Makes 5 cups

INGREDIENTS

2 cups 2% milk
2 cups half and half
1 cup sugar
2 cups fresh mint, chopped
10 egg yolks
1 medium red beet, cooked and peeled and cubed
½ cup orange juice
½ cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

In a heavy bottomed saucepan bring the milk, half and half, sugar and mint to a boil and reduce heat immediately, and simmer for about 10 minutes stirring gently, allowing mint to steep into liquid. Discard mint. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk egg yolk well. Ladle a big spoon full of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture, whisking well, to avoid the eggs from cooking. Add the remainder of the egg mixture into the milk on the stove and the heat gently whisking constantly until a thick custard forms or until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon well; about 5-6 minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight to get very cold. Place in the freezer 10 minutes before making the ice cream. Process the ice cream in an ice cream maker, following instructions of the machine.

Thaw the ice cream so it is just starting to get soft. Place the beet, sugar and the orange juice in a medium saucepan and heat until the sugar is melted. Blend in a blender until a smooth sauce. Drizzle the mixture into the soft ice cream using a spoon and swirling it, being careful not to mix the ice cream too much. Freeze.