Amaretti Ice Cream

Ingredients:
16 amaretti cookies, crumbled
4 shots amaretto or other almond liqueur
8 scoops French vanilla ice cream
Whipped cream, in canister
1/4 cup or 1 (2-ounce) package slivered almonds
Directions:
Crumble 4 amaretti cookies into each of 4 dessert cups and douse them with almond liqueur. Top with ice cream, whipped cream and almonds.

Vanilla Bean and Cannellini Bean Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
2 quarts vanilla bean ice cream
Finely grated fresh nutmeg

Directions:
Roughly mash the beans with the superfine sugar.
Soften ice cream slightly in the microwave for several seconds. Transfer ice cream into a large shallow mixing bowl and work in the mashed beans and few dashes of nutmeg together, quickly and as evenly as possible.
Transfer to the freezer and freeze for at least an hour or preferably overnight

Coffe Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 cups half-and-half

6 extra-large egg yolks

2/3 cup sugar Pinch salt

2 1/2 tablespoons ground espresso coffee beans, decaffeinated or regular

1 tablespoon coffee liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 ounces (1/2 cup) chocolate-covered espresso beans, chopped

Directions:
Heat the half-and-half until it forms bubbles around the edge of the pan and steam starts to rise. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until mixed. Slowly add the hot half-and-half until combined. Wipe out the pan and pour the mixture back into the clean pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 10 minutes, until it's thickened and the cream coats the back of the spoon. Pour the cream through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Add the ground espresso beans, coffee liqueur, and vanilla and refrigerate until completely chilled.
Pour the espresso cream into an ice-cream freezer and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. Mix in the chopped espresso beans, spoon into a container, and allow to freeze for a few hours. Soften slightly before serving.

Peanut Ice-Cream Sundae

Ingredients: (serves 4)
8 butternut snap cookies
1/3 cup light smooth peanutbutter
2 tbs caster sugar
1/3 cup hot water
8 scoops vanilla ice-cream

Directions:
Kids' task: Place the biscuits in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to gently crush. Combine the peanut spread, sugar and hot water in a medium bowl.
Kids' task: Spoon half the biscuit crumbs into the base of 4 serving glasses. Top with a scoop of ice-cream and drizzle with peanut sauce. Repeat with the remaining biscuit crumbs, ice-cream and peanut sauce to create a second layer.

Ginger Ice-Cream

Ingredients: (serves 6)
4 egg yolks
1/8 cup caster sugar
1 tsp cornflour
1 1/4 cup single cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/4 cup thickened cream
4 pieces stem ginger in syrup, chopped
Ice-cream cones, to serve

Directions:
Beat together the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in a large bowl until pale and creamy.
Heat the single cream and vanilla extract in a saucepan over low heat until nearly boiling, then pour onto egg mixture. Return the mixture to the pan and cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until thickened and smooth. Add the ground ginger and stir to combine. Place the saucepan base in a bowl of cold water for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming.
Whip the thickened cream in a bowl, then stir into the cooled custard mixture with the stem ginger and syrup. Pour into a shallow container and freeze until frozen at edges. Remove from freezer and beat with an electric beater. Pour back into container and refreeze. Repeat 2 or 3 times. (Alternatively churn in an ice-cream machine following manufacturer's instructions.)

Chocolate Brownie Cake with Ice-Cream and 2 Sauces

Ingredients: (serves 6)
6 oz good-quality dark chocolate
6 oz unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup whisky
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 cups caster sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 oz good-quality choc chips
Vanilla ice-cream, to serve

Caramel sauce:
3.5 oz muscovado sugar
2 tbs golden syrup
2 oz unsalted butter
3/4 cup thickened cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate sauce:
4. oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
3/4 cup thickened cream

