For the last few years there seems to be a trend on St. Patrick's Day of Guinness cakes or brownies, with Bailey's frosting or what have you. All good tastes, to be sure, but for the non beer drinker I could take it or leave it. The best part of the whole holiday (for me) is the part where we add the Irish Cream. IN ANYTHING. Now that I think about it, even taking a bath in it might be like a milk bath? Wait. No. That's gross.
Anyway...
So rather than go the beer route as so many are wont to do this time of year, I experimented
again with the ice cream machine. Yes there's plenty of recipes around the web like this, but I wanted the pure, unadulterated flavor...not muddled with vanilla or coffee. If the ice cream making seems like a potential addiction at this point yes that would be a good observation. Regardless, here's the results of some St. Patty's Day fooling around in the freezer:
Bailey's Ice Cream
5 egg yolks
1/2 C. sugar
2 C. heavy whipping cream
1 C. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 C. Bailey's Irish Cream (or other brand)
Start out by whisking 1/4 C. of the sugar with the 5 egg yolks in a medium bowl. Set aside. Next make the base in a heavy non-reactive saucepan with the cream, milk, salt, and 1/4 C. of the sugar. Heat over medium-high heat until just about to come to a rolling simmer. Take 1/2 C. of the hot cream mixture and sloooowly add it to the egg yolks, stirring constantly. Repeat with another 1/2 C. of hot cream mixture. Once blended,
gently add the egg mixture back into the saucepan, stirring constantly. Continue to cook over medium heat until the back of a spatula stays clear when you run your finger through the coating. Remove from heat. Strain through fine-mesh strainer into clean bowl. Put bowl in ice bath until cool to the touch; chill in refrigerator (covered) for 2 hrs or overnight. Right before putting mixture into ice cream maker, add the Irish cream. Churn according to machine directions, about 20-30 min. Freeze & enjoy!
Blending it with milk makes a fabulous alternative to a spiked milkshake by the way...just sayin'.
Doing a little spring cleaning today (ok, major overhaul) and decided to put my feet up and take a quick happy hour break with a springy refresco. The daffodils are in bloom and it's time the taste palate started changing too. Not having anything ready-made in the fridge I just fiddled with a few ingredients I had and came up with a decent sipper! Who knew? Not sure what to call it, but it sure hit the spot...
