Guiness Ice Cream

This should have been a Saint Patrick's Day ice cream, but whatever. This is unusual but really tasty.

Guiness Ice Cream

1 bottle of Guiness Stout
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups 2% milk
2 1/2 cups light cream
1 tsp salt
1 cup miniature chocolate chips

Open the bottle of Guiness and let stand for about an hour. The beer should be flat; you don't want a lot of foam. Then, in a small saucepan, simmer the Guiness for 30-45 minutes. Don't let the beer boil: Foam galore! Your kitchen will smell like a brewery. When the Guiness has been reduced by a third, remove the pan from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

In a big bowl, stir the Guiness and sugar together until the sugar melts. Then add the milk, cream and salt. Pour into your ice cream machine and let the magic happen. When the mixture is semi-solid, pour in the chocolate chips.

The final result is a really good, really mellow concoction that's probably different from any ice cream you've ever tasted. It's not very sweet, as ice cream goes, and there's a bready undertone. As a friend said, "Yup, that's Guiness ice cream." The chocolate works well with the beer flavor and is a good palate cleanser between bites. If I make this again, I might add a dash of Bailey's for an Irish Carbomb Ice Cream. Mmmm.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

I've been slacking (and dieting), but I'm getting back into the ice cream frame of mind.

I have a bunch of people coming to my house on Friday to barbecue and celebrate Independence Day and I have promised them homemade ice cream.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups half and half
2 cups 2% milk
1 tsp salt
1 cup Reese's Peanut Butter Cup pieces

Zap the peanut butter in the microwave for thirty seconds, then mix with the sugar, cream, milk, and salt. Small warning here: the peanut butter is not going to mix well with the liquid mixture. Get all the big chunks broken up the best you can.

Toss in your ice cream maker and follow the directions. Amazingly, the peanut butter lumpy-ness sorts itself out in the machine. When the ice cream has firmed up a bit, stir in the Reese's chunks.

This is an intense peanut butter taste. Not for those who are all "meh" when it comes to peanut butter.