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 340 F. Grease and line the base of a 9 inch springform cake pan.
Place the dark chocolate in a bowl with the butter, vanilla and whisky. Place over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water, and stir occasionally until the butter and chocolate have melted. Add the brown sugar and beat well, then add 7 oz of the caster sugar, and beat until combined.
Remove the bowl from the heat, cool slightly, then whisk in the eggs and sift in the flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Beat until just combined, then carefully stir in the choc chips.
Pour chocolate mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake starts to shrink away from the sides of the pan. Cool slightly before removing the outer ring from the pan.
While the cake is baking, make the sauces. For the caramel sauce, place the sugar, golden syrup and butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add cream and vanilla and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, stirring to combine. Set aside to cool.
To make the chocolate sauce, place chocolate in a medium-sized bowl.
Heat cream in a saucepan to scalding point, pour over the chocolate and stir until smooth.
To make sugar shards, line a baking tray with foil. Place the remaining caster sugar in a saucepan over very low heat and swirl the saucepan around occasionally, allowing the sugar to melt evenly. Once the sugar has dissolved and turned golden (this can take up to 15 minutes), pour the mixture onto the tray and set aside to cool completely before breaking into shards.
Serve the brownie cake while still slightly warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a sugar shard on the side. Pour over some of each of the caramel and chocolate sauces.

Banana Choc & Peanut Butter Ice Cream Terrine

Ingredients: (serves 10)
4 cups vanilla ice cream
7 oz chopped banana (2 small bananas)
1/4 lemon, juiced
2 cups chocolate ice cream
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
5 Double Delight Oreo biscuits (Peanut Butter 'n' Chocolate Creme)

Directions:
Line a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing extra to hang over the sides. Place half of the vanilla ice cream into a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Blend the banana and lemon juice until pureed. Fold through the ice cream until well combined. Spread into the base of the pan. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm.
Place the chocolate ice cream in a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Swirl the peanut butter through the ice cream. Spread over the banana ice cream layer. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm.
Place the remaining vanilla ice cream in a bowl. Allow to soften slightly. Use your hands to roughly crush the biscuits into the bowl. Fold the biscuits through the ice cream. Spread over the chocolate ice cream layer. Cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight to firm.
To serve, invert onto a chopping board or serving platter. Remove the plastic wrap and cut into slices to serve.

Pistachio Ice-Cream Pastries with Orange & Date Salad

Ingredients: (serves 8)
2 pints bought pistachio or any good-quality ice-cream
10 sheets filo pastry
1 oz unsalted butter, melted
7 oz caster sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tbs orange flower water

Orange & date salad:
1 orange, peeled, segmented
4 fresh dates, seeded, cut into slivers
2 tbs pistachios, chopped

Directions:

Allow the ice-cream to soften slightly, then pack into a lamington pan lined with plastic wrap. Refreeze until firm.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a large baking tray, then place a sheet of pastry on tray, brush with a little butter, then place another sheet of pastry on top. Continue layering and brushing until you have a 5-sheet stack. Repeat to make another stack. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Meanwhile, place the sugar, honey, cinnamon and orange flower water in a pan with 1/2 cup water. Stir over low heat to dissolve sugar, then increase heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
Remove pastry from oven and pour syrup over each stack, reserving a little syrup to drizzle. Set aside pastry to cool.
Use a pastry cutter to cut out eight 6cm rounds from each pile of pastry and eight 2.5 inch rounds from the ice-cream. Return ice-cream rounds to the freezer.
Make salad by combining orange, dates and pistachios in a small bowl. Add a little of the reserved syrup. Place a pastry stack on each plate, top with a round of ice-cream, then another pastry stack. Drizzle reserved syrup over top and serve with salad.

Maple Syrup Pecan Ice-Cream Loaf

Ingredients: (serves 8)
2 1/2 cups pecan nuts, roughly chopped
2 qurts vanilla ice-cream, softened
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup white sugar

Directions:
Grease and line an 3 inch deep, 10 inch x 3 inch (base) rectangular cake pan. Roughly chop 1 1/2 cups of pecans.
Place softened ice-cream into a large bowl. Add maple syrup and chopped pecans. Using a large metal spoon, gently fold in syrup and nuts until well combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Cover and freeze for 6 to 8 hours, or until firm.
Place sugar into a small non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook, tilting pan back and forth, until sugar dissolves and turns a deep golden colour. Add remaining pecans. Turn to coat. Pour out onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Set aside until firm. Break into pieces.
Turn out ice-cream cake. Top with toffee pecans. Slice and serve.

