Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

This all-time, favorite American treat has twice the cooling effect - both temperature and flavor wise!

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup fresh mint leaves (packed), washed and patted dry
1 quart heavy cream
8 egg yolks
2 to 3 tablespoons of Creme de Menthe
1 pound Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, finely chopped
12 large Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookies (about 4-inches wide)
3/4 cup Chocolate Sauce, warm

Instructions

In a heavy stainless steel saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Add the mint and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for a couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding the mint.

In a large nonstick saucepan, combine the cream and mint syrup. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. In a mixing bowl, whisk the yolks together. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks. Slowly whisk the egg mixture back into the cream mixture. Whisk until smooth. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Strain the liquid and fold in the chocolate pieces. Add the liquid to the ice cream machine container and process according to manufacturer's directions. Place one large scoop in the center of six cookies and place the remaining cookies on top of the ice cream. Press the cookies together, forming the sandwiches. Serve the sandwiches with a drizzle of the chocolate sauce.

Yield: 6 servings