How ya doing, my friend?
Holding up, okay?
Right this very second, if you could have any one dream come true, what would it be?
In 2005, a lifelong dream of mine came true.
I got my fifteen minutes of fame on the Food Network as a guest of Paula Deen’s short-lived series, Paula’s Party. On the show, I demonstrated how to make my “famous” cinnamon roll milkshake. The sweet concoction turned out to be a hit.
I became a food legend (wink, wink)..IN MY OWN FAMILY.
Milkshakes are delicious, satisfying, and best of all-nostalgic.
Who doesn’t love a thick and frothy shake on a hot summer day? Or with a drippy, melty cheeseburger? Or just because a milkshake is really fun to drink?
The milkshake is a miracle of modern gastronomic science!
My younger son was just a year old when I made this milkshake on TV. Now, he’s almost 16, and he still complains that he’s never even tasted it!
Can you believe I haven’t made that milkshake once in the last fifteen years?
But lately, with all the talk about the corona virus and staying six feet away from one another, I’m craving a hug, and so I thought, OF COURSE—why didn’t I think of this before?
LESS handshakes, MORE milkshakes! (It’s a hug in a mug!)
The History of the Milkshake
The word “milkshake” first appeared in print in 1885. At this time, milkshakes were an eggnog-like drink made with whiskey. By the turn of the century, milkshakes ditched the alcohol and included flavored syrups, such as vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. In 1911, Hamilton Beach invented a drink mixer that was adopted by soda fountains, making milkshakes easier than ever to make. In 1922, Steven Poplawski invented the blender, a modern invention that revolutionized milkshake-making. By 1930, milkshakes referred to the sweet treat we know today, with ice cream, milk, and syrup blended together.
I think it goes without saying that a standard handshake just doesn’t carry the same je ne sais quoi of a creamy milkshake.
“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
So…as we’re practicing social distancing and staying six feet from one another in our public spaces, let’s drink more milkshakes and maybe do some other things that don’t require actual touching of people within our sphere of influence.
I’ve got some more ideas using all five of your senses.
Scent:
Nothing evokes a memory like a familiar scent. My favorite are Demeter fragrances, introduced to me years ago through a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. With scents like cotton candy, crayon, and grass, you are sure to find something that makes you feel happy and calm. A personal favorite of mine is paperback. But in keeping with our milkshake theme, you’ll be happy to know there’s a whole line of ice-cream flavored scents. Yum!
Just because you can’t go out doesn’t mean you can’t go all out when it comes to freshening up those olfactory nerves.
Sound:
Somebody recently told me that listening to Bach helped them concentrate. There’s research to support this, and I tried it, and yes, it does work. I’m listening to Bach as I write this post, and oh my gosh—the words are flowing! If your kids are home this week working from your kitchen table instead of at their desks at school, try listening to Bach and see if it helps put them in the right frame of mind.
““Bach has an underlying structure and order that is very reassuring in disordered times.””
Just because you can’t go to a concert doesn’t mean you can’t have a concerto in your own home.
Sight:
Beauty is all around us. A Pattern Language is a book about architecture I’ve been meaning to get, so I’m going to put it in my Amazon cart when I finish this post. What’s unique about this book is that it’s implications reach farther than simple buildings; the methodology in this book has become influential across a myriad of fields, including technology and business. Maybe you love beautiful clothing or flowers or furniture or art. Now is the perfect time to incorporate beauty into the fabric of your daily routine.
“Most of the wonderful places of the world were not made by architects but by the people.”
Just because you can’t see your favorite friends in person doesn’t mean you can’t see the things around you in new and exciting ways.
Touch:
Feel the grass between your toes, stretch out in a chair in your driveway and turn your face to the sun, and of course spend lots and lots of time stroking your dog’s fur.
Just because we have to stay away from one another doesn’t mean we have to stay to ourselves.
Taste:
There’s no time like the present to enjoy good, home-cooked comfort food. Some of my favorites include chicken and noodles, homemade bread, and chocolate pie. They remind me of my grandmother. She’s no longer here, but back in the day we’d sit on her couch and she loved to brush my hair while those things were lovingly baking away in the kitchen. Do you have a favorite that you could share with a friend? What if you traded a couple of recipes a week? Write down the story and share a happy memory. Leave your special meal on each other’s front porch.
And just for funsies, here’s a link to my recipe for cinnamon roll milkshakes. I hope you enjoy drinking it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Just because you can’t visit your favorite bakery doesn’t mean you can’t taste a bit of heaven!
remember: less handshakes, more milkshakes—good for your health and good for your soul!
What are you doing to stay sane during these trying times?