Neil Gaiman, Ice Cream, and Stuff

I went to listen to the most recent broadcast on The Beyond only to realize there was an hour and a half long interview with Neil Gaiman and Stephan Jones on there from over a month ago.  After a few moments of shaking my head and wondering how I missed that, I listened, and for an hour and a half, through my haze of admiration and glee, I was able to form only two coherent thoughts.  The first was that I agree with Mr. Gaiman that Dianna Wynne Jones is amazing, and the second was that I actually know what a treated piano is, and if I ever meet Mr. Gaiman or Mr. Jones, I shall amend their ignorance.  I can see the conversation now:

The Scene: At a book signing
Mr. Gaiman: *scribbles signature into book I shove forward anxiously*
Fish: *in a rabid squirrelish voice* I know what a treated piano is.
Mr. Gaiman: Really.  *wonders whether or not I'm a danger*
Fish: Uh-huh, it's a piano with things put on the strings and hammers and stuff, to make it sound different, and stuff.
Mr. Gaiman: *nods, freaked out, and gives some super secret signal to his staff*
Fish: *is dragged away either by said staff or other impatient fans*

I think it's a brilliant idea, must meet him now.

Anyway, my uncle's in town, so, I made him peanut butter ice cream, but then I wanted strawberry ice cream, so I made that too.  I give you the recipes in an obvious attempt to get you to come back here after the genius that is Neil Gaiman.

Strawberry Ice Cream

1 and 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 cups cream
1 lb frozen strawberries
5 oz (or half a bag) of milk chocolate chips (optional)

Heat the strawberries in a medium saucepan on medium until they melt and release their liquid, stirring frequently.  Once they are floating in a pool of their own juice, raise the temperature to high and bring to a boil.  Add 3/4 cups of the sugar and stir until it dissolves.  remove from the heat.  Combine the last cup of sugar, milk and cream in a large mixing bowl, and whip until sugar dissolves.  Add strawberry syrup and whip until fluffy and thoroughly mixed, like pink whipped cream.  Pour into ice cream maker.  Drop in the chips gradually.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 cups cream
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Mini peanut butter cups (optional)

Combine sugar, milk and cream, and whip until sugar dissolves.  Add the peanut butter and whip until foamy and well mixed, like whipped cream.  Pour into ice cream maker.  Drop in the mini peanut butter cups gradually.