Basil & Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream Pops

You can really turn anything into a popsicle, but I find the best ones to be ice cream based. I loved when my cousin, sister and I would be at the pool during the summers at the beach and we would run to the snack bar after a hard Marco-Polo session. I always got the Strawberry Shortcake pop (and the Sponge Bob sherbet pops) . This one is much more sophisticated than Sponge Bob and is incredibly refreshing (or as my grandmother would say...mmmm interesting, then she'd wipe out the whole pint). The basil ice cream gives off a minty flavor that you wouldn't expect and there's a little extra suminsumin' in the strawberry puree. If you don't have popsicle molds you can always make the basil and strawberry ice cream and serve it in a bowl! Cheers!

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh basil leaves
5 egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
10 medium strawberries
2 tbsp creme de casis

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan combine 3/4 cup sugar, basil leaves, 1 cup heavy cream and milk and turn the heat on medium low. Cook the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let steep for 1.5-2 hours for ultimate flavor
2. Cut up strawberries and pour into a small saucepan. Add sugar and cassis and turn stove on low and cook for 10 minutes. Once fruit has cooked down a bit remove from heat and let sit
3. Strain leaves from mixture and add mixture back to the saucepan. Slowly warm the mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour a bit of the warmed mixture into the egg yolks and whisk. Pour egg yolk mixture into the saucepan
4. While constantly whisking bring custard up to 165-170 degrees Fahrenheit or until thick
5. Strain custard into remaining heavy cream and refrigerate until fully cooled 
6. In a blender puree strawberry mixture. Strain mixture from seeds into a bowl
7. Freeze custard mixture in ice cream maker following manufacturer's instructions. When frozen, scoop ice cream and strawberry puree, alternating, into popicle mold. Freeze popsicle for at least 3 hours. In order to remove from mold, run mold under hot water and slowly pull the popsicle out