Tropical smoothie

Creamy rich tropical smoothie with saffron and cardamom - it smells like spring.

It's here…it's finally here - Spring !! The warm sunny skies,  the kiss of the morning light …not waking up to dark cold skies. Well….all true except it's raining n' pouring and it feels cold and the sunny skies are not in sight. I'm not complaining as we had a glorious weekend and I was out most of the day, photographing cherry blossoms, glad I did as it's pouring now and most of the flowers will not hold this  downpour. Well, those of you who are not fortunate to live in the midwestern US ( heavy sarcastic tone) will wonder what am I fussing about. Well, if you live nine months indoors in cooooooold temperatures, summer is more like a festival.

In between all the walking and wandering, I did mange to stock up the refrigerator with the essentials … saw this huge stack of mangoes at the grocery store…it transported me to Indian summer. Growing up in lucknow we were always eating  - dasheri, lagada, totapuri  aam ( varieties of mango). I never ever realized in my past life that one day I would be yearning for mangoes. Well, you get mangoes in  the US …it's not really the best quality of mango. Let me put it this way, if it was sold in India - no one would touch it.

Summer vacations was all about mangoes and play….all we did was play outside in the hot summer sun. I remember my mom would always say, "you will get dehydrated and sick", nothing really happened - we were tough kids. Now, when I see my teen turn on the air in the car, I wonder ….what a difference a generation has made. It is not just her,  my nephew in Delhi, kids in my mother's neighborhood in India, it's almost everywhere. None of them actually even eat mango like it should be - they want it chopped and with a fork. I am proud to admit that fork was  is my last option, I still want to bite into my mango…oh yumminess.

There is definitely something about growing up climbing mango and lychee trees !! As much as I love my gadgets and all the possibilities in this internet world. I think, we have paid a price, especially our kids…. we have become so sterilized in our behavior and activities - it's all pre planned. There is no room for spontaneity. I'm not sure if every generation feels this way…I hope it is that way!

Popsicles : apples, ginger n’ sage and grapefruit n’ sage

Yum

Popsicle art! Simple easy to make popsicles that taste like gourmet chilled dessert. 

Am a sucker for popsicles, especially if it is home-made.  Even in the bitter cold winter months I enjoy my popsicles. I have tried so many varieties, it’s strange that I have such few recipes on the blog.

This recipe was developed because I had a huge bottle of apple juice that was going to be expired. I added some candied ginger, ginger juice, infused some sage flavor and I think this is one of the most aromatic popsicles that we (teen & me) have ever made. The drink itself looked gorgeous and we had a few glasses and finally froze the rest. You can serve this as a summer mocktail or freeze it, both ways  it ammmmazing. Add a shot of tequila and you got a boozy popsicles for adults.

While we were at it made another one that is grapefruit n sage (no ginger). The color is so gorgeous, summer personified.

Before I forget, I was planning to take time off , I need to postpone that to the month of July so for next few weeks am not going anywhere.

Cardamom Coconut Horchata

Velvety,  smooth, earthy, aromatic vegan horchata. A perfect beverage for summer or winter. Add a shot of dark rum or brandy for grown-ups. Perfect beverage for  Valentine’s day dinner.  I just love the earthy aroma.

Some aromas have such strong associations. I have never made horchata but somehow the aroma of soaked rice and coconut took me to my childhood. There are many Indian recipes made from soaked rice….and something told me if dad had tasted it he would have loved it. It’s just his kind of beverage. As I was making it and taking pictures, all my childhood memories played right in front of my eyes….oh how I miss my dad and some days am consumed with memories of him. They always make me smile and cry at the same time. As I grow older I see myself turning more and more like him. I have certainly inherited his idiosyncrasies and his rigidity, am sure if my sister is reading this she will nod in consent.

Coming back to horchata, I loved the thick rich flavor. It is usually made with rice, sesame, and cinnamon. In Mexican cuisine, it is always with cinnamon. But then you travel to Ecuador and its made with the infusion of 18 spices. Lots of variations. It’s amazing to see the change in recipe from region to region. It is completely lacrosse free and is great for a vegan diet.

Here I took liberties and added an Indian twist by replacing cinnamon with cardamom. I used rice, almond, coconut, and dates to sweeten instead of sugar and added cardamom for flavoring and pistachio for garnish. It pairs so well with Indian curry.  If you are curious about the taste it is not like lassi at all, since there is no milk, the rice is very aromatic, maybe because I used basmati. It’s a gorgeous drink and flavors are fantastic. I wish I could teleport it right now….

