Steve Freides wrote:
> OK, the vanilla beans have arrived, the ice cream maker will be here
> shortly - what's your favorite vanilla ice cream recipe? I have zero
> experience making ice cream but I figure that, with vanilla beans and an
> ice cream maker, everything else I need can be gotten at the store and
> probably includes heavy cream and sugar.
>


There should be a recipe book in the box with the ice cream maker. I
use the recipe that came with my Cuisinart machine

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
2 egg yoks
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Combine the milk and cream in a large pot and scald over medium heat,
stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla
and beat them until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Temper the egg
mixture with some of the scalded cream, then add it to the hot cream and
stir slowly for 4 minutes, until it coats the back of a spoon.

If you want a special vanilla, cut back a little on the vanilla extract
and add half a vanilla bean to the bean while it is heating. Remove the
bean, split it and scrape the seeds into the cream. Allow the hot
mixture to cool then put it in the fridge overnight.

Pour the cold mixture into the freezer bowl and turn on the machine. It
takes 20-25 minutes for the ice cream to freeze and stiffen up. Transfer
it to a freezer safe container and allow to set up for 4-5 hours.





*** if using a machine with a freeze bowl, the bowl has to go into the
freezer at least two days before you expect to use it. It takes a long
time to get the freezing compound inside it cold enough.





If you want chocolate ice cream, use the basic vanilla recipe but chop
up four squares of bakers chocolate and att it to the cream mixture as
it is heating.