Rum & Raisin Ice-Cream

Ingredients (serves 6)
9 oz raisins
1/2 cup dark rum
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup golden syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbs treacle
2 1/2 cups thick cream

Directions:
Place raisins and rum in a pan and bring to the boil then allow to cool and macerate.
Place egg yolks, golden syrup, vanilla extract and treacle in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for five minutes until thick. Add cream and beat for two minutes. Place in a plastic container in the freezer for 45 minutes until beginning to harden. Fold through rum and raisins until well combined, then freeze until firm.
We served our ice-cream in home-made chocolate bowls. Simply melt 7 oz dark or milk chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, then set aside to cool. Dip the base of an inflated balloon into the chocolate. Remove then re-dip until base is well-covered in chocolate. Stand on a tray until it has hardened, then carefully deflate the balloon and discard. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Waffles with Hot Chocolate & Hazelnut Sauce

Ingredients (serves 4)
3.5 oz good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup thickened cream
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs Frangelico liqueur
7 oz Belgian-style waffles (Tasty brand), toasted
Vanilla ice-cream, to serve
Fresh or thawed frozen raspberries, to serve

Directions:
Place the chocolate, cream, sugar and liqueur in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Use a metal spoon to stir occasionally until chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
Place the waffles on serving plates. Top with ice-cream and drizzle with hot chocolate sauce. Serve immediately with raspberries, if desired.

Pistachio & Cardamom Ice-Cream with Rosewater Watermelon

Ingredients (serves 10)
2 cups pistachio coarsely chopped
8 1/2 cup vanilla ice-cream, softened
2 tsp ground cardamom
1 cup caster sugar
2 cups water
2.5 pounds watermelon, cut into 1cm-thick wedges
1 tbs rosewater essence

Directions:
Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add pistachios and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
Combine pistachios, ice-cream and cardamom in a bowl. Spoon ice-cream mixture into a large metal container. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 3 hours or until firm.
Combine sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Add watermelon and rosewater. Remove from heat. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool.
Divide rosewater watermelon among serving bowls and serve with ice-cream.

Coconut Passionfruit Gelato

Ingredients (serves 8)
2 cups milk
1 pint coconut cream
6 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup passionfruit pulp

Directions:
Combine milk and coconut cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until warm. Remove from heat.
Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar on high speed until pale and thick. Pour in warm milk mixture, whisking constantly. Return mixture to pan. Stir over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until mixture is hot (do not boil or it will curdle). Remove from heat. Allow to cool.
Pour mixture into an airtight container. Set aside to cool completely. Cover and freeze for 5 to 6 hours or until almost set.
Transfer mixture to a food processor. Process until smooth. Stir in passionfruit pulp. Spoon into a 5-cup capacity container. Cover surface with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze overnight or until set. Serve.

Chocolate Fudge Ice-Cream Cake

Ingredients (serves 12)
14 oz hazelnuts
5 oz butter, at room temperature
1 cup pure icing sugar
3 eggs
8 oz dark chocolate
1/4 cup Kahlua or Tia Maria liqueur
3 quarts vanilla ice-cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 F. Place nuts onto a baking tray. Roast for 10 minutes, or until skins split. Wrap nuts in a clean tea-towel. Stand for 10 minutes. Rub nuts in tea-towel to remove skins. Roughly chop.
Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.Melt chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring with a metal spoon until smooth. Stir chocolate and liqueur into butter mixture.Sprinkle half the nuts into a 3 inch deep, 10 inch (base) springform pan. Pour over half the chocolate mixture. Freeze for 30 minutes. Stand ice-cream at room temperature until slightly softened.
Top with ice-cream, then remaining chocolate mixture. Cover. Freeze for 1 hour. Press remaining nuts into chocolate mixture. Cover. Freeze overnight. Slice. Serve immediately.

