Homemade Strawberry Jam Ice Cream

Happy 4th to all my friends and followers here in the US!!!

Did you know that from 1946 to 1961, the Philippines used to observe its Independence Day on July 4? Yes, that's how it was because July 4, 1946 was when the Philippines received full independence from nearly 50 years of American colonial rule. But in 1962, the late President Diosdado Macapacal changed it to June 12, the date on which the Malolos Republic had declared independence from Spain in 1898. Since then, July 4th was celebrated as Filipino-American Friendship Day to commemorate the liberation of the country by joint Filipino and American forces from the Japanese occupation at the end of World War II. In 1987 however, the late President Corazon Aquino declared that July 4 will no longer be observed as a holiday with the belief that even though the US and the Philippines are friends, Filipinos don't need a holiday for it. July 4 has been an ordinary day to Filipinos since then. 

Now that we are here in the US, we have embraced 4th of July like our own Independence Day celebration. Every year since we got here, even though we aren't U.S. citizens, we celebrate 4th of July with our friends as our way of showing appreciation to the independence and freedom of this great nation that we are now.

Today, we'll celebrate it with a simple dinner with a couple of friends here at our house, and then watch the fireworks display after. I've prepared this homemade strawberry jam ice cream as part of our dessert. I've tried making homemade strawberry ice cream using fresh strawberries last week. Though Ryan & I loved the hint of sour taste in it, Clarise and Cherlin insisted that they prefer it sweeter...so I decided to use strawberry jam instead of fresh strawberries. Again, I used the same procedure as my mango ice cream. We all liked it...I hope my guests tonight will like it too. By the way, I used homemade strawberry jam! I promise to share with you the recipe within the week! 

And before I forget, you have 8 days left to join my 100th Recipe Post Giveaway. Please don't miss it! ;) 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup homemade strawberry jam
• ¼ cup sugar (this is optional - for me, the sweetness of the strawberry jam is enough)
• Juice of one lemon, freshly squeezed 
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• ¾ cup milk

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, combine strawberry jam and ½ cup heavy cream. Mix until well blended.

2. In a blender, whip remaining heavy cream, milk, sugar and lemon juice until fluffy then fold into jam and cream mixture.

3. Chill the mixture for at least one hour.

4. Pour in your ice cream maker and churn. Mix for about 25-30 minutes or according to manufacturer's instructions.
5. Serve and be refreshed! If firmer texture is desired, transfer ice cream in a tightly sealed container and freeze for 3 to 4 hours before serving.