Junior Mint Ice Cream

It's getting hot down here in Texas and although I can eat ice cream every day, it's not every day I make it. There's nothing quite like cold, creamy, home made ice cream - especially on days like this. Just started with a basic simple vanilla ice cream recipe and cooled it down with mints. Had to make it pink for the girls...my big boy doesn't really care....as long as he can eat it!

2/3 c sugar

2 large eggs

2 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 2/3 c milk

1 c heavy cream

2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp peppermint extract

3 drops of pink food coloring
1 c chopped Junior Mint candies

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs until thicken and pale yellow. Beat in the flour and salt. Set aside. Bring the milk to a simmer in a heavy saucepan. Slowly beat the hot milk into eggs and sugar, a little at a time. Pour entire mixture back into pan over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to boil or your eggs will scramble :( Remove from heat and pour hot custard through a strainer into a large clean bowl and allow hot custard to cool a little, then stir in heavy cream, food coloring and extracts.

Stir the chilled custard and pour into ice cream machine according to manufacturer's directions. Give it 5 minutes and add Junior Mints. Let it churn until ready to eat. When finished it will be soft but you can transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.

Enjoy!