STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM ON A STICK RECIPES

Steps:

• Pour the half-and-half into a heavy saucepan. Add the sugar and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until they're light yellow in color. Temper the egg yolks by slowly drizzling in about 2 cups of the hot half-and-half mixture while whisking quickly. Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture into the saucepan, whisking gently as you add it. Simmer over low heat until it gets very thick, 5 to 7 more minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing with a spoon or spatula to gently force it through. Pour in the heavy cream, then stir to combine. Stir in vanilla. Cover and refrigerate this mixture until it's totally cool. Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker according to its directions. After the cycle is completed, stir in the chopped peppermints or Andes mints and immediately transfer to a freezer container and place in the freezer. A couple of hours later, open the container and stir again to make sure the candies are distributed. Freeze for another 24 hours or until frozen hard and solid.

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put the flour mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and shortening and pulse about 10 times, or until the butter is in the size of peas. Add the ice water and process until the dough comes together. Dump on a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough and fit into 4 (4 1/2-inch) tart pans with removable sides. Don't stretch the dough when placing it in the pans or it will shrink during baking. Cut off the excess by rolling the pin across the top of each pan. Line the tart shells with a piece of buttered aluminum foil, butter side down, and fill them with dried beans or rice. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, prick the bottom of the shells all over with a fork, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
• Before serving, fill the tart shells with the pastry cream. Arrange the berries decoratively on top of the cream. Melt the apricot jelly with 1 teaspoon of water and brush the top of the tarts. Sprinkle with pistachios, if using, and serve.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick. Reduce to low speed, and add the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Don't be alarmed when the custard comes to a boil and appears to curdle; switch to a whisk and beat vigorously. Cook, whisking constantly, for another 2 minutes; the custard will come together and become very thick, like pudding. Stir in the vanilla, Cognac, butter, and heavy cream. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard and refrigerate until cold.