Watermelon and Strawberry Sorbet

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
2.5 pounds seedless watermelon, peeled
9 oz strawberries, hulled, chopped
1 eggwhite

Directions:
Cook sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves and syrup comes to the boil. Transfer to a bowl. Cool for 1 hour.
Process or blend watermelon and strawberries, in batches, until smooth. Stir into sugar syrup until well combined.
Pour mixture into a container. Cover. Freeze for 3 hours or until almost frozen.
Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhite to soft peaks. Transfer fruit mixture to food processor. Process until smooth (not melted). Fold through eggwhite. Spoon back into container. Cover. Freeze overnight. Serve.

Banana Fritters with Green Tea Ice-Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup cornflour
1 egg
Vegetable oil, to deep fry
4 bananas
Icing sugar, to dust

Green tea ice-cream:
1/3 cup caster sugar
2 tsp powdered green gunpowder tea
1 cup thickened cream
1 cup thin cream

Directions:
To make the ice-cream, place sugar and 1/3 cup cold water in a saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Mix 1 tablespoon of syrup with the tea, then add to syrup in saucepan. Cool completely.
Whip the thickened cream. Mix with thin cream and tea syrup. Pour mixture into a shallow container and freeze until frozen at edges. Remove from freezer and beat with an electric beater. Pour back into container and re-freeze. Repeat 2 or 3 times. (Alternatively use an ice-cream maker following manufacturer's directions.)
Sift 1/2 cup plain flour and the cornflour into a bowl. Add a pinch of salt, the egg and 1/2 cup cold water. Whisk to a smooth batter with a hand whisk, then set aside.
Half fill a deep-fryer or large heavy-based saucepan with oil and heat to 375 F. (If you lack a deep-fryer thermometer, test a cube of bread - it will turn golden in 30 seconds if the oil is hot enough.) Peel bananas, cut each in half across the centre and toss in remaining flour to coat. Working in batches, dip each piece of banana in batter, then carefully drop in the hot oil. Fry for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown (you may need to turn the pieces over halfway through cooking). Dust with icing sugar and serve hot with ice-cream.

Strawberry Sundae

Ingredients
2 small scoops strawberry ice-cream
4 strawberries, hulled, halved
2 tbs strawberry sauce
3 marshmallows, quartered
Whipped cream, to serve
1 maraschino cherry, to garnish

Direction:
Place 2 scoops of ice-cream in a bowl, add the strawberries and drizzle with the strawberry sauce. Scatter with the marshmallows, add a dollop of whipped cream. Top with maraschino cherry.

Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae

Ingredients
2 1/2 tbs chocolate sauce,
1 tbs chopped peanuts, plus extra to decorate the glass
2 small scoops chocolate ice-cream
2 small scoops vanilla ice-cream
2 1/2 tbs peanut butter
Whipped cream and chocolate flakes, to serve

Directions:
Dip the rim of the sundae glass in the chocolate sauce, then dip in the chopped nuts. Place 1 scoop of each ice-cream into the glass, then add 1 tablespoon each of chocolate sauce and peanut butter sauce. Sprinkle over half the nuts, then repeat layers. Drizzle with the remaining chocolate and peanut sauces, top with whipped cream and decorate with chocolate flakes.

Honey and Cinnamon Roasted Pecan Ice-Cream

Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 oz pecan nuts
3 pints creamy vanilla ice-cream
1/2 cup vanilla custard

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Combine 1/3 cup honey and cinnamon in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH (100%) for 30 seconds or until warm. Stir in pecans and mix well to coat. Spread honeyed pecans, in a single layer, over prepared baking tray. Roast for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool. Roughly chop honeyed pecans.
Line the base of six 1/2-cup capacity ramekins with rounds of baking paper. Remove ice-cream from freezer and stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes (depending on the temperature of the day) or until softened slightly but not melted. Transfer to a bowl.
Stir in custard and three-quarters of the honeyed pecans. Mix until well combined. Spoon mixture into ramekins. Cover and freeze for 4 hours or until firm. Carefully turn out onto plates. Top with remaining honeyed pecans. Drizzle with remaining honey and serve.

