Innovation in kitchen has no boundaries, be it substituting ice creams or adding a splash of your favorite liqueur. For instance, a classically delicious strawberry milkshake doesn't need strawberry ice cream, but rather a whirl of ripe strawberries in syrup with vanilla ice cream. This intriguing combination delivers a refreshing and more concentrated strawberry flavor that surpasses a milkshake made with strawberry ice cream. The beneficial addition of the syrup plays the dual role of enhancing the flavor and thinning the milkshake, eliminating the need to dilute it with extra milk.

To unlock a more fruit-filled experience, consider dropping a few extra strawberries into the blended shake and give it a slight pulse to chop them into small, slurp-friendly chunks. Don't worry if you don't have an industrial-strength milkshake machine; a standard blender is more than capable of handling the job here. However, it's crucial to strike a balance in the blending process - blend too much and you'll be left with more of a runny soup than a creamy delight.

When it comes to milkshake customization, the confines are only set by your blender's capacity and motor strength. A delightful addition that can easily make its way into your mix is a ripe banana. It's a popular ingredient for many due to the ease of blending, and its presence in a strawberry-banana milkshake is always overwhelmingly welcome. All you need to do is toss in a whole banana, whether thawed or fresh, into the blender along with the rest of the components.

Speaking of substitutes, you can totally shake things up by replacing the vanilla ice cream with chocolate ice cream for a delectable chocolate-strawberry blend. And if you want to kick up the indulgence by a notch, consider transforming your milkshake into a boozy dessert! Just add a touch of your preferred alcohol, with fruity liqueurs like Chambord or crème de cassis being excellent choices.

However, always remember that once melted, ice cream should not be refrozen. Savor your milkshake while it's still at its best!

Here’s the list of ingredients: 1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream (such as Bluebell Homemade Vanilla) 1/4 cup thawed frozen sliced strawberries in syrup 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract A small pinch of kosher salt Whipped cream, maraschino cherry, and rainbow or candy sprinkles, for garnish

And the steps to prepare it: Chill a 12-ounce milkshake glass or tall glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. Blend ice cream, strawberries, vanilla bean paste, and salt on medium speed until well combined and smooth, for 15 to 20 seconds. Pour the blended milkshake into the chilled glass, garnish with whipped cream, cherry and sprinkles. The milkshake is best enjoyed immediately.