Old Fashioned Vanilla Bean ice Cream
INGREDIENTS
  • 2-1/2 cups half-and-half, light cream, or whole milk
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 4- to 6-inch vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract*
  • 1-1/4 cups whipping cream
DIRECTIONS
  1. In a large saucepan heat and stir half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla bean (if using) just to a simmer. Remove from heat. Remove vanilla bean; let cool. Using a paring knife, slit vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out seeds. Stir seeds (or vanilla extract, if using) and whipping cream into milk mixture. Cover; chill about 4 hours.
  2. Freeze mixture in ice-cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions. Ripen 4 hours. Makes 1-1/2 quarts (twelve, 1/2-cup servings).
  3. *Note: Omit heating the mixture if using vanilla extract.