Custard Apple Crumble Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients
2 pints vanilla ice cream
1 large custard apple
9 oz butternut snap cookies
1 cup pecans, chopped
7 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup Light & Creamy evaporated milk

Directions:
Stand ice cream at room temperature for about 20 minutes, or until it has softened slightly. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, halve custard apple and scoop out flesh. Roughly chop flesh and discard seeds. Place cookies in a snap-lock bag and bash with a rolling pin to roughly crush. Add custard apple, cookies and pecans to ice cream, mix until well combined and spread into a 1.5 quart container or dish. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours, or until firm.
Place chocolate and evaporated milk in a small saucepan. Stir constantly, over low heat, until chocolate has completely melted. Transfer mixture to a bowl to cool slightly. Serve scoops of ice cream with chocolate sauce.

White Chocolate Ice-Cream Pyramids

Ingredients

6 egg yolks
2 oz caster sugar
3 cups thin cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
3.5 oz white chocolate
Silver cachous, to garnish

Directions:
To prepare pyramid moulds, spray with a little olive oil spray and line with plastic wrap, or spray and line a 2 pint terrine.
Using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until pale and creamy.
Place cream in a pan with vanilla and bring to boil, then gently beat cream into yolk mixture. Return to pan and stir over very low heat until thickened. Remove from heat and add chocolate, stirring until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Place in a bowl, cool, then refrigerate until well chilled.
Pour mixture into a shallow metal tray and freeze for 1-2 hours. Transfer to a bowl and beat with electric beaters until smooth, then return to tray and refreeze. Repeat twice more, then place mixture in moulds or terrine and freeze until firm. (Alternatively use an ice-cream machine following manufacturer's instructions.)
To remove ice-cream from moulds, dip base in a bowl of warm water for a few seconds, then gently invert onto serving plates. Garnish with cachous and serve.

Chocolate Pistachio Ice Cream

Ingredients
18 oz vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1/3 cup pistachio kernels
18 oz double chocolate ice cream
1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 cup sultanas
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Raspberries, to serve
Icing sugar, to dust

Directions:
Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap. Soften the vanilla ice cream in a bowl. Stir in the craisins and pistachio kernels. Spoon into pan. Place in the freezer until firm.
Soften the double chocolate ice cream in a bowl. Stir in the apricots, sultanas and almonds. Spoon into pan. Freeze overnight until firm.
Remove from the freezer and place in fridge for 5 minutes to soften before serving. Use the plastic wrap to help remove. Serve with raspberries and dust with icing sugar.

Tiramisu Ice Cream

Ingredients
1 cup strong black coffee, cooled
1/4 cup coffee-flavoured liqueur (Kahlua or Tia Maria)
4 pints good quality vanilla ice cream, softened
4 oz Flake chocolate bars, crumbled
18 sponge finger biscuits

Directions:
Line a loaf tin with baking paper to cover the base and overhang the 2 long sides. Combine coffee and liqueur in a shallow bowl.
Soften ice cream, and divide evenly between 2 bowls. Don't allow to melt completely. Fold chocolate through half the ice cream and 1/4 cup of the coffee mixture through the other half.
Spread half the chocolate mixture over the base of the tin. Dip biscuits, one at a time into remaining coffee mixture and lay onto ice cream pressing in gently. Follow with half the coffee mixture, another biscuit layer, remaining coffee, biscuits and finish with chocolate ice cream.
Fold sides of paper over top of ice cream, wrap tin in foil. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.
To serve, remove foil and wipe outside of tin with a hot wet cloth. Run a knife down each end to loosen. Turn out onto a platter, remove paper and slice to serve.

Cheesecake Ice-Cream

Ingredients
9 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup thickened cream
3.5 oz Toblerone chocolate, chopped
2 1/2 pints vanilla ice-cream, softened

Directions:
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add cream, beating constantly until combined.
Fold cream cheese mixture and Toblerone through softened ice-cream. Transfer to an airtight container. Freeze for 4 to 5 hours or until firm. Serve.

