Two things I love deeply: ice cream and my husband. So, in honor of my husband returning from a two week visit to see his family in Finland, I made him ice cream. Specifically strawberry with dark chocolate chips ice cream, yum! Another happy celebration is that this palate pleaser coincides with the latest Cooks in the Kitchen challenge.

Ice cream has a list full of health benefits including soul happiness and strong bones (from the calcium), with this recipe also giving you a dose of fruit and the health benefits of dark chocolate.

Here is the list of what you will need to make this delight: whole milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, strawberries, and dark chocolate.

Step 1. In a large bowl mix together the milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and pureed strawberries until completely integrated into each other.

Step 2. Pour the entire mixture into an ice cream machine (the Cuisinart is a great one).

Step 3. Turn “on” the ice cream machine and let it blend for 25 minutes (or whatever your machine’s instructions say).

Step 4. With 5 minutes remaining to blend, add the chips of dark chocolate.

Step 5. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups strawberries (pureed in the blender)
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips