My mum is a flavour genius. I can instinctively tell when she’s made something and when she’s not – quite simply because anything she’s not made is not even half as good as anything she touches. She has been the one who has heavily influenced my palate. I have vivid memories of lunching every saturday on thai curry and rice, at what is now my favourite restaurant in the city. Street food to fine dining, she has a knack for savouring it all, and most importantly, eating guilt free. In her repertoire of culinary innovations, is this perfect milkshake.
In the very French way, it all starts with the requirement to ensure that all ingredients are at the same temperature, so once the strawberries are washed and hulled, they need to sit in the freezer along with the milk for about 30-45 minutes. After thats, it basically whizz, whizz again, one last time to ensure a smoother texture, and taste/down it all. I don’t believe in the need to have ice cream in the milkshake – the use of more than a usual amount of strawberries lends the shake a thicker consistency, and if you really miss that touch of vanilla, you can always add 1/4tsp to the milkshake, for added satisfaction.
On a completely different and extremely unrelated note, I am crushing bug time on this song. It has been on repeat on my laptop for a few days now. It could have a lot to do with the mood I’m in along the fact that I find it one of those insanely appropriate driving songs, conducive to forcing me to be singing it at the top of my voice as innocent bystanders at the traffic light look at me and not-so-secrety worry about my mental health, combined with the fact that it is by a British band.
While this is probably a temporary crush/obsession, my more permanent one is back! 10 favourite Joie De Vivre recipes with Strawberry as the show stopping ingredient, in good time to let you test your hand at atleast a few before the abundance of these rubies simmer down.
Savoury
1. Strawberry & Rocket Salad with Parmesan, Balsamic Glaze
2. Strawberry & Basil Crostini
Low Fat
3. Light Strawberry Cheesecake
4. Strawberry Balsamic Topped Low Fat Shortcake
Sweet
6. Strawberry and Almond Crumble
8. Strawberry & White Chocolate Cupcakes
10. Strawberry & White Chocolate Baked Cheesecake
And finally, the recipe for the Strawberry Milkshake, a la Mom
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (skimmed/full fat, either work)
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and quartered
- 2 tbs granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1-2 ice cubes (optional)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 strawberry, chopped, to serve
Method:
- In a processor, whizz together the ingredients (except the strawberry for topping).
- Taste and adjust sweetness. You can also adjust the consistency by adding ice to make it thinner and colder, or strawberries to make it thicker.
- Serve chilled with a sprinkling of the chopped strawberries.
Feedback:
- Make sure all the ingredients are really chilled before making the milkshake, or else you will be left with a sub-standard watery milkshake.
- Adding cream or vanilla ice cream are always indulgent options.
- Follow the same process in the summer for a luxurious rich mango smoothie.
