4th of July Ice Cream Sundaes . . . (with cookies!)

It all started with a cookie cutter. A sweet little cookie cutter sent to me by my friend, Cindy, over at Sweet.

It's a star with a little cut-out to rest on the edge of a glass. How cute is that?!?

Now, my mind immediately went to martinis, but Mr. E thought of dessert in a glass....duh. {He's good to have around.}

So, what we have here is homemade strawberry ice cream, topped with a sweet strawberry-blueberry "sauce," whipped cream (ok...it's Cool Whip), and a cookie! Perfect little dessert for the 4th of July.

First, make the cookies. These are just vanilla-almond sugar cookies decorated really simply with royal icing.

The ice cream...
...let me tell you, I NEVER order strawberry ice cream at the ice cream shop. I mean, it's right.next.to.the.chocolate. Chocolate wins every time.

BUT...this homemade ice cream has me rethinking my priorities.

Here's how you *know* it's going to be good...the melted ice cream makes a ♥-shaped drip on your ice cream maker. Yep, it's a sign.

Strawberry Ice Cream
{modified from the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream & Dessert Book}

2 cups sliced & hulled strawberries
1/3 c. sugar
juice from 1/2 a lemon
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
2 c. heavy whipping cream
1 c. milk

Stir together the strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar and lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Mash with a potato masher or a pastry blender. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. (Use pasteurized eggs if raw eggs make you nervous.) Gradually whisk in the 3/4 cup sugar, whisk for an additional minute once all has been added.

Stir in the cream and milk. Add the strawberry puree. Pour into a chilled ice cream canister and process according to manufacturer's directions. Place the ice cream in a freezer-safe container to harden for several hours.

Twenty minutes before assembling the sundaes, make the sauce. Combine more sliced and hulled strawberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes. Stir in some frozen blueberries. Let sit for 10 minutes more.

Scoop ice cream into glasses. Top with the strawberries and blueberries along with the sauce from the bowl. Dollop on whipped cream (OR Cool Whip)
...don't forget the cookie!