Strawberry Ice Cream

3 heaping cups strawberries

1/4 t salt

1/3 c sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c half and half

1/2 c heavy cream

1 t vanilla extract

Puree the strawberries with the salt in a food processor or blender. There should be about 2 cups of puree. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs until thickened and pale yellow. Set aside.

Bring the half and half to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Slowly beat the hot half and half into the eggs and sugar. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and pour the hot custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the strawberry puree, cream, and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight.

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.

Makes about 5 cups

Bruce Weinstein

Chocolate Ice Cream

1 c sugar

3 large eggs

1 c cocoa powder

1 1/2 c milk

1 c heavy cream

1 T vanilla extract

Place the sugar, eggs, and cocoa in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. With the food processor running, slowly pour the hot milk into the chocolate mixture through the feed tube. Process until well blended. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture to boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and pour the hot chocolate custard through the strainer into a large, clean bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the cream and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight.

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours.

Makes about 1 quart

VARIATIONS

Chocolate Banana Chip Ice Cream

Add 1/2 c chopped dried banana chips to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix the chips. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Chocolate Brittle Ice Cream

Add 1/2 c chopped peanut brittle to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix in the candy. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Chocolate Candy Bar or Cookie Ice Cream

Add 2 chopped candy bars or 1 c of chopped cookie of your choice to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix the candy. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Chocolate Cheesecake Ice Cream

Stir in 1/2 c no-bake cheesecake powder mix along with the cream and vanilla. Optional: add 1 cup crumbled cheesecake to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix the cake in. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Chocolate Marshmellow Nut Ice Cream

Add 1/2 c mini-marshmallows and 1/2 c chopped toasted almonds or nut of your choice to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix in the marshmallows and nuts. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

German Chocolate Ice Cream

Add 1/2 c shredded sweetened coconut to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix in the coconut. Proceed with the recipe as directed. Swirl in 1/2 c caramel sauce into the finished ice cream. Take care not to over-swirl or the carmel will "melt" into the ice cream. Streaks of caramel should be visible.

Bruce Weinstein

Cheesecake Ice Cream

1 c sugar

4 oz cream cheese (room temperature)

1 large egg

1/2 t vanilla extract

3/4 c milk

2 t grated fresh lemon or orange zest

1 1/2 c heavy cream

3 graham crackers (crumbled)

Beat the sugar and the cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla and set aside.

Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. Slowly beat the hot milk into the cheese mixture. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat.

Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs will scramble. Removed from the heat and pour the hot cheese custard through a strainer into a large, clean bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the lemon zest and cream. Cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight.

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturers instructions. Adding the crumbled graham crackers to the machine when the ice cream is semi-frozen. Allow the machine to mix in the crackers. When finished, the ice cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.

Makes about 1 quart.

VARIATIONS

Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Gently swirl in 3/4 c canned cherry pie filling into the finished ice cream. Be careful not to over swirl or the cherries will "melt" into the ice cream. Streaks of cherry "sauce" should be visible.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ice Cream

Omit the lemon zest, substitute peppermint extract for the vanilla extract. Add 1/2 c miniature chocolate chips to the machine when the ice cream is semi frozen. Allow the machine to mix in the chips. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Oreo Cheesecake Ice Cream

Omit the lemon zest, substitute crumbled Oreos for the graham crackers. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

White Chocolate Cheesecake Ice Cream

Omit the lemon zest. Add 1/2 c melted white chocolate to the custard along with the vanilla. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

Bruce Weinstein

Bottled Salsa

20-25 pint wide mouth glass jars

14 quarts or 1/2 box of peeled, quartered tomatoes

6 lg green peppers

4 yellow chili peppers

3 green jalapeno peppers

4 long red bell peppers

3 anaheim peppers

4 medium onions

1 bunch of celery (optional)

2T garlic powder

1/2 t paperika

1/2 c sugar

1 t pepper

1/4 c salt

1 c vinegar

2t ground cumin (optional)

fresh cilantro to taste (optional)

Wash glass jars and dry. Check tops of jars for any chips in the glass. Do not use any jars that have chips in the glass, because they won't seal.

Always buy new lids. Boil lids at least 5 minutes then leave in hot water until you put it on jars.

Chop all your vegetables. Simmer in big deep cooking pot. Add sugar and spices and simmer for 5 minutes. After mixture is warm turn down heat so it doesn't keep processing the mixture.

Keep on low or warm.

Fill up steamer with water and put on medium high.

Fill jars with salsa mixture to line (so leave a little room up top), and place on steamer. Place lid and ring on and seal. Fill up steamer with jars and process for 45 minutes. Check steam on the side and make sure there is a steady flow of steam and no whistling. You might need to turn down your burner to medium if there is too much steam. Remove jars from heat and let stand after the 45 minute processing time is up.

Susanne Nelson