Ice-Cream Bombe

Ingredients
2.5 oz dried cranberries (Craisins)
1/3 cup orange juice
18 oz mascarpone
3.5 oz caster sugar
1 1/4 cup thickened cream
2 slices candied orange peel, chopped into small pieces
3.5 oz nougat, chopped into small pieces
4 oz good-quality chocolate drops
1 tbs Grand Marnier (optional)
Rosemary sprigs dusted with icing sugar, to decorate
Silver cachous*, to decorate

Directions:
Spray a 6 cup pudding basin with oil and line with plastic wrap.
Place cranberries in a saucepan with orange juice and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, then cool.
Beat together the mascarpone and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the thickened cream and fold into the mascarpone, then add the cranberries, orange peel, nougat, chocolate drops and the Grand Marnier, if using. Spoon the mixture into the basin and freeze overnight.
When ready to serve, transfer to the fridge for 30 minutes to soften, then turn out and garnish with rosemary sprigs dusted with icing sugar and silver cachous.

Zabaglione Ice-Cream Cake

Ingredients
6 egg yolks
1/4 cup marsala wine
3/4 cup caster sugar
3 cups cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
4 cups crumbled amaretto biscuits
10 oz raspberries
10 oz strawberries
1 tbs lemon juice

Directions:
Line base and sides of a 9 inch spring-form pan with non-stick baking paper and brush sides with melted butter.
Place egg yolks, marsala and 1/4 cup caster sugar in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk until doubled in volume then chill over a bowl of ice. Beat cream until it forms stiff peaks, then beat in vanilla and icing sugar and fold into zabaglione mixture.
Pour a quarter of the zabaglione mixture into the pan and freeze for 15 minutes. Top with a layer of amaretto biscuits then a layer of zabaglione. Freeze and repeat, finishing with a layer of zabaglione. Freeze for 4 hours.
Place remaining caster sugar in a saucepan with 1/2 cup water and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. Add raspberries. Place in a blender and whiz until a smooth puree. Strain and discard seeds then add strawberries and lemon juice.
Pour the sauce over ice-cream cake and serve immediately.

Ginger Ice-Cream with Minted Lychees

Ingredients
1 x 4 pints ctn vanilla ice-cream, softened
1 x 4.5 oz pkt glace ginger, chopped
3 x 20 oz cans lychees in syrup
1/2 cup shredded fresh mint

Directions:
Combine the ice-cream and ginger in a large bowl. Transfer to an 4 x 8 inch (base measurement) loaf pan and cover with foil. Place in the freezer for 2 hours or until firm.
Meanwhile, combine the lychees and mint in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to macerate.
Turn the ice-cream out onto a clean work surface and cut into thick slices. Divide slices among serving plates and top with minted lychees to serve.

Poppy Seed Ice-Cream with Orange Sauce

Ingredients
2 pints basic vanilla ice-cream
1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup caster sugar
2 oranges, zested
1/4 cup brandy
Directions:
Stir poppy seeds into ice-cream during final beating or just before finished churning in ice-cream machine. (If using bought, soften in fridge for 15 minutes, then stir through the poppy seeds.) Freeze until firm.
Place the sugar in a heavy-based saucepan with 75ml water and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Continue to cook until the mixture is a pale, golden colour, then, very carefully, add 1/2 cup boiling water (be careful as it will splatter) and the orange zest. Continue to cook until the toffee melts and you have a smooth sauce.
Stir in brandy, then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
To serve, cut the ice-cream into squares, and drizzle with the orange sauce.

Fried Ice Cream

Ingredients
4 oz maderia cake, crumbled
4 scoops vanilla ice-cream
Caramel topping, to serve
Directions:
Place the cake crumbs in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a plate and set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
Working with 1 scoop of ice-cream at a time, roll the ice-cream in the crumb mixture. Place in serving bowls. Drizzle with caramel topping to serve.

Chocolate Ice-Cream Balls

Ingredients
4 pints vanilla ice-cream
3 x 13 oz packets choc melts (we used white, milk and dark)
Method
Line 3 trays with baking paper.
Using a small ice-cream scoop or melon-baller, scoop ice-cream into balls and place onto trays (place tray into freezer as soon as you have 17 on a tray). Freeze for 2 hours, or until very firm.
Empty 1 packet of melts into a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted.
Remove 1 tray from freezer. Press a toothpick into each ice-cream ball. Working quickly, dip balls into chocolate and place back onto tray. Freeze for 1 hour. Repeat with remaining ice-cream balls and melts. Store balls in an airtight container in freezer until ready to serve.

