"No Name" > wrote in
. com:

> Elder parents....grrrrrrrrrrr
>
> Tonight my 72 yr old father is telling me how he needs a $500 malt
> machine to make a good malt. Now keep in mind he has never shown
> interest in making a smoothie, milkshake or mexican liquado. I told
> him that people that buy malt machines when not needed have more money
> than brains.
>
> My father is the type of pack rat that has one of everything but only
> uses those items once in 10 years.
>
> Don't retirees think of anything else but how to squander their hard
> earned money on junk shown on the Home Shopping Network? Especially
> ones that have a collection of tools and gadgets that they don't
> currently use?
>
> Can someone please answer 3 basic questions?
>
> 1) What is the big difference in a malt vs milkshake?

A "malted milk" is a milkshake with malt added, such as Horlick's,
Borden's, etc. Horlick's is especially good but harder to find.

> 2) Does Dad need a malt machine, won't a blender do?

A blender will "do", but a malt mixer produces a more authentic texture.
A blender will thin out the mixture and produces a "soupier" drink.

FWIW, I bought a vintage Hamilton Beach Malt Mixer on eBay several years
ago. They almost always have them available, and you can probably snare
one for anywhere from about $75 to $125. These are the models that were
actually used at soda fountains.

Here's a good example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ry=11653&item=
6119977473&rd=1

> 3) Can you share some basic recipes?

Most basic of all, the Vanilla Malt... 3 large solid scoops good quality
vanilla ice cream, 1/2-3/4 cup whole milk, 2-3 tablespoons malt powder.
Mix with malt mixer 2-3 minutes. For a Chocolate Malt, add about 1/4 cup
of chocolate syrup. I prefer Fox's U-Bet over Hershey's, but either will
work.

HTH

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.