Gand's Star Anise Ice Cream

Entered for safe-keeping. Chef Gale Gand of Lake Forest, Illinois serves this with chocolate cake, especially molten chocolate cake. Note that the licorice flavor of anise inspires a love/hate reaction. I, for one, love it! Prep time includes chilling time. Cooking time is guesstimated.

• Ready In: 5 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 1 quart

Ingredients

• 2  cups half-and-half
• 2  cups heavy cream
• 1  tablespoon star anise, pieces
• 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1  cinnamon stick
• 9  egg yolks
• 3⁄4 cup sugar

Directions

1. In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, put half and half, cream, star anise, ground cinnamon, vanilla and cinnamon stick. Heat, whisking occasionally to avoid burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan. DO NOT LET BOIL. When the mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let the flavors infuse for 10 minutes.
2. Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl. Still whisking, slowly pour half of the cream mixture in a thin stream to the egg mixture. Then add the egg-cream mixture to the saucepan containing the other half of the cream mixture.
3. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When it reaches 180 degrees, it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you don't have a candy thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet.
4. When the mixture is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
5. Meanwhile, put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in a large bowl, and add enough cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve into the smaller bowl, removing the vanilla bean pieces and cinnamon stick.
6. Chill 3 hours. Then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer's directions. (Don't have an ice cream freezer? After 3 hours, gently stir ice cream and transfer to desired freezer storage containers. Freeze 2-3 hours, or until desired hardness. High fat ice cream will not get rock hard.).