Sookie Stackhouse's Blue Cornmeal-Basil Cookies with Old-Fashioned Peach Ice-Cream

Directions

1. Directions:
2. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, basil, lemon zest, salt, and ginger.
4. 3. In a large bowl, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar at medium-high speed mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 4 minutes. Add egg, beating until well combined. Reduce speed to low, and slowly add flour mixture, beating until well combined.
5. 4. Roll dough into 1-1/2-inch balls, and roll in remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Place 1-1/2-inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using a flat-bottomed glass sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, slightly flatten each dough ball.
6. 5. Bake until edges are golden brown, 18 to 24 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. 6. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine half-and-half and 3/4 cup sugar. Heat mixture over medium-high heat until it just begins to boil; remove from heat.
8. 7. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Using a ladle, pour 1 cup hot half-and-half mixture in a slow steady stream into yolks, whisking constantly. Add another cup of hot half-and-half mixture, whisking to combine. Return mixture to saucepan.
9. 8. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon or temperature reaches 170 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
10. 9. Pour mixture through a mesh sieve, and strain into a stainless-steel bowl set in an ice-water bath. Stir in peaches. Let cool completely, stirring often. Refrigerate for 2 hours before freezing.
11. 10. Freeze mixture in batches in a 1-quart gel-type ice-cream maker, according to manufacturer's instructions. If a firmer texture is desired, transfer ice cream to an airtight container, and freeze for 2 hours or until firm.
12. 11. Place a scoop of Old-Fashioned Peach Ice Cream on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with flat side of another cookie. Repeat with remaing cookies and ice cream. Serve immediately.