Chocolate Ice Cream

If you are in the mood for the rich creamy taste of chocolate, then this is the recipe for you.   It will take care of any chocolate craving.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
(1 1/2 quarts)

Ingredients:
*1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
*1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
*1 cup half & half
*2 cups half & half
*1 cup heavy cream
*8 egg yolks
*1 1/4 cups white sugar
*2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:
~Place the cocoa powder and 1 cup half & half, in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
~Heat throughly (but do not boil) while whisking.
~Once hot, add 2 cups half & half and heavy cream.
~Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, remove from heat once it simmers.
~In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks for a minute or two.
~Gradually add the sugar and whisk until combined well.
~Remove 1 cup of the hot milk mixture.
~In a slow steady stream pour the 1 cup hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, while quickly whisking.
~When throughly mixed, pour the rest of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking until well mixed.
~Return to saucepan.
~Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a wooden spoon (you can run your finger down the back of the coated wooden spoon and if the mixture stays in place and doesn't run, it should be thick enough, abut 160 degrees.
~Pour mixture into a stainless steal bowl.
~Place stainless steal bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice.
~Allow to cool for about 30 minutes, stirring once in a while.
~Stir in vanilla extract.
~Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 4-5 hours.
~Pour into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's directions.
~Place into an air-tight container and freeze for another 4-8 hours (depending on how hard you like your ice cream).

Variation:

`add 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee to milk mixture if using regular unsweetened cocoa while it's heating to enhance the chocolate flavor.
`fold in 1/2 cup sliced toasted almonds before putting ice cream in freezer (some ice cream makers you can do that durning the last few minutes of mixing).

Helpful Hint:

`Place plastic wrap directly over ice cream before covering and placing in freezer.  This will help to prevent freezer burn.