Peppermint Ice Cream

1. Stage

Warm the milk, sugar, and salt: In a medium saucepan, warm the milk, sugar and salt. Make sure the sugar and salt completely dissolve.

2. Stage

Prepare an ice bath: Pour the cream into a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice, and set a medium-mesh sieve on top.

3. Stage

Temper the egg yolks: In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.

4. Stage

Heat custard until thick: Over medium heat, stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula. Scrape the bottom as you stir until the mixture thickens and coats the spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Stage

Strain over the ice bath and chill: Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Then stir until cool over the ice bath. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.

6. Stage

Add peppermint extract: One the mixture is thoroughly chilled, add the peppermint extract , a 1/4 teaspoon at a time, tasting the mixture after each addition, until you reach the desired level of pepperminty-ness. Different peppermint extracts vary in strength. I used 2 teaspoons of McCormick peppermint extract, which was just the right amount for our tastes.

7. Stage

Process in an ice cream maker: Once chilled, process in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

8. Stage

Fold in crushed peppermint candy: Once the ice cream has been formed in the ice cream maker, it will be fairly soft. Fold in the crushed peppermint candy. Put in an airtight plastic container and place in the freezer for at least an hour, preferably several hours. If it has been frozen for more than a day, you may need to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften it before serving.