Toasted Coconut Ice Cream

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently so it toasts evenly. Remove it from the oven when it is fragrant and golden brown.
2. In a medium saucepan, warm the milk, 1 cup of the heavy cream, sugar, and salt, and add the toasted coconut. Use a paring knife, and scrape all the vanilla seeds into the warm milk, then add the pod as well. Cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.
3. Rewarm the coconut-infused mixture. Set a mesh strainer over another medium saucepan and strain the coconut infused liquid through the strainer into the saucepan. Press the coconut. Reuse the coconut for pancakes the next morning!
4. Pour the remaining 1 cup heavy cream into a large bowl and set the mesh strainer on top. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm coconut-infused mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
5. Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Mix in the vanilla or rum, and stir until cool over an ice bath.
6. Chill the mixture thoroughly, then make ice cream per ice cream maker’s instructions.