Pear Ice Cream

The pear fairy left a large bag on my doorstep, so caramelized pear ice cream sounded like a plan. This recipe is from David Lebovitz, "The Perfect Scoop" and was the first time I've made an ice cream without egg  yolks.

The taste was divine. It was easier than making a custard base. We are enjoying it very much, but it seems to leave a slightly "greasy" feeling in your mouth that knocks it down from a perfect 10 to a strong 8. I'd certainly make it again, perhaps with peaches next time....but I still prefer a traditional egg-based custard.

The Flor de Cana is fantastic with the pears. I like mine sprinkled with chopped walnuts.

Caramelized Pear Ice Cream
Ingredients:
3-4 medium-sized pears, peeled, cored and chopped into ¼-inch pieces (used 10 or 12 of these little guys)
¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar (used just shy of a cup)
2 cups heavy cream
Pinch of salt
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

2TB dark rum and a splash of vanilla

Directions:
Spread the sugar out in a large, non-reactive, heavy-bottomed saucepan.  Cook over medium-heat, monitoring it closely.  Once it begins to liquefy and darken, stir gently to help the melted sugar from the edges melt the crystals in the middle.
Once the sugar reaches a deep amber color, mix in the chopped pear pieces.  At this point much of the mixture will likely seize and harden.  Do not freak out. It will all remelt. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture has smoothed out again and any hard bits of caramel have melted, and the pears are cooked through (about 10 minutes). 
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in ½ cup of the cream.  Then mix in the remaining cream, as well as the Rum, vanilla, salt and lemon juice.  Let cool to room temperature.
Once the mixture has cooled, transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator. 
Freeze the batter in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.  

Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts if desired, or just add nuts to the entire batch if you don't live with a nut who prefers no nuts.