Shake goes bourbon balls one better

Drinking mint juleps may be the ultimate Derby day ritual. But as my waitress at funky Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville recently put it: "We only drink juleps once a year." Lynn's decadent Bourbon Ball milkshakes, on the other hand: "All the time."

I took one frozen sip of this vanilla whip of ice cream, walnuts, bourbon and chocolate chips, and I knew exactly what she meant. It was like sipping a cold ice cream truffle through a straw, sweet but deceptively potent. It was not unlike the ubiquitous bourbon ball chocolates that Kentucky is famous for, but it was even better. And I could make it at home before, during, and after the race.

Makes 3 servings.

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup walnuts

6 to 8 scoops vanilla ice cream

1 oz. good bourbon (either Woodford Reserve or Maker's Mark)

1 tablespoon cream

whipped cream, for garnish

whole walnuts, for garnish

1. Whip all the (non-garnish) ingredients in a blender and pour into a tall parfait glass.

2. Serve topped with whipped cream and walnuts.

Per serving (without garnishes): 593 calories, 8 grams protein, 54 grams carbohydrates, 48 grams sugar, 38 grams fat, 74 milligrams cholesterol, 98 milligrams sodium, 2 grams dietary fiber