Ice Cream Baked Potatoes

INGREDIENTS
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 (1 ounce) envelope instant cocoa
4 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream
DIRECTIONS
Scoop out 4 balls of ice cream roughly the size and shape of small potatoes. Roll in the hot cocoa mix until coated. Place on a plate and top with a dollop of whipped cream. The ice cream will look like baked potatoes with sour cream on top. Eat and enjoy.

Tutti Frutti Ice-Cream

Ingredients:
2 pints vanilla ice-cream
5.5 oz coloured glace cherries
2 oz candied pineapple
2 oz candied orange peel
Ice-cream cones, to serve
Directions:
Remove the ice-cream from the freezer and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place the softened ice-cream in a bowl, add cherries, pineapple and peel, and stir to combine. Return to the ice-cream container and refreeze overnight or until firm. Serve in ice-cream cones.

Cassata

Ingredients:
Light oil or oil spray, to grease
1 pint pistachio ice-cream
1 pint strawberry ice-cream
2 pints chocolate ice-cream
Directions:
Brush or spray a terrine with a little oil and line with plastic wrap (oil helps the wrap stick better).
Remove the strawberry ice-cream from the freezer and soften slightly (you can do this by microwaving on high for 30 seconds). Spread the ice-cream into the base of the terrine, pressing down well and smoothing the top, then refreeze until hard. Repeat with the pistachio and chocolate layers, refreezing each layer before proceeding with the next, then return to the freezer to firm completely.
When ready to serve, dip the base of the terrine in a dish of warm water. Count to 40, then invert onto a plate, gently pulling on the plastic wrap to help ease out the cassata. Place on a serving platter and slice. Any leftover cassata can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrozen.

Black Forest Ice-Cream Cake

The warm chocolate sauce gives this cherry-flavoured frozen dessert a touch of elegance.
Ingredients:
Melted butter, to grease
250g butter, at room temperature, chopped
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
3/4 cup plain flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup milk
2 x 415g cans Woolworths Select Stoneless Black Cherries
1 tbs kirsch (optional)
2 cups vanilla ice-cream, softened
1 x 300ml ctn thickened cream
250g dark cooking chocolate, finely chopped
2 tsp vanilla extract, extra
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 23cm (base measurement) springform pan with melted butter to grease. Line the base with non-stick baking paper.
Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
Sift the combined flours and cocoa into a bowl. Use a large metal spoon to fold the flour mixture, alternately with the milk, into the egg mixture until well combined. Pour into the pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 10 minutes to cool. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Use a serrated knife to cut the cake in half horizontally. Place the base, cut-side up, in pan. Drain cherries, reserving 125ml (1/2 cup) of syrup. Add kirsch, if desired, to reserved syrup and stir to combine. Brush half the syrup over the cake in the pan.
Arrange cherries over the cake. Top with ice-cream and smooth the surface. Brush the cut side of the remaining cake with the remaining syrup. Place, cut-side down, in the pan. Press firmly to sandwich together. Place in freezer for 6 hours or until firm.
Remove cake from freezer and set aside for 15 minutes to make cutting easier. Place cream, chocolate and extra vanilla in a saucepan over low heat. Stir with a metal spoon for 5 minutes or until the chocolate melts and mixture is smooth.
Cut the cake into wedges and drizzle over the chocolate sauce to serve.

Caramel Fried Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 quart vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup honey
Oil for deep-fat frying
Directions:

Unroll pastry onto an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pastry. Prick thoroughly with a fork. Bake at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

Place pastry in a large resealable plastic bag; coarsely crush. Transfer to a shallow bowl. Using a 1/2-cup ice cream scoop, form eight scoops of ice cream. Roll in pastry crumbs. Cover and freeze for 2 hours or until firm.

