Starting this year's flavor experimentation

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

Well, Baitcon is coming and the whiff of fresh spring is in the air. Must be time to start experimenting with Baitcon flavors!!!

We'll probably be bringing our household favorites of Strawberry Habanero Sorbet and Saffron Curry with Almonds & Raisins but with a newborn in the house, halleyscomet and I are planning to keep things fairly tame this year. Yes, I promise, this means there will never be another batch of ceviche ice cream!!! (Though I still think the Whirled Peas had something going for it, sadly this year Baitcon is probably too early for the peas to be in season and taste right.)

Of my current two experimental flavor ideas, one needs a bit of tuning. So give me a hand here while I start the brainstorming process. The flavor in question is supposed to be a sorbet made with Grapefruit and Cloves. I feel like the combo needs something to link the two primary flavors together. Originally I was considering Cardamon but I recently began to think about using something with a hint of pine or evergreen to it instead. halleyscomet pointed out to me that oranges and cloves are a traditional Christmas/Yule scent in many homes and it made me realize that the addition of a hint of evergreen really tied the idea together. Now I have to figure out how to implement that as a flavor without the evergreen being overwhelming. So far the first idea has been to bake the grapefruit in the oven while also baking a load of pine cones that we happen to use as chew toys for our rabbits. Hopefully baking together would bring that little hint of evergreen to the citrus.

Does anyone know whether this is a safe way to do what I'm planning or have any other ideas to get that evergreen taste/scent?

(FYI for those who might be curious, the other experimental flavor I'll be working on is a creamy carmelized pear ice cream with balsamic praline pecans.....)