Flavor of the Week – Lemon Ice Cream

Ever since Roni got an ice cream maker for me at Christmas, we’ve been busy making ice cream.  Usually about once a week we try a new ice cream recipe, or make one up.  I couldn’t find a good lemon ice cream recipe, so I decided to sort of make one up.  For those of you who like lemon, this one is a recipe you will be sure to love!  This recipe brings all of the creaminess of ice cream but has a tartness somewhere between lemon sherbet and lemon sorbet.  For a milder lemon flavor, do not add the lemon juice.

Yield: about 1.5-2 quarts

Ingredients:

Zest from 3 lemons
1 cup cream
3 cups half-and-half

8 large egg yolks
9 ounces (by weight) sugar (about 1 cup)

juice from 3 lemons
3 tablespoons lemon juice (in addition)

1. Put the lemon zest, cream, and half-and-half into a medium sauce pot and slowly bring to a simmer.  Turn off heat and let sit for 20 minutes.

2. Whisk egg yolks until they begin to lighten in color.  Add in sugar in small increments and whisk to incorporate each time.

3.  Strain the cream mixture to remove zest and return the mixture to the pot.

4. Add approximately 1/2 cup of warm cream mixture to the eggs and whisk the eggs.  Continue adding cream in 1/2 cup increments whisking between each addition until approximately 1/3 of the cream mixture has been fully incorporated with the eggs.  Add egg mixture to the pot.

5. Slowly bring up temperature to 170-175 degrees, stirring constantly.  Mix should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

6. remove from heat and pour mix into heat-safe bowl.  Cover and place mix in the fridge for 4-8 hours.  Place lemon juice in the fridge at this time.

7. Add mix to ice cream maker according to instructions.

8. About 4 minutes before the ice cream is complete add in the lemon juice.  Do not add the lemon juice too early!  Adding the juice too early will cause acid in the lemon juice to curdle the milk.  We want lemon ice cream, not buttermilk.

9.  Pack into air-tight containers and freeze for several hours for firm ice cream, or eat it right away for a soft ice cream.

McDonald's Oatmeal

I usually avoid doing fast food reviews because… I expect if you are getting fast food you’re not really concerned about service, quality, or flavor.  I assume that when you get fast food that you are getting it because it is quick and easy.  But today, McDonald’s crossed a line.  I was so disappointed with their new Oatmeal, I had to warn others.

I’ve been hearing about McD’s new oatmeal for quite some time.  It is on billboards, commercials, and posters.  It looks so appetizing.  The fruit, the warm steam rising from the bowl.

It looks so good!

How could I resist?  I thought, “THE STEAM IS MUSIC NOTES SO IT MUST BE AMAZING!”  This morning it was snowing outside and I figured it would be the perfect day to try the oatmeal.  I went to the nearest McD’s and ordered my oatmeal.  This is what greeted me.

Wait a minute...

Watery muck with apples floating on the top. I understand that everybody likes their oatmeal a little bit different.  Some people like it runny, and others like it thick.  I personally was expecting the consistency that is shown in the promotional pictures.  The difference was only made worse when a spoon was involved.

I’m pretty sure not even Oliver Twist would ask for more of that.  While I appreciated the fresh chunks and raisins, the actual oatmeal tasted like it looked- hideous.  That being said, the Bwun loved it.  Don’t get it.  Instead, use the $1.99 to get a box of the generic brand of oatmeal and make it at home.

Maturity

I’ve heard that part of growing up is learning to tell the difference between wants and needs.

Help me out here, guys. I’m really not sure on this one.

Yeah. It’s a neon donut sign. THAT YOU CAN BUY.

(Just a disclaimer, because I don’t want to be lectured, I wouldn’t ever actually spend that much money on something that frivolous. Unless I had a ton of money. Maybe.)