In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry ice cream balls for 8-10 seconds or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Immediately place in chilled bowls; drizzle with honey and serve. Yield: 8 servings.

Sour Cherry and Black Pepper Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dark rum
2 cups dried sour cherries
16 egg yolks
10 ounces granulated sugar
4 cups creme fraiche or sour cream
4 cups homemade condensed milk, recipe follows *make recipe 1 1/2 times
4 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons cracked black pepper
1 vanilla bean (cut lengthwise)
In a small saucepan, bring rum and dried cherries to a simmer, cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and creme fraiche. In a 2 quart saucepan, let simmer for 5 minutes the condensed milk, heavy cream, black pepper and vanilla. Strain and chill.
Stir the cherries into the chilled custard, discarding the rum. Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions.
Homemade Condensed Milk:
6 cups nonfat milk
5 tablespoons sugar
Pour the milk into a medium heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the sugar and continue simmering 10 to 15 minutes or until reduced to 3 cups. Strain. Homemade condensed milk can be refrigerated up to a week.

Good News for Ice Cream Lovers

Good news for ice cream lovers: A recent Swedish study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that women who have at least one serving of full-fat dairy products a day gain less weight than women who don't. Researchers aren't entirely sure why, but it's believed that a compound in milk fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may aid weight loss. Health.com: Top 5 foods for women
Not all studies support the dairy-aids-weight-loss claim. But Gluck feels there's more evidence for than against, even if full-fat dairy's secret is simply that it's more satisfying. "Many women find that low-fat versions of dairy products like ice cream and cheese just aren't satisfying," she says, "so they may eat a lot of them -- downing hundreds of calories in the process, trying to fulfill their craving -- when just a little bit of the full-fat stuff would have done the trick."

Best way to enjoy it: Have a little cheese, ice cream, or a glass of milk each day. "You really can't go wrong with that," Gluck says. "Dairy should be part of your diet, whether you're trying to shed pounds or not. You need the calcium to maintain strong bones. And the vitamin D and CLA in milk both have cancer-fighting properties."

The 15 Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors

1. Vanilla, 29%
2.Chocolate, 8.9%
3.Butter pecan, 5.3%
4.Strawberry, 5.3%
5.Neapolitan, 4.2%
6.Chocolate chip, 3.9%
7.French vanilla, 3.8%
8.Cookies and cream, 3.6%
9. Vanilla fudge ripple, 2.6%
10. Praline pecan, 1.7%
11. Cherry, 1.6%
12. Chocolate almond, 1.6%
13. Coffee, 1.6%
14. Rocky road, 1.5%
15. Chocolate marshmallow, 1.3%
All others, 23.7%Source: International Ice Cream Association, 888 16th St., Washington, D.C., 20006.

Whats your favorite flavor?

Cherry-Vanilla Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS
1/2 pounds cherries, pitted
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped and reserved
8 large egg yolks1 teaspoon lemon juice
PREPARATION
1. Make the cherry syrup: Place 1 pound pitted cherries and 1/3 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until cherries soften - about 10 minutes. Run the cherries and any liquid through a food mill, strain the mixture, discard the solids, and return the liquid to the pan. Cook the cherry mixture over medium heat until it reduces to about 1 cup - 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool completely.
2. Make the ice cream base: Fill a large bowl with ice and water and place a fine sieve over another medium-sized bowl; set both aside. Combine the cream, milk, and vanilla bean and seeds in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until mixture just comes to a boil. Whisk the egg yolks and remaining sugar together in a large bowl until thick and pale. Whisking constantly, add the hot milk in a slow, steady stream to the yolk mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly using a wooden spoon, until the mixture coats the back of the spoon - about 2 minutes. Strain the mixture through the fine sieve into the bowl and place bowl in the prepared ice bath to cool.
3. Make the ice cream: Cut the remaining cherries in half, toss with the lemon juice, and set aside. Once the ice cream base is completely cool, stir in the cherry syrup and the food coloring, if desired. Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Fold in cherry halves, transfer to an airtight container, and freeze until solid. Ice cream will keep for up to 1 month in a freezer.