Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

It's been 9 days since my last blog post.  9 days.  That's eternity in delicious food land.  Because if I'm not posting, then I'm not cooking.  Instead, here are 9 things that happened in the past 9 days:

1. Good friends of ours were in Haiti when the earthquake hit. They had to leave their behind son whom they have been trying to adopt for 2.5 years from Heartline Ministries in Haiti.  They have been fighting on behalf of all orphans to get them home to the United States.
2. I was diagnosed with Mono.
3. My horrible headaches that I have had for a month now, still no diagnosis. But I've been to three different doctors, and another one will be hit this week.
4.My best friend Shey came into town and we had a restful, lazy, blast.
5. It dawned on me that we are moving to sweet Old Town Orange in 12 days. 12 days and only 5 boxes packed. Yikes.
6. I realized that I am addicted to sweets.
7. I went through about 6 different shades of hair color that I wanted to change to. I settled on the cheap way out, which is keeping it the same.
8. I've watched more TV, movies, and slept more in the past week than I have in maybe the past three months.  Which, is probably why I now have mono.
9. I survived the rain in Southern California.

And so, it was these mixed emotions of sadness and grief, hope, fatigue, and standstill that fueled my decision to make this ice cream.  It's comforting, it's delicious, my husband requested for a more "regular" flavor, and so, comfort food does the trick.  I cheated and purchased the cookie dough instead of making it.  In my defense, it's the Mono's fault and I chose Simply by Pillsbury.  Have you had it?  It's delicious, and no High Fructose Corn Syrup or Trans Fat.  I'm a sucker for marketing, and this time it paid off, I really loved it.  Just cut those up and put them in the ice cream at the end of the churning cycle.  This is easy, and doesn't take 9 days to make.  It may take you 9 days to eat, but if you live in our house it will take you 3.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

1 cup Heavy Cream
3 cups Whole Milk
5 egg yolks
1/3 and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1-2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 package chocolate chip cookie dough

Place Heavy Cream, Whole Milk, and sugar into large saucepan over medium heat.  Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved and ingredients are mixed well.  Briskly whisk in egg yolks by pouring them slowly from a small bowl into the pan.  It will help to remove pan from heat while you do this.  Add in vanilla extract.  Place sauce pan in fridge until cooled to room temperature.  Pour into ice cream maker that has been frozen according to manufacturer's instructions. Cut cookie dough in pieces you think are appropriate ( I like a few large chunks here and there) and fold into finished ice cream.  Serve immediately or store in airtight container in freezer until ready to serve. Enjoy!