A Trendier Version of the Classic Vanilla Milk Shake

There was a time when choosing a plain-old-vanilla cone, in world-of-thirty-wonderful-flavors, seemed unimaginative at best. Myopic, safe, intolerant of new things, at worst. This sense of superiority usually coming from the brave soul that dipped into the frozen tub of black licorice goo as their flavor du jour. Of course, any plain-old-vanilla lover knows it’s hard to keep up that superiority complex when your tongue begins to resemble that of a camel! We’re just saying.It should be no surprise that vanilla, one of the world’s most expensive, yet beloved spices, holds steadfast as the US number one ice cream flavor; this according to the NPD Groups’ National Eating Trends survey. Vanilla weighs in at a whopping 30% of all ice cream consumption, while chocolate comes in second-place at only 10%! Surprisingly, butter pecan ekes out third-place at 4%, while strawberry lags just behind at 3.7%. Rounding out the top five US ice cream favorites is chocolate chip mint at 3.2%. So, just where does a flavor like Chunky Monkey fall on the list? We may never know.It should also be no surprise that the intoxicating allure of vanilla paired with cardamom’s intriguing fragrance and taste come together as a luxurious sensory delight. Unique to itself, cardamom is sweet, floral, and citrusy with woody undertones. It’s no wonder this charming couple is one of the McCormick Flavor Forecast 2008 top ten pairings!While the essence of the vanilla bean is adored around the world as a flavor and fragrance for all things imaginable, the pod of the perennial Elettaria cardamomum is just beginning to makes its debut to the much of the world. A member of the ginger family, cardamom, this “queen” of spices, is very popular in Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian, North African, Asian and Indian cuisines. In fact, cardamom coffee is considered a symbol of hospitality and prestige throughout the Arab world. Used in lieu of cinnamon, cardamom is a popular ingredient in Danish pastries. Cardamom is often found as an ingredient in spice blends such as curry and chai.So how does all this talk of ice cream, vanilla and cardamom come together? It comes together deliciously as a recipe provided by the innovative chefs at McCormick®. Try this trendy version of a classic vanilla milk shake today!Vanilla Cardamom Milk Shake Shooters1 pint (2 cups) vanilla ice cream1 cup milk1 tablespoon McCormick® Vanilla Extract1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection® Ground CardamomPlace ice cream, milk, vanilla and cardamom in blender container; cover. Blend on high speed until smooth.Pour into glasses. Sprinkle with additional cardamom, if desiredAs mentioned previously, cardamom is also a key ingredient in a chai spice blend. For another scrumptious treat, try these Chai Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches!This article first published for Suite101.com.