I followed the revised recipe (p.12) on how to make the custard with only a couple of deviations, those being no heat diffuser, (I use a gas cooker only) no coconut milk or ghee (would've been great I'm sure, can't tolerate it though).
As I lack the measuring tools like a thermometer and scales, I go by eye and trial and error. I use
two (I've settled on two as three was making the consistency too solid) fine leaf gelatin leaves -15 leaves =25g -
cacao butter, (100g pack - suggested serving size is 15g , which sounds HUGE to me) and I chop of a tiny nugget to use. I'm guessing that this is roughly 2cm around which is enough as the taste comes through more than anything else.
Coconut oil (250ml bottle) comes next, I just run it under the hot water tap for 20 seconds to loosen it and pour. Not the most accurate measuring method but every time I've done so, it results in just under a
quarter of the bottle being used which turns out right. Then come 5 tablespoons of xylitol and I try not to make them heaped tablespoons as its just to sweet. Lastly the
beef dripping. (1kg for £1.00)
These are put in a pot on
low-medium heat and stirred around occasionally. As the mix is dissolving the eggs are separated and beaten, with the mix taken off the stove when I see the bubbles of fat heating up. I tried Laura's method of pouring a bit and then whisking in between each addition, I messed up (dunno how just did) and now I just drizzle the lot very slowly in, constantly mixing. (I got this part right but not the former
)
I
return to the stove after about 30 seconds of somewhat rigorous mixing, at this point it's nicely blended; the graining comes from high heat/being on the fire for to long and personally, I've got to get this idea out of my head that I've got to practically burn everything for it to be cooked. It's worked on the meat side (I never would've imagined eating meat that was closer to medium-rare as opposed to burnt) & I've just gotta shake this off for the custard. Anyway, the rest of the recipe, if followed in full, turns out well... stirring until it thickens and then a minute more. To follow this point properly the early part on the heat needs to be executed well or you'll get... dun-dun-dah.. graining. And as stated in Laura's post above (I forgot to add that in my initial post) too few eggs will give a less emulsified texture, separation seems to be the biggest thing here.
My early attempts with lard, water, gelatin and coconut oil were all with around
6-9 eggs. Too few as it happens. My
minimum is now twelve and this is currently working. (I get three days worth of custard)
So completing the last part, the pot goes into a larger pot with enough water to go half way up the smaller one. And in my experience, have everything ready beforehand. I mean the eggs separated, the top of the vanilla extract twisted off, the large pan off water ready etc. Even the washing of the utensils (if you're slightly OCD like me about washing things quickly and clearing up then even more so) needs to be done first - other than the stirring spoon/scraper - or just left alone. These little OCD bits are where I've messed up and got the graining by doing too many little things in between the stirring. I'm always cooking several things whilst cleaning several areas and trying to read! The home stretch is easy, a tablespoon of vanilla or less for me, mix mix mix, into the blender with
one cup/mug of water blended for a few seconds. Bosh! Frothy. Into containers, into freezer.
The one I have for the day is put in the fridge and then frozen about an hour before I'm ready to drink it. This is more custard-y and smooth throughout. The others are frozen for the next few days, I
remove one about 5hours before I'm ready and out into the fridge. Frothy ice-cream is the result. Even when the froth has been eaten from the top, the deeper parts retain the ice cream-iness.
NOTE: a couple of spoonfuls of the fat mix are added to the yolk beating stage, the mug of water filled to the top is poured into the fat mix as its heating. The remainder of the water is about a centimeter or so from the top, then is poured into blender at the end with the custard. Three weeks testing this results in frothy ice cream that has great consistency.