I recently hosted a dinner party at my house for friends and family. Starting with Blueberry Ice Cream, over the next two weeks, I will be sharing several drinks and dishes that I served at the party. While I can’t say that cooking a 5 course meal for 14 people is an easy task, I can say that everything went smoothly and my guests had a really enjoyable time. Continue reading for the recipe and some pointers on how to throw a successful dinner party.
One of the main ingredients for a well executed dinner party is planning. Start by creating a menu several weeks in advance. I always try to pick dishes that are connected in a way (a specific ingredient, theme, region, season, etc.). Then write up a master shopping list that includes all ingredients needed for your dishes. Finally, create a timeline that outlines all of your required tasks. These three items will provide you with a solid foundation on the “operational” side of your party. Check back for more party planning tips throughout the next few weeks.
Blueberry Ice Cream
Adapted from the Pioneer Woman.
4 cups fresh blueberries
¼ cup plus 1 cup sugar
Juice of ½ lemon
1 ½ cups half and half
5 large egg yolks
1 ½ cups heavy cream
Place blueberries, ¼ cup sugar and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries release their juices and begin to cook down (about 20 minutes). You can help this process along a bit by gently mashing the berries each time you stir. Drain using a fine mesh basket strainer, pressing berries to squeeze out as much juice as possible. Set aside.
Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and have another strainer ready. Add heavy cream to a medium sized bowl and set aside.
Heat half and half and 1 cup sugar in a different saucepan over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat once you see steam rising from the surface and the mixture is completely heated through.
Meanwhile, whisk 5 egg yolks in a bowl until slightly thickened. Slowly, while whisking, add ½ cup of the warm half and half mixture to the yolks. Once the ½ cup is incorporated, whisk in the remaining half and half mixture. Return the half and half-yolk mixture to the saucepan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. You will know the custard is thick enough when you see steam rise from the surface and the custard coats the spoon. Strain the custard into the bowl with the heavy cream. Stir to combine.
Add the blueberry mixture to the custard mixture and stir. Place the bowl in the ice bath and stir occasionally to cool (be sure not to get any water in your custard mixture).
Refrigerate until cold.
Freeze custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Makes 1 quart.
I love the color of that ice cream! It almost too pretty to eat.
Just look at that beautiful ice cream!! What a divine color! I am sure it tastes just as good as it looks! Fabulous!
Looks delicious… I love the vibrant color! I can’t wait to see what else you served at this party!
This sounds fairly simple to make, and it looks fantastic! I’ll definitely have to try this
Wow – what a glorious colour.
This blueberry ice cream looks so cool. I love the color! Can’t wait for some more party tips, too.
This absolutely looks fantastic!!!!!!
Love the colour! I can almost taste it…
YUM!
I get to “babysit” a friends ice cream maker while she is in Italy for a few months, I can’t wait to try this!
Wow love the color. It’s so pretty!! Great use of blur berries and can’t wait to see the next dishes for the party!
OMG…that is the prettiest ice cream I’ve seen in ages…love the color! I made cinnamon gelato this weekend, so I’ve decided to keep my ice cream maker on the counter so I’ll take time to make a few more batches while the weather remains warm in Texas for another month or so!!
This makes me want to get my ice cream maker out again. Yum!
beautiful!
wow, your photos are gorgeous. Beautiful color and your blueberry ice cream looks fantastic!!
WOW!!! Just beautfiul… I want some blueberry ice cream to wear as a shirt. The color is just lovely.
Thanks
That is a beautiful colored ice cream. Love a good blueberry!
Your photos are stunning and I would love some blueberry ice cream right now!
@Wendy I still have my Ice Cream Maker on the counter as well. Fall is actually San Diego’s hot season, so I will be making several more cold creations over the next couple of months (including a new one this week!)
Here are some of the other recipes I served at the party:
Summer Cocktails: http://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2010/08/summer-cocktails/
Skillet Pizza: http://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2010/08/skillet-pizza/
Julia’s Lemon Bars: http://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2010/08/julias-lemon-bars/
Enjoy!
Brandon
Beautiful photos . . . its easy to forget how easy homemade ice cream is, but at the same time it always makes a big impression for any meal. Keep the party planning tips coming – I love entertaining and agree with you that organization is key!
What beautiful ice cream! We went blueberry picking for probably the last time this past weekend and I feel like those late season blueberries may have been the sweetest. And you are so right about dinner party planning, without it you are sunk and might as well spend the whole night in the kitchen and never see your guests.
Wow – This ice cream looks amazing!!
No.1 – well done! Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your dinner party over the next few posts.
I love all kind of berry fruits, your ice cream im surely was delicious one, you good on taking a those picture I love it.
Congrats!!!! You are… No 1!!! Supeeeer!!!
I made my first blueberry ice cream a few years ago and was surprised at just how good it is! Yours looks luscious and creamy, beautiful colors! Looking forward to reading about the rest of your menu… Congrats on the Top 9!
Such a beautiful color! Congratulations on the FB top 9:)
Congrats on the Top 9! My daughter gave me an ice cream maker for my birthday, so I’ll be looking to you for inspiration!
knew this had to make top 9!
congrats! again, so beautifully done!
The color of the ice cream is beautiful!! Congrats on making Foodbuzz Top 9!
Great color on the ice cream. Congrats on top 9. I love the recipe.
@Michelle I totally agree. Homemade ice cream has a huge wow factor at parties.
@Foodbuzzers Thanks everyone! This recipe couldn’t have made it to the top without your buzz and appreciation. Thanks again
I picked a lot of blueberries this year and they are in freezer. I think I’m going to give this a try. The color stopped me cold. I could this served with some coconut cake or a waffle. The color is vibrant and I wonder why we never see blueberry ice cream!
That color is fantastic! Love the vibrancy and the photos are lovely!
[...] now, I am sure you are all well aware of the fact that I enjoy making ice cream (and sorbets, and granite and … more ice cream). So you can imagine my excitement when I [...]