Cilantro Lime Ice Cream

Tangy, sweet Cilantro Lime Ice Cream is the perfect end to a spicy evening!

Well I’m back from Kansas! But I’ll post about that on Wednesday when I’ve had a little more time to sleep, catch up on life and see just how bad my hair looked in that humidity!

Butchie is also back! Say hi, Butchie! [Heeyyyyyyyy. -B.]

Okay, now that she thinks I’m ridiculous...Butch had a week off last week, by which we mean she was working late because her night editor had to go to the hospital. Lovely. That’s what you get for having a real career in DC: long hours and bosses who think everything is do or die. It’s August in DC for heaven’s sake! This city shuts down in August…except apparently for her office. [Well, that's the problem. Normally there are several night editors, but this time of year everyone is on vacation so there's only one. ANYWAY THAT IS A BORING STORY THE END. -B.] I love August. My work load gets cut in half and I still have interns. Aaaaah. So relaxing. Remind me of this in December when I hate my job.

But since she’s been stressed we went for the easy night and just picked up dinner, threw together some ice cream, and kicked back with episodes of shows she doesn’t have time [or a cable connection -B.] to watch. Delightfully calm….until you dig into that ice cream! Woo! Tangy! Wakes you right up! Calm it is not! Definitely one of a kind! [It would follow Mexican food really nicely. The cilantro is understated, but present, and the citrus punch in an ice cream, rather than a sorbet, is wonderful and unexpected. -B.]

Cilantro Lime Ice Cream

1 packet unflavored gelatin

¾ cup lime juice

¾ cup sugar

½ cup cilantro

1 egg

1 cup heavy whipping cream

½ cup milk

Pour the gelatin into the lime juice and allow to sit for five minutes. Combine the lime juice mixture and sugar into a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add cilantro. Allow to seep for 15 minutes. Strain out the cilantro. Cool the cilantro lime mixture completely.

In a stand mixer combine the egg and cilantro syrup. Beat for 1 minute. Stir in milk and cream. Do not whip.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker. Allow the ice cream to churn until finished and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Peach Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

A refreshing taste of summer! Sweet cream filled with fresh white peaches brightened by thyme and lemon!

I am so glad that the weekend is over for so many reasons. First of all, Butchie had to work late and missed baking night. So there will be no snarchy comments added to this post.  Secondly, and most happy for me is that this weekend I will be in KC! The weekend being over means I am one day closer to Friday afternoon and finally getting to visit Stephen! We've only been apart for two broken bones,  one surgery, four long distance dates, and two months. It's been too long!!! Just a few more days! Be looking forward to the post about the trip! He's got a conference on Saturday (seriously)  and to keep me company while he's in Wichita I've got three ice cream shops, a chocolate shop, and two BBQ joints I plan to check out... and a scale I plan to ignore upon my return.

Another happy reason that the weekend is over is that I can put a rather "Bad Jana" moment behind me. I went to a party with some friends, and even with an opening like that I can guarantee this story is not ending at all how you might think. You know those parties where there is really only one person excited about doing karaoke but they don't get the hint that nobody else is feeling it? That is painful, and still not as painful as the story I am about to tell you, which I'm sorry to say, does not involve my singing Karaoke. 

I asked a friend to grab me a cup of ice cream. Second, painful moment: I haven't had store bought ice cream at all this year. I forgot that it has no flavor and that there is a weird film it leaves in your mouth. But, being the finishing school drop out that I am, I stick my gum to side of cup and make a sad attempt at a store bought sugar fix. I set down my cup and continue with the conversation with my friend Brandon about how much we are just loving the Disney Princess Songs Karaoke (not kidding, it kind of felt like a five-year-old's birthday party). Then I realize that some guy had picked up my cup by mistake to go get more filmy ice cream....while Brandon and I stare in horror. He's going to realize it right? He doesn't realize that's NOT his glass? Oh I can't watch this...and I proceed to bury my head behind Brandon as he stares shamelessly on. The cup is now filled with mint ice cream, with a little that fell over the edge. The guy goes to lick the ice cream off the side of his cup.....

The next five minutes can be summed up with: "You two are horrible people! You saw I had the glass with gum on it and you didn't say anything?!?!?! You couldn't have done a little shout out to me? Warn me? You just sat there and watched while I licked someone else's gum!" 

I am a horrible person. I just sat there and laughed for five minutes to the point that I couldn't breathe. Between bad ice cream and worse karaoke and Disney Princess Songs....it just.....we just....let our inner children come out to play. They thought it was really really funny. Some people don't really care about germy stuff like that...this guy is a little more on the germaphobic side. Oopsie! If it were me, I'd have made his reaction look tame. So gross.

Between no Butchie, bad ice cream, worse karaoke and a chance encounter with germaphobics anonymous........I needed some REAL ice cream. Sweet, happy, yummy ice cream, made from fresh ingredients by hand with no film, no gum, and no Disney Princesses.

Enjoy! And as always, when you're at a party check your cup for gum! You too can prevent germ sharing!

Peach Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

3 peaches, blanched or not, cut into small pieces (I prefer white peaches)
1 tsp lemon flavoring
4 sprigs thyme
1 egg
Scant 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup cream

In a food processor combine the peaches, thyme and lemon flavoring. Pulse until smooth. 

In a stand mixer combine the eggs and sugar. Beat for one minute until light and fluffy. Gently mix in the cream, milk and peach puree. 

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker. Allow the ice cream to churn until finished and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.