The Perfect Scoop

I have a lot of cookbooks. Obviously. 

But there are some cookbooks that I turn to over and over again. Sometimes it's to check a cooking time, or to check an ingredient ratio.

And then there are some books that I turn to because they have recipes that I love, and I make them over and over.

When it's ice cream season, The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz is one of those books that I use regularly. I certainly haven't made every recipe in this book, but I've made quite a few of them.

You can tell which ones are my favorites. The book opens automatically to the Chocolate Ice Cream that includes both cocoa powder and melted chocolate. It's rich and it's creamy and it's just about perfect.

Recipes also include "perfect pairings" which might add-ins that would work for the ice cream flavor, or they might be serving suggestions like using the ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches, or serving the ice cream with coffee poured over the top.

While my favorite recipe in the book might be the chocolate, there are plenty of others to choose from. There are less-usual ice cream flavors, like Green Pea Ice Cream or Orange-Szechwan Pepper Ice Cream. And there are also classics, like peach, strawberry, mocha sherbet, espresso granita, and pineapple sorbet.

Besides ice cream and other frozen treats, there are sauces and garnishes and even cookies (for making ice cream cookies or serving ice cream on top) and also ice cream cones. If you're an ice cream fan or if you've just gotten an ice cream maker, this book is definitely one you should have on your shelf.

The book came out in 2007 (and I've had it almost that long), but it's still being sold - so that tells you something!

For more David Lebovitz, check out his blog.