Perfect winter flavor...Milk Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream

When I came across this one in David Lebovitz's book, A Perfect Scoop, I knew I had to try it or at least make it for Scott. He loves Guinness beer and luckily we usually have a few cans on hand so that makes it even easier. I first tried this at Bethany's Ice Cream Party and absolutely loved it. It is velvety and rich with a slight hint of Guinness. Even if you aren't in love with beer, the mild taste is intriguing and oh so good. I have now made this twice. First time I made it it was super creamy and I actually ate this before completely frozen (having friends over for dinner and of course made it last minute) but it was equally as good. So the second time I didn't have as much luck but I think I know what I did. As I mentioned my husband is fond of Guinness so I thought I'd do him a favor and add more beer for added flavor. Big mistake! Adding more alcohol affects how the ice cream willl freeze so this batch was icier and did not freeze so well. Stick to the original recipe on this one and you can't go wrong. It's a perfect winter flavor to sit on the couch and indulge in!

Milk Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream

David Lebovitz, A Perfect Scoop

7 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped

1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sugar

pinch of salt
4 large egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup Guinness Stout
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put the chocolate pieces in a large bowl and set a mesh strainer over the top.

Warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.

Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer over the milk chocolate, then stir until the chocolate is melted. Once the mixture is smooth, whisk in the cream, then the Guinness and vanilla. Stir until cool over an ice bath.

Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

New Feature: Spice Dish Saturday!

A while back the oh-so-fabulous Cakespy introduced us to EB of SpiceDish...with that introduction, we found a new friend, a charming person, and a ice cream maker a la mode! (ok, I just made up that expression -- what I am trying to say is she is AWESOME.) After following her wonderful blog and all the recipes she creates and/or tries, Tina and I had a wonderful idea -- let's invite SpiceDish to be a monthly guest blogger. So we asked and she said "yes!" How lucky we are!

Without further ado, here is the first installment of SpiceDish Saturday!

This is an ice cream for the adults out there who find themselves pulling melted skittles out of their carpets, bubble gum wads stuck in sox and new cavities in their kid's heads. This is a treat to that will use up that bit of pumpkin you have leftover from muffin making, the dregs of cocoa you haven't made hot chocolate with and what's leftover in those pumpkin heads full of 'fun-size' candy bars. It may feature kid-sized candy bits but its flavor is most decidedly adult. The deep chocolate base with a hint of vegetal pumpkin flavor both spiced by cinnamon is decadent all by itself, but the candy bits bring back those holiday memories.

Cocoa-Pumpkin Ice Cream With Goodies! (aka Holiday Aftermath)

1 cup whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

¼ cup dutch cocoa powder

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup pumpkin puree

½ tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Mixed mini-candy bars, chopped

In a saucepan add the milk, sugar, cocoa and salt. Heat while whisking until it froths up. Turn off the heat and add the pumpkin. Stir in. Chill until cold then freeze in your ice cream maker. 5 minutes before it is finished churning add the candy pieces. Enjoy!

We will enjoy! Thanks EB and welcome!

Beautiful photos courtesy of EB of SpiceDish as well!

TO DO TODAY: 1. Vote 2. Eat Ice Cream

For the first time in the history of this blog, we are telling you to put the ice cream eating second. Just for today. First thing today, go out and vote. On your way back from the polls, head over to Ben & Jerry's to get your free scoop! Happy Election Day! May the best flavor win!

And the winner is.....

Can you tell its the countdown to this Tuesday's big festivities at the polls. Yeah we know, we are an ice cream blog but we are amazed at how many connections ice cream has with the election and its our civic duty to keep our fellow bloggers informed. Today we give you the answer you've all been anxiously awaiting (I know sitting on the edge of your seats I am sure!).

A few weeks back we posted about the fun online election, Flavor Debate 08, that our friends at Baskin Robbins were having in honor of the Presidential Election. Just to give you some background in case you missed that post, the flavor debate was between Obama's "A Whirl of Change" ice cream (Peanut-Nougat ice cream whirled with chunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and a caramel ribbon) and McCain's "Straight Talk Crunch" ice cream (Caramel ribbon, chocolate pieces, candy red states and crunchy mixed nuts swirled into White Chocolate ice cream). Baskin Robbins stores across the nation had each flavor on hand and polls were open in stores and online throughout Sept/Oct to vote for your favorite flavor. And that people did. Baskin Robbins had nearly half a million people vote, and just as we expect Tuesday's race to be, it was way too close.

Obama 's Whirl of Change 51%
McCain's Straight Talk Crunch 49%

Now that was tight! Well this election was truly a yummy one. More instant gratification in this race but Tuesday's election has long term effects so if you didn't get a chance to vote in this tempting election you definitely must get out and vote this Tuesday.

Candidates for Ice Cream, or Ice Cream for Candidates?

Out of curiousity (or boredom? -- I am waiting for the few trick or treaters who actually walk up the large hill of our dead end street...yes, it will be a long night) I did a Google search for "[candidate name] ice cream" and here are some of my favorites.

Back in the early days of the 2008 race for the White House, slate.com got us excited for a new flavor idea for Ben & Jerry's, Yes, Pecan!...this name was thought up by Aaron Nathan. Or was it? Rumor (or comments below) suggest this was on the Obama site some while before Aaron's submission, but it seems that Aaron was not aware of this when he came up with the idea in the library. Either way, it's a great name and flavor idea, and we wish B&J would make it! Go here for the rest of the story and some other great Obama ice cream names.

Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 called for entries Photoshopping John McCain...the first entry (and undoubtedly our favorite) involved McCain and a big ice cream cone...if only I could be John McCain in that photo.

Not much of note on Sarah Palin and ice cream. Turns out she is a fan of Moosetracks Ice Cream. According to the LA Times, that's what the Republican VP chose when she, John, and Cindy stopped at an ice cream shop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Big news on the Sarah Palin/Ice Cream front. To make this banal story a little more interesting, the Denver Latest Word Blog notes a little faux pas made by the Denver Post: Apparently, in a story about a crash into a Baskin Robbins, someone mistakenly inserted Sarah Palin's picture instead of the scene of the crash. Nah, still not much more interesting.

Whatdy'a know Joe? In Biden/ice cream news, the basic story is that Joe Biden has been to a lot of ice cream shops. As the SeattlePi puts it "[Biden] is simply out there visiting ice cream parlors and keeping his famous mouth shut except for a lick or two after a couple of somewhat embarrassing gaffes -- a tendency for which he has been notorious throughout his career." (from "The Disappearing Joe Biden", Dan K. Thomasson, Seattlepi.com). Now there's nothing wrong with that, Joe. We've been known to shove ice cream in our mouths too, instead of risking making inappropriate comments.

If you haven't decided on your candidate yet, maybe your favorite ice cream story can help you shed some light!

"Yes, Pecan" image from Slate.com and McCain/ice cream photo from Indecision2008.com.