Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Culinary THROW DOWN: Fire!

It's been two weeks since Troll announced the topic for today's Culinary Throw Down and I haven't been able to get this out of my head since.



So, anyway.

Here's my Fi-wah Recipe:


No, not just ice cream. Moi's Red Chile Chocolate Ice Cream. What? You scared of a little fire with that ice? Don't be. It's delicious and the perfect way to end a festive holiday meal.

What:
Makes 8 1/2 cup servings:

5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 teaspoons red chile powder, preferably from Chimayo chiles

How:
Place the chocolate in a food processor and chop until fine (or chop by hand on a large cutting board with a very sharp chef's knife). Combine chocolate with milk and cream in a heavy duty saucepan over medium heat and cook until the mixture almost boils and all chocolate is melted, about 5-10 minutes. Stir often to prevent from boiling, sticking, or scorching.

Reduce heat to low.

Beat egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl until light yellow and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Beat in cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and red chile powder until incorporated. Add a quarter cup of the hot chocolate/milk/cream mixture to the egg yolk mixture in a slow, thin stream and whisk until combined. Then, gradually and in a very thin stream, add the eggs yolks to the chocolate/milk/cream mixture, whisking quickly the entire time to prevent the egg mixture from curdling.

Turn the heat to medium low and cook mixture, stirring continually, about five minutes or until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let boil.

Remove from heat and cool completely, either overnight in the refrigerator or buy placing saucepan in an ice bath, stirring occasionally until mixture is thoroughly chilled.

Once mixture is chilled, pour into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker (I recommend this one by Cuisinart – I've had mine for 10 years and it's the best), turn machine on and let run until mixture is thickened, about 25-30 minutes. Scrape into a freezer safe container and place in freezer until firm, about 2 hours.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a cookie of your choice. I like mine with Biscochitos, but any cookie will do.

25 comments:

h said...

Wow, the MOI household is really getting spoiled lately. Sounds like fabulous ice cream. I've never made it and wouldn't have guessed an ice-cream maker was so cheap.

Happy Throwdown Day!

Sandcastle Momma said...

That sounds SO good! I'm going to put that on my list of things to try very soon.

Gnomeself Be True said...

I remember when Robin Williams was funny...Steve Martin too. So sad.

Desert sounds great, but it's off the menu for the near future. I've got at least 8lbs to go.

Big Shamu said...

You know as little as I eat ice cream, this might be the perfect ice cream maker for me.
While I might be dubious about chili ice cream, I'd be game for trying it. Maybe we should buy a ice cream maker as a Bainbridge Island Housegift and have an ice cream party.

moi said...

Troll: That ice cream maker is totally awesome. Makes great gelato, sherbert, and sorbet. Treat yourself!

Sandcastle: The chile gives it a nice kick at the end, so if you're sensitive to heat of this sort, just ease up a tad on the amount you use.

Gnome: Portion control, man! Portion. Control.

moi said...

Shamu: I feel a blob summit coming on . . .

Gnomeself Be True said...

Actually, I'm making blueberry crepes for the family tonight.
I, the man of steel (will) will not have one.
There's your portion control.

Jenny said...

ahahaha. I was just going to say "I'll buy an ice cream maker and you two make the ice cream!" Wow. Very cool of you Moi-ster. I love it and I love homemade ice cream. It tastes nothing like store bought and what a great pick for the throwdown.

Gnomey - watch those crepes, you don't want to lose all your hard work. Portion control is NOT 5 crepes.

Big Shamu said...

Blob summit indeed since my Wii told me last night I was obese. Ya me.

Gnomeself Be True said...

Big Shamu

That little bitch inside the Wii is rude beyond words.

Big Shamu said...

Frankly she's too nice. She needs to yell at me and call me a sniveling blog potato.

moi said...

Who is this Wii bitch and why is she torturing my bloggie homies? Is she with Wii Fit? Pffft. Spend 2.5 seconds in my company and I will whip you into shape AND let you have crepes. Seriously. Bicycle for Shamu, running for Gnome. And if you won't do what I say, we'll sic Pirate on you. Problem solved.

Big Shamu said...

Ah but there's the rub, I need to develop some discipline, some stamina to do something every day. Especially in the winter. This Wii Bitch will help. Unless you're coming to live with me?

Buzz Kill said...

I have never had a spicey ice cream. I like the idea and I do have an ice cream maker. Maybe the boy and I will whip up a batch because the Mrs. definitely won't be eating it. This recipe would probably make a good Meican fried ice cream.
Hot on the outside and hot on the inside with ice in the middle. Kind of like a zen riddle. Nice job.

Making Space said...

Good LORD woman. Faint. My mouth just burst into flames reading that.

Arriba arriba andale orale y HIJOLE!!!!!

Making Space said...

I just read the comments section AFTER posting my comment. Tsk...

Shamu, reading without my glasses I got that the Wii BUTCH is yelling at you. Somehow that sounded like somethin' to get in shape for. Just sayin.

Jenny said...

wii bitch is sometimes nice. She asks if you want to hear some fitness tips BEFORE she tells you "it's been 30 days since we've seen you." Yah, I swear at the wii bitch, it's true.

Aunty Belle said...

Oh wow!!

I will definitely try this chocolate cold fire. Yummy!

I'se up--in the nick o' time fer Wednesday. that is iffin' 11:32 counts. :)

Aunty Belle said...

Wait...WHY is Gnomey gettin' all svelte? Is thar a summit comin'?

fishy said...

Morning Moi,
It's early am at the Pond and this post is making be wonder why we don't eat ice cream for breakfast?
Reading all these entries makes me realize, I am definitely a culinary non-starter :-(

I think we might have an ice cream making gizmo in our store room, so mebbe you've inspired me to go rummage. Course I have a rule, no breakfast before Wii aerobics.

Big Shamu said...

Actually the Wii trainer is fairly pleasant which is ok but I wish you could choose the personality of the trainer. I could use a dose of Drill Sargent.

Doris Rose said...

yummo, on my way over...hold the whip cream till I get there.

LaDivaCucina said...

YUM YUM YUM!!! I loves me some spicy chocolate...also with cinnamon AND ginger?! YOWSA, baby! I have the same ice cream maker so I'm game to try this, will have to look for the chimayo chiles though. I just had some spicy chocolate chile sauce with churros at Michelle Bernstein's new place last Friday. I love hot and sweet. Like chili mango margaritas.

Moi, I'm up finally, who's judging this round? I thought it was Troll?

Ok, slowly going round to see others, actually trying to work and make some $!! Back to it!

Pam said...

Oooooooh, I would so love to try this ice cream. A perfect winter ice cream perhaps?

Anyway, come finale snarking if you get the chance.

LaDivaCucina said...

Okie dokie, I've posted the next challenge!