Sunday, July 19, 2009

Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream



My monthly group, Four Corners came over my house the other day. I love getting together with these ladies. They are the best. They are my source of support and strength. I remember when I was pregnant with my first child, I told them I was scared. I was really close to my due date and filled with trepidation and excitement over the upcoming delivery. They gathered around me and each put a hand on my big belly and they said a prayer for me and the baby. Talk about love and support. I am truly blessed to have these amazing ladies in my life.

So, of course, you know I go all out for them because I love to cook and I love them. I made a taco salad with my beans that I made last week and ground turkey with a little chorizo. A fairly light meal because the star, this ice cream, was to follow.

I am using capitals for emphasis. YOU HAVE NOT HAD CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM UNTIL YOU HAVE HAD THIS ICE CREAM! OMG. A little scoop of chocolate, decadent heaven. We did sprinkle a little cinnamon on top in our individula servings. This is why when I made it the second time for my parents, I added the cinnamon right to the mixture.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

adapted from this recipe from Cooking Light
* I did not use the vanilla pod for one of the two times I made this. I didn't think it made any difference in taste. Next time I will try it with 3 cups whole milk and 1 cup cream. It is VERY rich.

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk
9 ounces Mexican chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan combine the cream, milk, Mexican chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and cinnamon sticks. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.

Remove cream mixture from heat and let steep 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, put egg yolks, sugar, and salt in the bowl whisk until egg mixture is thick and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes. (I used my hand whisk for a little extra exercise. It didn't take long.)

Return cream mixture to medium heat and bring just to a simmer. Remove from heat and fish out the sticks. Whisk egg mixture and add a cup of chocolate mixture very slowly, whisking all the while. Slowly drizzle in remaining chocolate mixture, continuing to mix as you go.

Pour this custard into saucepan. Return to stove and cook over low to medium-low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until custard thickens a bit.

Pour custard into a couple of quart jars, cover and let cool. Place in frigerator overnight.

Freeze custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight plastic container and freeze until hardened.

Yield: MAKES 1 1/2 qts.; 12 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)

CALORIES 346 (62% from fat); FAT 24g (sat 13g); CHOLESTEROL 149mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30g; SODIUM 86mg; PROTEIN 3.8g; FIBER 0.7g

As if that is not enough. You can put a dollop of this chocolate sauce over top with some Spanish peanuts.

Chocolate Sauce

3 (1-ounce) semisweet chocolate squares
1 cup sugar
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Put chocolate in heavy bottomed sauce pan and melt the chocolate over low heat. Add the sugar and whisk in. Gradually add evaporated milk and turn up the heat a little, stirring constantly as you go. Once mixture has melted and sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla.

If you want a glossier and thinner sauce add 1/4 cup corn syrup to the mixture.

You see that monkey? He has his mouth covered- I am not sure if he is saying "oh my" or he is saying "wow I ate too much of this amazing ice cream."

12 comments:

Mary Bergfeld said...

Does you group need another member? This really does look lipsmacking good.

Karine said...

This ice cream looks amazing! I want some!

Selba said...

The monkey looks so cute :D

Unknown said...

Suddenly the vanilla ice cream I'm eating seems less than exciting :(
-www.lastfortypercent.com/blog

Katy said...

Lori, this DOES sound and look so good. I like how the fudge sauce kind of hardens to that delicious ice cream. Oh, I wish I had an ice cream maker.... someday!

Barbara Bakes said...

How great that you have a wonderful group of friends! The ice cream sounds delicious!

kat said...

I love Mexican chocolate so I bet I would love this

grace said...

well, clearly the addition of cinnamon has taken this above and beyond the traditional chocolate ice cream. and your little formed bowls are fabulous!

Lynn said...

I'm so glad to have found your blog, Lori. Your recipes look absolutely amazing. About chocolate ice cream, I have tried making homemade ice cream every summer and have yet to come up with a recipe that I think is good. I had just about given up, but yours looks (and sounds ;) ) so berry good I may give it another try. Thanks for the iinspiration.

Murasaki Shikibu said...

This sounds great and I can understand your fears of delivery as I was and am so paranoid about it I still have not had a baby which probably means never. Your mentioning vanilla pods reminds me of something sad that happened yesterday. I was multi-tasking (something I should not do!) and I knocked my vat of vanilla essence which was in Month 2 over and it shattered... :(

Lori said...

Mary- You can be an honorary member. We have been together for 9 years.

Karine- Have a virtual bite! Thank you.

Selba- Isn't he? I love him. I was kind of thinking of putting him on top but I thought that would be over the top aas the expression goes.

Brianna- You can make the sauce for that vanilla ice cream.

Katy- I wonder if this one would freeze okay- I am kind of thinking it would because it is so THICK!

Barbara Bakes- I truly am lucky to have them.

Kat- This was well worth the effort put into it!

Grace- I know you love your cinnamon. While I was writing up the recipe I thought of you. Your name is "cinnanomous" with cinnamon.

Lynn- I am glad you stopped by. I am still thinking of your unique tart making idea. Its such a great idea.

Murasaki- I wish you could stop over for tea so we could chat. We could chat about the child thing anytime you wanted to. I would give you all the support you needed and I was humanly able to give. And as far as your vanilla thing goes, "THAT SUCKS".

Zurin said...

the ice cream looks soooooo good! I have a weakness for ice cream and I always go for choc ice cream otherwise coffee.

Thanx for visiting my blog Lori.

Il sure come back to yours for more. :)