Instructions

1. Pour the cream into a saucepan. Add your solid flavoring ingredients -- such as vanilla beans or dry herbs and spices -- which will infuse the cream with flavor. Heat the cream on medium or medium-low until it comes to a gentle boil.

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the flavoring ingredients to steep in the cream for about 10 to 15 minutes. Small bubbles will rise to the surface, and you'll smell the fragrance of the flavoring ingredients.

3. Fill a large bowl with ice, then place a small metal bowl inside of it. Allow the metal bowl to chill as the cream steeps.

4. Pour the cream into the chilled metal bowl. Gently stir the cream with a whisk until it's chilled. If your recipe calls for liquid flavoring ingredients, such as honey, stir them in at this time. Strain the cream to remove any large remnants of solid flavoring ingredients.