Recipe: Chocolate-hazelnut swirl ice cream

Total time: 25 minutes, plus chilling and freezing time

Servings: Makes 1 1/2 quarts ice cream

Note: Save the egg whites for another use, such as meringues. Recipe by Amy Scattergood.

2 cups heavy cream

2 cups whole milk

1 vanilla bean

1/2 cup sugar

5 egg yolks

1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (or Nutella), divided

1. In a medium heavy-bottom saucepan, combine the cream and milk. Halve the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds; add the seeds and pod to the pan. Bring to a boil, then immediately remove from the heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved.

2. In a medium bowl, briefly whisk together the egg yolks. Pour about half a cup of the hot cream mixture into the bowl, whisking constantly to warm the eggs (this helps to keep them from curdling when added to the pan). Pour the cream-yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the hot cream, whisking constantly.

3. Cook the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it has thickened to a custard and coats the back of the spoon, about 7 minutes.

4. Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl. Whisk one-half cup of the hazelnut-chocolate spread into the hot custard until thoroughly combined. Cover and cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

5. Freeze the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When the ice cream has reached a thickened “soft-serve� or frozen yogurt consistency, spoon in the remaining one-half cup spread and blend very briefly to form swirls in the ice cream. Chill in the freezer until ready to serve.

Each of 12 ( 1/2-cup) servings: 318 calories; 4 grams protein; 23 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 23 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 144 mg. cholesterol; 42 mg. sodium.