegar and sugar.  Place them on a nonstick baking sheet with sides.  Place it in the oven, turn to 300F.  Slowly roast them until they have given up their juices, look mushy and have a darker color.  This can take 30-45 minutes.
Place the berries and the juice in a bowl.  Add the corn syrup.  Mash with a potato masher.


Now, I mashed them with the potato masher but they got stringy.  Next time, I think I will throw them in the food processor for a second or two.

Try the ice cream on peach pie...it is delicious!  (Note: the ice cream is thawing in the background)

Andes Mint Chip

This was the first batch I made.  It is very simple, just the way I like it.

2 cups 2% milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
a couple drops green food coloring
1 cup Andes mint baking chips


Mix everything together (except baking chips).  Make sure the sugar is dissolved.  Dump into the ice cream maker and blend for about a half hour.  About ten minutes in to the freezing, add chips.

Done and done!

Hi Fans!

I just started making homemade ice creams.  My friends keep demanding bowls full and the recipes.  Therefore, this is a place for me to share and store the recipes I try...so stop screaming!