This is the ultimate ice cream recipe book, the Holy Grail of ice cream if you will. Not only does it have tried and true favorites like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and shows you different approaches to making them (e.g. Philadelphia style which is with no eggs, and custard-based, which is with eggs) but it also has some of the most fun, unusual flavors that ice cream aficionados will be clamoring to try.
With flavors like:
saffron
black pepper
pear pecorino
parsley
goat cheese
rice
avocado
lavender honey
roquefort honey
olive oil
you've gotta give Lebovitz 5 stars for creativity.
But once you get past the novelty of the creative flavors, you're still left with a mouth-watering, delicious batch of ice cream. Lebovitz is not just making these unusual ice cream flavors for the shock value of it. He truly cares about making a good product, and would never steer the home cook wrong. Every flavor of ice cream I've made with this book has turned out delicious.
So far I've made:
olive oil
Aztec "hot" chocolate
basil
ginger
rice
green tea
oh yeah, and vanilla :)
and they have all been outstanding. If you are even the least bit interested in making your own ice cream at home, this book will convince you to be full-fledged, gung-ho about making your own ice cream.
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| This was my first attempt at making green tea (matcha) ice cream and it was delicious! |
The Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments by David Lebovitz
Published: May 2007
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 256
Genre: Cookbook
Audience: Foodies and Ice Cream Lovers
Disclosure: Purchased Copy
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You have got to try the Panforte ice cream! It is my favorite so far.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right. I haven't bought store bought ice cream since buying my ice cream machine and this book.
I have made a few recipes (I want to make more, but need to limit myself!!) Out of the ones you'd made, I'd also made vanilla (French style) and Green Tea. Loved both! Not usually a vanilla person (would eat it, but not a favorite) until I had this one! I'd always loved green tea ice cream, and some ready-made ones were terrible. So I'm glad I am able to make my own now. I need to try some of the more unusual ones!
ReplyDeleteI am dying to have me some green tea ice cream. I ate it a while back at a Japanese restaurant, and I absolutely fell in love with the flavor. Problem is I can't seem to find it in stores around where I live. Maybe I should invest in an ice cream machine.
ReplyDeleteMarg, ice cream makers are not that expensive and oh so easy to use. I think the one my husband bought me for my birthday a couple years ago was only $40 and we've gotten TONS of use out of it. The key is to always keep the container in the freezer so when the mood strikes you to make ice cream, it's ready to go. Otherwise, you're going to have to wait 24 hours for it to freeze before you can put the ice cream base in the container to freeze.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to buy an ice cream maker, but was afraid the ice cream just wouldn't turn out right. You have now convinced me to go ahead just so I can get this great book!
ReplyDeleteI am curious what the olive oil ice cream was like...
@TheBookGirl DO IT! Making your own ice cream is so easy and so much better than anything you'll get in a grocery store.
ReplyDeleteOlive oil ice cream is FANTASTIC! We automatically think olive oil is only for savory applications, but EVOO is actually quite fruity. When you combine it with milk and sugar, it has a lovely mild flavor.
Yum! I *love* green tea ice cream, and if I knew how to make it at home I too would never again go store-bought. The Aztec "hot" chocolate also sounds awesome - I love spicy chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI had not checked out this book-I love making my own ice cream-although I must say, fruit flavors are my favorite in the summertime. I am always looking for another ice cream book so I will need to check this one out. I have a gelato book I bought in Italy years ago-however translating is always a deterrant to pulling it out on the spot.
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't be, but I'm surprised at the wide variety of flavors you've mentioned here for ice cream. This is way beyond the 39 at Baskin Robins. I'm intrigued enough to see if my library has a copy. Your green tea ice cream looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a great cookbook, I need to get out the ice cream maker already! The matcha ice cream looks so good! I love the color.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a deletable cookbook! All the flavors sound so unusual but Roquefort honey ice cream is a flavor that I'd like to try as I can't even begin to imagine what it tastes like.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time joining in Beth's event ..I am really enjoying it!
Oooohh. My Weekend Cooking post this week is about ice cream to, but I only am reading about it, not actually making it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a great fan of David Lebovitz's blog. I've been thinking about this book for a while. I'm sure I should buy it. Goats cheese ice cream sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation! I will have to get this one for myself as well as anyone else I know who has an ice cream maker. This would also make a great wedding present (along with an ice cream maker).
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big ice cream fan but this looks creamy delicious! :)
ReplyDeleteOh I need to get this book -- I have copied some of his recipes from the Internet, but I think I need to have an entire book!
ReplyDeleteMmmm...Aztec hot chocolate sounds delicious. I love chocolate ice cream, as long as it has something more than just chocolate in it.
ReplyDeleteI love this cookbook. All that heavy cream in the recipes is dangerous, however!
ReplyDelete