Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, with Creamy Goat Cheese (Thrifty Thursday)

Have you bought an ice cream maker yet?  What? No? You're still going to that gourmet place down the street and paying $4 for 1/2 cup?  Craziness.  Go buy an ice cream maker and make this recipe.  It tastes gourmet but at less than $1/cup (more specifically, about $.70!) it's a deal and a steal, and a great reason to go buy an ice cream maker.  I'm waiting....

Ok good, now you've got your ice cream maker and you're ready to get creative.  Truth be told, I live in the city where one of the best ice cream makers in the country has her ice cream shop; Jeni.  Yes, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams are some of the most delicious combinations of ingredients you will ever experience.  I can remember the first time I tried one of her ice creams with goat cheese.  I was in heaven.  It wasn't until just about a month ago when I decided to experiment with goat cheese in my own ice cream.  I'll just pretend like I'm cool enough to have my own ice cream shop.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, With Creamy Goat Cheese

Serves: 12 (~1/2 cup servings)

Ingredients

1 lb. strawberries (organic preferred)

3 ounce Fromage Blanc goat cheese

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup 1% milk **

2 cups chilled half and half **

1.5 cups animal crackers, crumbled **

Directions

Blend the strawberries (with stems removed), goat cheese, sugar and milk in a blender until the sugar is almost fully dissolved.  Pour the contents into a medium bowl and mix with the 1% milk.  Whisk together for about 30 seconds.  Pour into a prepared ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions.  Once it's finished, add the animal crackers and incorporate well.

**NOTE:  If you are following a low FODMAPs diet, be aware that this recipe contains lactose.  However, most people who are lactose intolerant will be able to tolerate the small amount of lactose found in this recipe.  It also helps that there is some fat to slow down the absorption (and protein).  Also, the animal crackers aren't wheat free, but the small amount found in this recipe should be tolerated by most.  If you are really sensitive to wheat (wheat contains oligosaccharides, or the "O" in FODMAPs) substitute your favorite gluten-free cookie.

How did I make this ice cream so cheap? I shop at the right place.  Where I shop they will give me whatever amount of cheese I would like.  So, while fromage blanc (an extra creamy goat cheese) isn't necessarily cheap, I was able to buy it in the amount I wanted; 3 ounces.  This saved me $2 because they normally sell it in amounts of 5 ounces or more.  Also, I bought the smaller version of half and half and 1% milk.  Lastly, I walked on over to the bulk section to find a good cracker to use in the ice cream to act as the cheesecake "crust". Animal Crackers seemed perfect.  Rather than buying an entire box, I paid $.14 for 1.5 cups.  

Licking the ice cream churner is more fun than liking any cake or cooke batter spoon. Trust me.

Estimated Nutrition Facts with 1/2 cup
Source: CalorieCount.com

Nutrition Highlights:  Under 150 calories per serving, excellent source of vitamin C (thanks to the strawberries) and really not too high in sugar (15 grams is pretty stellar).

I think I might just have to experiment with blue cheese next time. What do you think?  We sell gelato at the supermarket where I work (made in house) and they made a blueberry blue cheese gelato the other day that tasted fantastic.  Yeah, I might just have to come up with something like that..... on the opportunities are endless.

QUESTION:  What's the craziest ice cream flavor you've ever tried??

Enjoy your Thursday everyone!  I'll be back tomorrow with a low FODMAPs and gluten free granola, made with millet (a new favorite whole grain, have you tried it?)