Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk or half-and-half

¾ cup sugar

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

¾  tsp. vanilla extract

Method:

Pour 1 cup of the cream into a medium saucepan and add the sugar. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod into the saucepan and add the pod to the pot. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add the remaining cream, the half-and-half, and the vanilla extract. Chill mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, for at least eight hours or overnight.  When ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod (reserve the bean for another use), then freeze in your ice-cream maker .