the sun shines warm

April 16 2010 by Kristin at The Kitchen Sink in Uncategorized » 23 comments

This time of year, I spend an inordinate amount of time checking the weather. Various media (a widget on my iPhone, Tom Skilling’s Twitter feed, weather.com, the ticker that inches across the bottom of any news channel, a little snapshot in the corner of my firm’s home page) have only fueled the fire. During the cold months, I abandon these media, knowing full well that the forecast contains only two choices: cold and colder. If a dusting of snow is on the way, I’d rather be surprised by it; if a big-bad-whopper of a storm is predicted, I’d rather not fix my hopes on a snow day that will never come. But with spring’s arrival comes my return to the forecast. I hang on every change in degree, every expected rain drop and, all the while, I hold my breath hoping against hope for a perfect day, when the skies open up and the sun shines warm.

Kevin gets in on the forecast fixation too and has been known to pontificate about arctic blasts and low pressure systems and southerly winds. (To his good fortune and mine, I happen to find this all incredibly attractive: we’re married.) Last week, we joined forces, training our sights on the weekend forecast—that most important of all forecasts (save for, Wedding Day Forecast, which is in another category altogether, especially when you get married in a garden). And this wasn’t just any weekend forecast, it was Kevin’s birthday weekend forecast.

Now, let me back up. That Kevin was kind enough to allow me to declare last weekend his Birthday Weekend was something of a milestone for a man who shuns celebrations and gifts and hoopla on April 11, the date he was born. In stark contrast to his wife, who proclaims November her birthday month and finds the perfect number of birthday celebrations each year to vacillate between three and five, he prefers the low-key route. I try my best to accommodate his preference, but I usually fail—and so it was that Birthday Weekend 2010 came to be.

We had big plans for the weekend and, though we wouldn’t let the weather stand in our way, we sincerely hoped it would allow us to enjoy the weekend even more. And, boy, did it ever—on Saturday at least. It was sunny in a strictly-sunglasses fashion. It was warm in a bare-arms-and-feet fashion. It was breezy in a fall-asleep-in-the-grass fashion.

It was summer-in-April and, in a word, it was perfect. There was even an ice cream truck and if that’s not summer-in-April, I don’t know what is.

Inspired by the ice cream truck’s nostalgic jingle, I decided to churn my first batch of ice cream of the season—a brown sugar ice cream. It was butterscotch pudding meets ice cream, in all the right ways—caramely, deep, creamy, cold.

Sunday, Kevin’s actual birthday, brought a dip in the temperatures and a arrival of grey clouds. We were, of course, expecting it (having checked the forecast and all) though. Plus, a bowl of ice cream, I find, is an effective means of pretending the weather is warm, even when the forecast says otherwise.

Brown Sugar Ice Cream
Adapted from Food & Wine

Yield: about 1 1/2 quarts

2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
8 large egg yolks
1 1/3 cups light or dark brown sugar
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon Scotch or rum

In a medium saucepan, bring the milk and cream just to a boil; remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the brown sugar. Very gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot milk and cream, then gradually whisk in the rest. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and Scotch or rum.

Strain the custard into a large bowl set in an ice-water bath and stir occasionally until thoroughly chilled. Working in 2 batches, freeze the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Freeze the ice cream in airtight containers for up to 1 day.

23 comments so far. »
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Shannalee says on April 16 2010 at 11:39 am:

This looks completely perfect, just like April has been, and I am loving it all.
Kevin says on April 16 2010 at 11:42 am:

I’ll be ok about celebrating birthdays if you keep this ice cream churning out! Thanks for making it a great birthday!
Scorpio Woman says on April 16 2010 at 11:48 am:

I’ll have to try this recipe with rum. It looks so yummy
Jessica @ How Sweet says on April 16 2010 at 12:12 pm:

That ice cream just sounds fabulous! Perfect for the hot weather we’re having!
Barefoot Belle says on April 16 2010 at 12:22 pm:

This looks so good, and is such a tease for me! Our ice cream maker is in storage for the next three years; I’ll have to settle for the local ice cream shop until then!
The Rowdy Chowgirl says on April 16 2010 at 12:22 pm:

