Strawberry Milkshake

Strawberries are the quintessential taste of summer.  And when I think of strawberries, I think of childhood.  Hot summer nights.  Riding in the pickup truck to town.  Dusty roads.  Windows rolled down.  T-shirt with cut-off jean shorts.  And the local mom-n-pop restaurant that stayed open late on summer evenings.  Orders were placed for cold treats and they were enjoyed sitting on the tailgate.  My favorite?  Thick.  Creamy.  Seasonal.  Homemade.  Milkshakes.  Specifically, strawberry milkshakes.

With an abundant strawberry harvest this season, not only is there enough berries to eat fresh, but also to indulge in my childhood treat.  Folks, get ready for a taste of summers past.  This just may become your new favorite treat.  Best part?  You don’t have to drive down a long dusty road to enjoy it.  Simply whip this up at home and start a tradition that you and your family will continue for years to come.

Strawberry Milkshake Recipe

• 1/2 Cup milk
• 1 1/2 Cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 Cups frozen strawberries

Note: the strawberries may vary in their sweetness level depending on when they were harvested.  Adjust the quantity of sugar to suit your taste.

Place ingredients into a blender (one capable of blending ice cubes, such as a Vitamix) in order listed.  Blend on high until all items are thoroughly mixed and no chunks of frozen strawberries remain.

Pour or spoon into glasses and enjoy.  Note: this makes a thick milkshake and is best eaten with a spoon.  If you want a milkshake that you can drink through a straw, add an additional 1/2 cup of milk.

This recipe does not rely on ice cream which is a standard milkshake ingredient.  By freezing the strawberries and using a combination of milk and cream as well as sugar, you are essentially making a strawberry ice cream that is a little thinner than soft serve ice cream.  But with the ratio of fruit to liquid takes the ice cream into milkshake territory.

So go ahead, harvest those berries or buy them at the local farmer’s market.  With those fresh strawberries, you have the beginnings of memorable summertime treats.  Strawberry milkshakes are something that you and your children can enjoy….minus the dusty road.