Ice Cream

For D & A, who are having fun with their new ice cream maker:

Vanilla Ice Cream

Whisk together:
4 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons nice vanilla extract

Add:
3 cups half-and-half

Heat the whole thing over medium-low heat, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until slightly thickened/steaming but not boiling (180 degrees).

Remove from heat; strain; refrigerate.

Spin in ice cream machine.

Variations:
- Add instant coffee granules to hot custard mixture. Amount is up to you.
- Reduce sugar to 1/2 cup; add 1/2 cup chocolate chips & 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to hot custard mixture; stir to melt chocolate.
- Add crushed Peppermint Joe-O's to finished ice cream.
- For ice cream sandwiches: works best with underbaked cookies, baked just long enough so that they hold together.