Cooking Lesson #118 Orange Julius Hack

COUNTY FAIR WEEK: HAPPY HOUR

U.S. Flag, Los Angeles National Cemetary

Before we get to celebrating Happy Hour... a few thoughts on the importance of this day, September 11th.

This day has very personal meaning to me. I left New York on a flight to Las Vegas on September 10th. I had been staying at the Millennium Hotel across the street from the World Trade Center during my visit.  I had a drink with a client at Windows on the World just days before. Then, in just a few minutes, happy memories turned to fear, sadness and rage.
 
I often think about the people who lost their lives in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon, and the many first responders who tried to come to their aid and were also lost in the conflagration (over 350 firemen, nearly 60 policeman and Port Authority Officers). We can never forget about the nearly 3,000 innocent people who lost their lives when the buildings fell, or in desperation jumped from the upper floors that were engulfed in flames.
 
I think about the 40 people on American Airlines flight 93 who prevented the radical savages who had overtaken the flight crew on their way to destroy our nation’s Capitol. It is something I can never forget or ever forgive. I look at some of our young people today who are destroying our great cities—Portland, Seattle, NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles—many who may not have even been alive or are today old enough to remember what our nation went through on 9/11. I often replay in my mind watching the day unfold on my hotel television in Las Vegas.
 
One thing I know for sure, the events of that day proved it didn’t make any difference what color you were, what religion you believed in, what your job was, who you loved, how much money you had or how much you owed—we were all Americans who, on that day and for a few weeks that followed, deeply cared for one another. Wouldn’t it be nice if, as Americans, all we could support one another with respect and affection?
 
To all those who lost love ones (mothers, fathers, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, coworkers and friends) we will never forget them and all you have been through. May God bless us all and may God bless the United States of America.     ~ Ed Engoron

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Orange Julius Hack

How you doin’? I want to share with you a drink that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. The adult version of this beverage has a little added vodka to make it a real Happy Hour treat. Warning: Do not allow children to drink the adult version Orange Julius.
 
I want to take a few minutes to tell you a little history of an American icon in the food space—Orange Julius. Did you know that Orange Julius was the signature beverage at the 1964 New York World’s Fair? Some of you younger folks out there probably didn’t know that Orange Julius has been an American chain of fruit drink beverage stores since the late 1920s. The beverage is a mixture of ice, orange juice, sweetener, milk, powdered egg whites and vanilla flavoring, similar to a morir soñando (see Ed’s Note below) or orange Creamsicle.
 
The drink became popular after being introduced at an orange juice stand opened in Los Angeles, California in 1926 by Julius Freed. Sales were initially modest, about $20 a day (equivalent to approximately $290 in 2019 dollars)—not bad for the middle of the great depression. In 1929, Bill Hamlin, Freed's friend and real estate broker, developed a mixture that made the acidic orange juice less bothersome to his stomach. Freed's stand began serving the drink, which had a frothier, creamier texture. The sales at the stand increased substantially after the introduction of the new drink, going up to $100 a day—it was a devil of a drink.
 
During the 1950s and 1960s, Orange Julius drinks were sold at a variety of outlets, including state and county fairs and freestanding and co-branded Orange Julius stands. It now has hundreds of stores in malls across America and Canada, in Singapore, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the Philippines and Japan.
 
In 1987, the Orange Julius chain was bought by International Dairy Queen—a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway (yes, Warren Buffett) which owns the rights to all Orange Julius stores. For a short time, Orange Julius was offered at many of its Dairy Queen stores—it no longer is.
 
When you think about it, the icy-cold texture of an Orange Julius regulates how fast you drink it. If you’re feeling relaxed with some sweet summer vibes—slowly sipping on some OJ is like a wonderful soft stroll along the beach. Try to shotgun the stuff though, and it’s going give you “brain freeze.”
 
An Orange Julius hack takes just a minute or so to make and is a favorite treat for many families! So, here’s what I like to do… I like to make the copycat Orange Julius, following the recipe below and then “goose-it-up” a bit with a 1-1/2-ounces of vodka which makes an adult happy hour treat.
 
Prep time 2 minutes
Yield:  2 servings (one for you and one for your favorite friend—everyone loves an Orange Julius).
 
Ingredients
6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate (don’t use plain orange juice)
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon powdered egg whites (optional—it makes it foamier)
1-1/2 ounces of vodka (for adults only)
1 cup ice cubes
 
Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in the blender.
2. Blend until smooth and serve immediately. ENJOY!

 
ChefSecret:  If you want this to be a drink treat for the whole family, omit the shot of vodka.
 
Ed’s Note:  Morir soñando (To die dreaming) is a popular beverage of the Dominican Republic which has made its way to other Caribbean and Latin American countries, usually made of orange juice, milk, cane sugar, and chopped ice. Sometimes vanilla extract is also added, or evaporated milk is used instead of regular milk. The recipe varies greatly depending on the region and family heritage. Observers have described the drink as resembling an orange Creamsicle or the Orange Julius of the Caribbean.
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Covid-19 quip of the day: “Another Friday night in the house and I just realized, even the trash goes out more than I do.”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. If you have a little extra in your pocket to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

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