Easy Strawberry Cheese Cake Ice Cream: #ValentinesDay Dessert!

First off, I need to say this: Listen Closely and Pay Attention: this dessert is SUPER easy, but you NEED to start making it 1.5 days before you plan on serving it. It requires ~4 hours of freezing and then 8 hours of freezing time.

I've seen Ice Cream recipes on Pinterest before, but I've never tried them because I don't have an ice cream maker or attachment for my KitchenAid and, quite frankly, you can pick up ice cream pretty cheap at the grocery store when it's on sale. You know what kind of ice cream never goes on sale, though? The Good Stuff: I'm talking Ben & Jerry's. I mention this because this ice cream is so good, you could pack it into one of those little pint containers and no one would be the wiser. So  make this, and treat yourself & your valentine to a fresh, decadent desert on Valentine's Day. Or on a hot, sweaty summer night (wow, those seem far away, don't they? A different universe).

The best part?

It's ridiculously easy.

I know, I say that a lot. But here's a secret: I'm a lazy cook. I love things that taste good, and I hate things that take hours of work. So I naturally gravitate to these types of recipes.

So here it is. Put these ingredients on your shopping list right now, and write a note on your calendar to make this on February 12 or 13. You will not be sorry.

Also, don't taste the mixture before it goes in the freezer. You'll lose a little faith in it. Wait until it's almost entirely frozen, then take a nibble. Betcha can't eat just one.

Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream (Adapted from Kraft's recipe)
Ingredients:

• 1 250g package of cream cheese, softened. 
• 1 300mL can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice, or 2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, washed & hulled
• 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

Directions:

1. Beat cream cheese in mixer with whisk attachment until smooth.
2. Mix in next sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, & lemon, then beat on high speed for 5 minutes. 
3. Freeze mixture for ~4 hours, or until almost solid.
4. Blend berries in a blender on pulse mode a few times until they are mostly crushed but still a little chunky. 
5. Using a spatula, fold berries & graham cracker crumbs into the cream cheese mixture - don't over do it. 
6. Transfer mixture to a freezer safe container and freeze for 8-10 hours, until firm. 
7. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving, but not longer than that as it melts fairly quickly.
8. Resist the temptation to eat the whole batch by yourself.

Try out this recipe with other fruits, fresh or frozen! Cherry...blueberry...raspberry...  Yum, think of the possibilities!