Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

Ingredients:

- 1 cup milk (skim or 1%)
- 2 egg yolks

- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder (regular or dark)
- 2/3 cup sugar

- 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped

- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- mix-ins of your choice (optional)

Directions:

Place the milk in a medium bowl. Set aside. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Set aside.

Combine the cream, cocoa powder, and sugar in a large saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until just boiling. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in the dark chocolate in three additions, making sure the chocolate melts fully before continuing.

Add 3 tablespoons of the chocolate mixture to the whisked egg yolks, 1 tablespoon at a time, to gradually warm the eggs. Whisk together well, then add the rest of the chocolate mixture, whisking constantly.

Return the chocolate/egg mixture to the saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat while stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove pan from heat.

Pour the chocolate mixture through a fine mesh strainer or sieve into the bowl with the milk. (This is to catch any small pieces of egg that might have "cooked" in the process.)

Stir in the vanilla and salt. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2-3 hours.

After chilling, pour chocolate mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.