CNYEats A Taste of Utica Gelati Florentine Clone

This week’s recipe is…. ICE CREAM!  Ok, so “Gelati” (better known as Gelato) if you want to be all formal about it.  What’s the difference?  According to THIS SOURCE, ice cream is made with a minimum of 10 percent fat, while gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk to cream, so it contains five to seven percent fat. Gelato is also churned at a slower speed than ice cream, so it’s denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. (Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air) Finally, while ice cream is typically served frozen, gelato is typically stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature, so it’s not quite completely frozen. 

The recipe is posted by Chris and it’s one you don’t want to miss out on before the warm weather is replaced by the chilly winter cold.  Delish!

Makes one quart

• 6 egg yolks *Use the egg whites to make a fluffy, delicious and nutritious egg white omelet!… just a suggestion.
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 qt. whole milk (or at least 2%…I did the 2% “thang”)
• 2 – 3 strips lemon peel (I used 1 tsp grated lemon peel and left it in the mix)
• 2 TBS vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar for about 10 minutes. It should be nice and fluffy.

Add the milk, vanilla, and lemon and continue mixing until sugar dissolves.

Pour into a double boiler (I used a regular pan and paid a lot of attention to it) and heat over very low temperature, while stirring constantly until slightly thickened, about like light cream.

Pour through a strainer and cool in the refrigerator.  *I added 3 over ripe bananas to the heating mixture.  I did NOT strain the mixture because, other than the lemon and the banana, it was smooth. I wanted banana chunks in my gelato.

When chilled, pour/spoon into an ice cream maker and mix until solidifies.

If you want it more solid, chill an additional 2 hours and slice.

Some flavor suggestions, in addition to my 3 over ripe bananas….

1.  Chocolate (and WHO doesn’t like chocolate?!) – Sub. 6 oz cocoa for lemon peel before putting mix into the double boiler.

2.  Strawberry (feeling fruity?) – Add 2/3 cup strawberry preserve or jam and 2/3 cup fresh sliced strawberries half way through the time required with your ice cream maker.

3.  Rum Raisin (Lets PARTY!) – Add 1/4 cup white rum to the mixture before placing into the double boiler.  Add 2/3 pre-frozen raisins half way through the time required by your ice cream maker.