I’m looking out the window, and we may actually get SPRING in April today here in Seattle, which will be reason enough for celebration! Not quite ready for ice cream trucks, but I’ll take what I can get.
Amanda says on April 16 2010 at 1:00 pm:

I watch the forecast like a hawk too. It’s a weird habit of mine, but the forecast predicts my mood for the day. Rainy? You bet I’m a little grumpy. Sunny? I’m all smiles!
Half Assed Kitchen says on April 16 2010 at 1:19 pm:

Hoo, girl! That looks awesome!
Maddie says on April 16 2010 at 1:35 pm:

Wow, are you using a loaf pan as an ice-cream tub? That’s a perfect idea…reminds me of the rectangular Breyer’s tubs my dad always liked. (Speaking of nostalgia, I love the Tom Skilling name-drop. I grew up on his “Ask Tom Why” column in the Tribune!)
Allison of "a for aubergine" says on April 16 2010 at 7:31 pm:

i never thought of making brown sugar ice cream. it looks divine! i am thrilled it’s ice cream weather now!
Polly Rice Sumner says on April 16 2010 at 9:32 pm:

Oh, yum. I too am totally obsessed with the weather. Which is a little silly for a SoCal girl. ;-0
molly says on April 17 2010 at 7:23 pm:

Oh, that flower of egg yolks made me giggle! I’m with your spouse, a low-key sort of celebrator, but even I could make room for a party involving brown sugar ice cream. Yum.
gemma says on April 18 2010 at 10:33 am:

Brown sugar ice cream sounds so lovely. I’ve bookmarked this for use!
my little expat kitchen says on April 19 2010 at 1:17 am:

How I love ice cream. Yours looks fantastic and creamy. I want a scoop! I hope this summer I get to buy, at last, an ice cream maker, so I can make this!
Magda
Shaheen says on April 19 2010 at 3:45 am:

I love your photos, like always. I have butter pecan ice cream on my mind..
lilly says on April 19 2010 at 4:10 am:

Yum! This looks divine! I can’t wait for warmer weather here in Ireland too! Those photos are so beautiful too, I love the idea of using a loaf tin. i’ll have to try making ice cream this summer x
Kristin at The Kitchen Sink says on April 20 2010 at 7:40 pm:

Shannalee: Me too. Me too. : )

Kevin: Noted! And you’re most welcome, of course. xo.

Scorpio Woman: That’s what the original recipe calls for, so I’m sure it’ll be great.

Jessica: It is! And, yes, just the thing to counteract a hot day.

Barefoot Belle: I suppose there’s always granita? But that local ice cream shop would probably be too big a lure for me too.

The Rowdy Chowgirl: I know the “take what I can get” philosophy well. I’ve heard Seattle’s been pretty great the last couple days. Hope you’re enjoying it!

Amanda: Now that sounds awfully familiar … : )

Angie: It is!

Maddie: It is! My family was a Breyer’s family, too. It’s easy to slide into the freezer in this kind of vessel.

Allison: That makes two of us! The ice cream is one of my favorite parts of the summer.

Polly Rice Sumner: There’s something about spring, isn’t there? No matter where you are.

molly: Well now I’m giggling too. : )

gemma: I hope you try it!

my little expat kitchen: Yes, yes, yes — invest in an ice cream maker. I’ll totally support your decision.

Shaheen: Ooooooh, butter pecan! That’s my grandpa’s favorite. I need to dig up a good recipe. Do you have one?

lilly: Yes, do! It’s so satisfying.
Esther says on April 21 2010 at 10:37 am:

I need an ice cream maker
and flowers pick themselves says on April 21 2010 at 3:24 pm:

that top photo is divine.

xo Alison
Kristin at The Kitchen Sink says on April 26 2010 at 6:39 pm:

Esther: It’s one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

and flowers pick themselves: Thanks!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) says on April 27 2010 at 12:08 pm:

I’m a birthday month-er too Love the pictures!!!
ingrid says on May 13 2010 at 10:19 am:

Oh, my! I just read the ingredients list…rich creamy caramel-y good!
~ingrid
the husband says on July 07 2010 at 10:32 am:

Delicious! My wife made this ice cream with your recipe. Thank you!