Black Pepper Ice Cream

I'd found a reference to this online and just had to see what it tasted like. After a little Googling, I discovered that I already owned a recipe for black pepper ice cream in a new book I'd been meaning to try out... Chef, Interrupted by Melissa Clark. This particular recipe was adapted from one by Karen Barker of Magnolia Grill.

Now, I know you're thinking "pepper... ice cream... what?" I didn't really know what to expect either, but it was good. Came out as basically a rich vanilla ice cream, nothing out of the ordinary, and then just as you're finishing a bite and the ice cream has melted in your mouth, it surprises you with this pepper kick. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed it with even more of a pepper flavor, and I already increased the amount a bit. I brought this to a party, so a lot of people got to try the experiment.

Candied Kumquats

Another Room for Dessert recipe. Okay, so it's just fruit cooked in sugar. It's good. Weird to be able to eat the entire fruit; like popping an entire tiny orange into your mouth. Really sweet from the candying, but still really tart. Good stuff, and very easy to make, although you do need a candy thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature.