INGREDIENTS

2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
10 egg yolks
1 cup sugar plus ¼ cup sugar
1/4 cup water
8 cups strawberries (with tops removed)
1 cup chopped mint plus ½ cup mint
strawberries and mint for garnish

PREPARATION

Make simple syrup by placing ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup water in heavy sauce pan with 1 cup chopped mint. Bring to boil until sugar is totally dissolved. Let steep on simmer for five minutes, then strain and set syrup aside. Combine milk and cream in a heavy saucepan. Bring to just about boil but do not let it boil. Remove from heat and set aside for about an hour. Bring milk mixture back to simmer. Whisk egg yolks and ½ cup sugar in a mixing bowl and then mix eggs into saucepan. A double boiler helps to ensure that the milk product does not boil. Stir over medium low heat until the mixture thickens into a custard. Usually about 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until very cold. In the meantime, mix strawberries and mint simple syrup in a food processor until smooth. Mix pureed strawberries in with the custard mix, add chopped fresh mint if desired and use ice cream maker according to instructions.