Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Melt butter in a heavy skillet over a low heat. Add the pecans and salt and sauté, stirring constantly, until pecans start to turn brown.

Drain the butter into a small bowl and transfer the pecans to another bowl and let cool.

Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Whisk the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minute more. Pour in the cream and milk and whisk to blend.

Add the melted butter and blend.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze following the manufacturer's instructions.

After the ice cream stiffens (about 2 minutes before it is done), add the pecans, then continue freezing until the ice cream is ready.

Makes generous 1 quart.

Sweet Cream Bases----:.

•Favorite Sweet Cream Base: Most popular base, has creamy texture, medium body, and a subtle, understated taste. It's especially good as a background for fruit, cookies, and candy.

2 large eggs 3/4 cup sugar 2 cups heavy or whipping cream 1 cup milk Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minute more. Pour in the cream and milk and whisk to blend.

•Simple Sweet Cream Base: This simple recipe is made with a minimum of ingredients and requires no cooking.

It makes a very creamy ice cream with 25% butterfat, but it does not store well in home freezers, so be prepared to eat it all.

2 cups heavy or whipping cream 3/4 cup sugar 2/3 cup half-and-half Pour the cream into a mixing bowl.

Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minute more. Pour in the half-and-half and whisk to blend.

•Condensed Milk Sweet Cream Base: This recipe makes a less creamy, less rich ice cream.

Ben likes the slightly "cooked" flavor of the sweetened condensed milk.

2 cups light cream 1 cup sweetened condensed milk, cold Whisk the light cream and the sweetened condensed milk together in a mixing bowl until blended.