Happy Trails For Us: My Reluctant Blog

Colleen made a comment yesterday, about how this making ice cream is really about so much more, that hit me in the same place. Baking, and now ice cream, has become bigger than the recipe, but how could it not, as it is a community of people, working and talking together, about a mutual interest, playing with photography, helping each other get to a common goal; I'm really glad I am along for this ride.

But now about the ice cream. I like the recipes that don't involve making custard, I will confess - this week it was easy to mix the mascarpone cheese and cream, the flavorings and put it all away to chill (my blender has never been used so much). But first we had to make the ribbon flavoring, something new for me to try.

Once making the ribbon (and digging deep into the liquor cabinet for Kahlua and rum), and making the cream mixture was completed, it was time to it away to chill for several hours. I am learning that while making ice cream is not hard, you do have to allow for chilling time. The ribbon did get thicker in the refrigerator, but since it still seemed runny, I actually put it into the freezer along with the loaf pan I decided to use for layering, while the ice cream mixture churned away. Everything was pretty cold by the time the ice cream was done, and yes, it was softer than I expected due to the alchohol in the mix.

We came home late from a baseball game, so I decided not to scoop it out until the morning. It made a great breakfast for David, and he has called this one a winner. The small taste I had at the time made me agree - the Kahlua flavor was just amazing, and I think it was far easier to to than a traditional tiramisu - plus I prefer ice cream to puddings. I did not use all of the ribbon mixture, so I guess we could make another batch. But now onto Pina Colada Sherbet, and what I hope will not be an exhausting search for Thai coconut milk (actually I'm just happy that my long standing rum aversion seems to have disappeared during our recent vacation in Mexico).

I knew I would find a use for that solitary crystal coffee mug.