Strawberry & Banana Smoothie (Serves: 1; Preparation Time: 10 minutes)

At times,  combining fairly common ingredients can produce extraordinary stuff! I am sure what I created is not exotic sounding, but the unusual combination is sure worth a try. I was lucky – my daughter gulped a few sips and uttered “Ummy Ummy” (yummy, yummy)!!! Try, may be you get lucky too.Ingredients ½ a banana, chopped…

Refreshing drinks for the hot summers!!

Soaring temperature and the scorching heat leave us parched and low; one needs to maintain a continuous  intake of fluids to remain hydrated and charged.  Under ‘Beverages and Accompaniments’, I will blog a few simple recipes of some refreshing summer drinks that beat the heat!! 

Aam ka panna (Serves:3-4; Preparation Time: 20 minutes)

Ingredients 4-5 raw mangoes (500 gms) 1 cup fresh mint leaves 1/3 cup sugar (less sweet)/ 1/2 cup sugar (more sweet) 1 tsp roasted and ground cumin 1/2 tsp black salt 1/2 tsp salt Steps Wash the raw mangoes, keep them in a poly bag/polythene and microwave for about 6 minutes (or till tender); one…

Phalse ka Sharbat (Serves:5-6; Preparation Time: 15 minutes)

Ingredients 250 gms phalse (the sweet and sour, exotic summer berries) 100 gms sugar 1½ tsp black salt ½  tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper powder  Steps Rinse the phalse thoroughly and leave them to dry on a plate Sprinkle the sugar on the phalse; after about half an hour, the sugar will be partly…

Thandai (Serves:3-4; Preparation Time: 30 minutes)

Ingredients 4 tbsp caster/normal sugar 10-15 black peppercorns 1½  tsp fennel seeds 4-5 cardamom seeds, powdered 10 blanched almonds (skin peeled off) A pinch of saffron (about 20 strands) 4 tsp rose water 2 tbsp khus khus (poppy seeds) 1 tbsp watermelon and muskmelon seeds Steps Soak the saffron in rose water for about half an…

Kesar-Badam Sharbat (Preparation Time: 1 hour)

Ingredients 75-80 almonds  650 gms sugar 15-20 cardamom seeds, powdered A pinch of saffron 4 tsp rosewater 1/2 a lemon’s juice Steps Soak the saffron in rosewater for about half an hour Soak the almonds in hot water for about two hours,  and then peel In a saucepan, gently heat sugar mixed with about 350…

Mango Lassi (Serves: Two; Preparation Time:10 minutes)

Ingredients 400 ml curd/unsweetened yogurt 100 ml cream (optional) 200 ml full cream milk (skimmed milk can also be used) 400 ml mango pulp 4 tsp caster sugar Steps Blend together all the ingredients and serve chilled For Vanilla Lassi, replace mango pulp with 1/4 tsp vanilla essence and add freshly grated nutmeg