Cherry Chip Ice Cream

It's Labor Day weekend, which necessitates dragging out the ice cream freezer.   We are having people over for a BBQ.  Are you?  Then you need to make some ice cream, and homemade cones!   This is one of our favorites.  I use this ice cream base for pretty much all ice cream, and then I add my favorite mix-in.  So if you are not a fan of cherry chip, then try something else like Heath Bars, or Snicker's candy bars.   Anything goes.

Base:

1 cup whole milk
2 cups cream
1 cup half and half
1 to 1 1/2 cups  sugar (depending on how sweet you like your ice cream)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix in:

1 - 10 oz. jar Maraschino cherries, chopped in half
3/4 cup dark chocolate, chopped (or you can use semi-sweet mini chocolate chips)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, creams, salt and vanilla.  Whisk to combine.  

Pour half of the ice cream mixture into your ice cream freezer leaving about 3 inches head space so it does no overflow as the ice cream churns.  Process for about 60 minutes.  Add the cherries and chocolate to the ice cream and churn for about 5 minutes more.

Remove ice cream from the machine and place into containers.  I usually freeze mine for about 20 minutes before serving just to give it some time to set.