Beach Ice Cream

Claire calls it Easy Ice cream (and it is!), but I've changed the name to remind my family of the wonderful days we spent together enjoying the sand and surf along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico coast--and of the ice cream that we so enjoyed after a day in the sun.

To the chilled ice cream canister, add the following:

2 cans condensed milk
2 cans evaporated milk
1 quart whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Mix well. Freeze in electric or hand-crank freezer (preferred when children are around).

"Chocolat" Chocolate Pudding

Martha Stewart's recipe for chocolate pudding must include the secret ingredients that were so carefully guarded by the main character in the movie Chocolat--hence the name. Here is my slightly modified rendition.

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon espresso powder
Pinch of kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 1/2 cups whole milk
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

In a medium saucepan combine the first seven ingredients. Stir one cup of milk into the dry ingredients to dissolve cornstarch. Blend well. Stir in the remaining milk and place pan over medium heat.

Stir constantly until mixture thickens considerably and is almost at a boil,approximately five minutes. Add chocolate and continue stirring for one minute until the chocolate is melted. Remove pot from heat and add butter. Stir until melted. Transfer pudding to a bowl and let stand until lukewarm. Serve.