Monday, February 14, 2011

Brandied Fig & Banana Milkshakes

I was skyping with one of my best gals, Manda, the other day when she told me about the most delicious milkshake she had at a local restaurant. She said - "it had figs and bananas in it and you must make it." I immediately thought BRANDY which her shake didn't have but we both agreed that yes, a liquored-up version might just be the best thing ever.

It should come as no surprise that I was right. I sucked down that first sip of shake and decided that brandy makes everything better. It reminded me a bit of a Brandy Alexander but was sweet with banana and slightly crunchy with the pureed tiny fig seeds. I love the hint of cinnamon which seems to marry the two fruits together and complements the strong vanilla flavor.

The recipe itself is a guideline. I think shakes are something that require a little tinkering based on personal preference. If you want your shake to be extra-thick so that the straw stands immobile in the middle then either add more ice cream or less milk. The brandy was perfect for my tastes but might be a touch strong for other people so don't add the full amount at first. Taste and decide.

As M and I sat slurping down our milkshakes BEFORE dinner (so naughty), I thought that they would make for a fun, unexpected end to a dinner party. The brandied figs would also make a splendid topping for a vanilla sundae along with some chopped nuts and chocolate sauce.

For 2 shakes:
  • 1/3 cup dried figs, stemmed
  • 1/2 cup brandy
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 banana, cut into large chunks and frozen
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon for garnish
In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the figs, brandy and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick and put the brandy and figs in the refrigerator until cold.

In a blender, combine the figs with the brandy, ice cream, milk, and banana. Blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

3 comments:

Eric said...

Looks delicious!

Manda said...

If only I was there to sample your adult version. I didn't think I could love you more but that you made this based on my desire makes me adore you.

Scott Rohr said...

These sound fantastic!