There’s still a couple weeks of warm weather left and what better way to soak up the sun than with a frosty milkshake, at home. But what makes a good milkshake and how can someone at home re-create something as thick and delicious as they’d get at a restaurant? At the recent Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, I had what I thought was the best milkshake from Bill’s Bar & Burger — a simple cookies and cream concoction. I had to find out their secret to a successful milkshake. I caught up with the creator, Brett Reichler, Corporate Executive Chef for BR Guest Hospitality, several weeks later for the answer. According to Chef Reichler, there’s no such thing as a bad milkshake. “It’s a pretty personal thing — a person may like a thicker shake over a thinner, or vice versa,” he said. “I prefer a cookies and cream milkshake on the thicker side.” While his first choice is simple, he’s created everything from classic chocolate and vanilla milkshakes to popular flavors like the Apple Pie, Cheesecake, Strawberry and a Campfire Milkshake with toasted marshmallow on top.

“If you don’t own a blender, you can also use a stick-blender, which works just as effectively,” he added. “If you don’t have either one of those, grab a stainless steel bowl and a whisk, you should never deny yourself a milkshake because you don’t have a blender.” Chef Brett Reichler’s Tips for the Perfect Milkshake at HomeHandheld Bidet Sprayer Set For Toilets 1. Put your glass in the freezer to get a nice chill on it.Evenflo Car Seat Replacement Cover Canopy 2. Make sure your ice cream is tempered, soft but not runny. Mini Groodle Puppies For SaleThis step is key — if the ice cream is too hard, you’ll add too much milk and thin it out, diluting the concentration of the ice cream.

You can also use frozen yogurt and low-fat ice cream. 3. Take three hearty scoops of your favorite ice cream, add two ounces of milk and any flavorings you want (chocolate syrup, candy or cookie pieces). Do not add ice as it will just water it down. If you like your milkshakes thinner, add more milk. 4. If you’re adding cookies to your milkshake, Brett recommends adding three roughly crushed cookies to the ice cream. 5. Top it with whipped cream and additional cookies/candy if you desire. *If you want to make a grownup milkshake, skip the milk and just add your liquor of choice — just a splash will do. Food Network’s Top 5 Most Popular Milkshake Recipes: 1. Paula Deen’s Vanilla Milkshake 2. Almost-Famous Orange Milkshake 3. Double Chocolate-Marshmallow Milkshake 4. Fresh Strawberry Milkshake 5. Bobby’s Bananas Foster Milkshakes Watch Chef Reichler and Bill’s Bar & Burger in action at the 2011 New York City Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash.

More posts from Sarah De Heer. See More on Food Network Feed This shake is also just as good with vanilla frozen yogurt! Fantastic and easy to make. I made mine with homemade vanilla ice cream and piped fresh whip on top. Perfect amount of Oreo! This milkshake was soooo good! I added 2 more small scoops of vanilla ice cream so that it wouldn't be too chocolate-y (I'm more of a vanilla person). ALl in all, it was DELIC...The guests loved it. It's extremely sweet, which is to be expected, of course. What worked for me is giving everyone a small glass as desert, rather than trying to make ... It was a bit runny... but I loved it! It's also really good with strawberry ice cream if you don't have vanilla. for me it served one. but it was amazing!‘Tis the season for all things Vitamin C, eh? Actually, this may be totally weird to point out, but I have to say that there’s a little phenomenon that exists in our culture that always makes me smile.  

I’m guessing you may have noticed it before.   It can happen at end of December, the beginning of March, or smack dab in the middle of July.  It can happen just about anywhere in the world.  It’s what happens when you can’t stifle a cough, or have to blow your nose, or anytime you reference your child/friend/spouse/parent/cousin’s-boyfriend’s-mechanic’s-dentist.  Anytime there’s a mention of someone being sick, the person near you quickly chimes in that — you guessed it — “Oh, I’ve heard that there’s something going around!” Granted, that’s probably also true every day of the year.  But it’s one of those nice mini traditions in our culture that I kind of love.  Because no one ever wants to think that they’re the only one having to carry around 100 kleenex, or gulp down another spoonful of Nyquil.  Nope, misery and colds love company.  And they also need lots and lots of Vitamin C. Which is where this random story is heading.  If you happen to be someone who caught “that bug that’s going around” right now, or even if you’re trying to stave off said bug, well I have the perfect smoothie for you.  

And, it just so happens to be a healthy one that tastes just like the famous “orange julius” you used to get at the mall.  As I would have said back in my high school Orange Julius days — score! Yes, for anyone who has been following this blog forever and ever, this is actually a really old recipe from the good ol’ days of 2010 that I decided to re-photograph and re-share with you since it was collecting dust back in the archives.  Which worked out for me, because in the weeks leading up to my Mexico vacation (where I’m currently basking in the sunshine), I was bound and determined to do everything possible not to get sick. So, in comes this smoothie to the rescue. This fresh orange smoothie has become a sort of winter tradition for me these past few years.  I try and make it a point to always have fresh oranges in the house during cold and flu season, and one of the easiest ways to use them is with in this smoothie. It is the epitome of “quick and easy” to make, with just 5 simple ingredients.  

And the claim to fame which makes it taste just like the Orange Julius we all used to love is that tiny ingredient right there in the center: vanilla. It’s the key ingredient that kicks this smoothie up a mega notch.  And when paired with the milk (I use almond milk), a bit of honey (if needed to sweeten), and tons of fresh oranges (I’d say this one’s what they call “heavy pulp”), this smoothie tastes like an absolute treat. To make it, simply toss everything in a blender… …and, well, blend it.   No fancy instructions for this one. Then pop in a straw (I’m obsessed with these metal straws from West Elm lately), and down all of that delicious Vitamin C.   Hopefully it will make you feel better, and keep you feeling better, and — at minimum — make your day taste all the better soon.   A healthy orange smoothie made with FRESH oranges, and your choice of milk and sweetener. Enjoy this fresh orange smoothie ("Orange Julius") recipe today!