Mint Syrup For Vanilla Ice Cream Recipes

FRESH VANILLA MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the milk and heavy cream in a medium saucepan. Tear the mint leaves into small pieces (you want to release as much oil from the leaves as possible to infuse maximum flavor), and add to the milk and cream mixture. Place over medium-low heat and heat until just steaming. Remove from the heat, cover with a lid, and allow the fresh mint to infuse in the milk and cream mixture for at least one hour.
• Strain the mint milk mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a medium bowl. Press the mint leaves with the back of a wooden spoon to release as much oil as possible (the cream milk mixture might be light green in color, don't worry!).
• In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until smooth and pale yellow in color.
• Transfer the strained milk mixture back into the same saucepan and heat over medium heat until just beginning to boil. Remove from the heat immediately. Temper the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks slowly, whisking continously with your other hand as you pour. Transfer the mixture back into the saucepan, and heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until the ice cream base has thickened considerably and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
• Once the ice cream base is thick, pour it through a fine-meshed sieve into a large heat-proof bowl. Place the vanilla bean pod on a cutting board and slice it in half lengthwise with a pairing knife. Using the back of your knife, scrape the vanilla bean caviar and whisk it into the ice cream base. Add the scraped vanilla bean halves to the mixture as well. Set the bowl in an ice bath, stirring every 10 minutes or so, until the base has cooled. Place ice cream base in an airtight container and set in the refrigerator until it has completely chilled.
• Remove the ice cream base from the fridge. Remove the scraped vanilla pod from the ice cream and discard. Churn the ice cream in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the ice cream in an airtight container, cover the surface of the ice cream lightly with parchment paper or plastic wrap (I use this type of container, which works great!).
• Freeze the ice cream for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours, or until firm enough to scoop.

MINT SYRUP FOR VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water to a boil and add the sugar. Add fresh mint leaves (or mint flavoring -- your choice). Simmer until thickened. (About 10 minutes.) Your are looking for a temperature of 223-235* F which is the "thread" stage
• Strain out the leaves if desired. Transfer syrup to a small metal or glass bowl or boat and let sit for 10 minutes. Can be used warm in this dish, but any extra can be cooled and stored in a covered container for up to one month.
• NOTE: Can also be made with Creme de Menthe which is how I was first introduced to it many years ago