Green Smoothie

It has been ages since I blogged on a weekend, I don’t think I ever post on a weekend. It has been a
crazy kind of week and even though I had the post almost ready on Friday, could not post it as I had to work on writing up the post, and it was a busy kind of day to say the least. The good think is that am done with everything today and I can take it easy (ignoring that mountain of laundry) .  They can put a man on the moon but they cannot invent a machine to fold the laundry? I think we are answerable to the future gen, unless wrinkled clothes are in fashion. A few months back, I made folding the laundry a family bonding time, we would all sit around the tele and fold the laundry. It failed miserably, there was no quality control and I never knew there was something called bad folding, and I am not even that picky. It was just easier for me to do it and quicker too.

Anyway moving on to the recipe, I love green smoothie, and this is my go to bfast drink most days. It’s super easy to put together and healthy, refreshing and delicious.

small bunch/ handful spinach ( I always use organic spinach)
1 pear ( preferably overripe)
1/2 banana ( frozen makes creamer smoothies)
1 small green apple
1/2 inch ginger
1 tbsp almond butter
pinch of salt

Blend it in the blender, for 2-3 min, till it is smooth.

 A kale if you want, I have not used kale this time, if you do add kale, you will get a richer green. You get about 3, 8oz glasses of the smoothie. Ginger really gives the smoothie a good kick, love the pairing with spinach. Don’t you just love the light green, so summery, only if summer was not looking so far off. Did I mention it’s really healthy.

Mango Panna - A Raw Mango Drink

I was going to post on Father's day but got busy having fun. Yesterday was a day out and by the time we got back home, I was too pooped to lift a finger let alone finalize a post and publish it.

Every summer as I pick flowers from my yard to arrange at home, I think of my childhood. My father was a botanist (a paleo-botanist, to be precise) and my mother is an artist. My father's knowledge of botany and my mother's artistic sense made our little garden a work of art. Our garden was filled with blooms, rare orchids, ferns, exotic begonia, and my mother's bonsais - to me, it was near paradise. I would always see my mother arrange flowers on Fridays (even now) - every Friday had new table setting with fresh flowers year round. What I considered a norm is a luxury in this part of the world. Summer is my season, when I go overboard, even though I do not have a huge yard to boast of. I enjoy picking flowers from my yard and bringing the outdoors in. Food and entertaining was a big part of our household - I remember huge gatherings and tons of food - almost everything was home made! My father was an active member of the menu planning party, and so was Ditu (my sister) and I.  Each of us wanted our favorites and Dad's would almost always prevail, so my mother would sneak in our favorites somewhere in the menu. No matter how busy dad was, he would always notice the fresh flower arrangement or a new art work at home and never fail to compliment my mother for her choice.

I remember my mother making Panna a lot during the summer months and it was a huge hit with family and friends. A great beverage for a party, as you can make it ahead of time. It was dad's favorite!

The size of a house doesn't matter, nor does the size of the city, village, or town that you come from. It is more important to grow up with values and principles. If I could go back in time, I would not like to change a thing! I learned a lot of life lessons from my father... To enjoy the little things, to question things and not follow blindly, to be fearless in pursuing your dreams because you believe in them, self discipline, and my first and finest spiritual lessons. To dad, wherever you are,  I love you - Happy Father's Day.

Fruit chai infused with lemongrass and a Party - you are invited!

Is there ever a good reason to have tea ? Never, not for me - I love my chai ! Something about a beverage - hot or cold, food is not complete without paring it with the right beverage. Puri-choley with jal-jerra or hot samosas and chai and many more- these are match made in heaven.  This fruit chai infused with lemongrass is my own concoction and I loved the flavors, it is great for a warm afternoon served with some sandwiches or served after dinner under a warm starry night - something romantic about it !!


What is your favorite beverage? Thanks you for stopping by and please join me in sharing your favorite beverage.  Scroll down at the end of the post and locate the linkz's frog (on left bottom) and follow the  instructions on how to leave a link. 

1 cup of mixed frozen berries
1stalk lemongrass diced circular
1 cup freshly brewed tea at room temperature
1 lime finely diced circular
sugar - optional
ice

Take half a cup of berries and blend into a smooth paste in a blender. In a pitcher add everything and shake well. That's all !! serve chilled and enjoy !! Let the party begin !!

Mango Lassi

Mango lassi is one of my favorite, it goes so well with Indian food, that's another story that I can make a meal out of it  :) :) Well you can do so many variations of mango lassi....add pomegranate to add a bit of crunch, add some mango pieces or strawberries......some keveda essence. Food is like a canvas all you need is a the capability to imagine, which we are all born with . It is am amazing  how one dish with same recipe and ingredients taste so different when made by two different people, I guess that is  beacuse when we cook we add a bit of ourselves in the food we prepare. I love the deep orange color of the lassi.

The deep orange reminds me of pumkins and haloween. So what are you all planning for haloween? Am glad it is not going to rain so we can trick or treat - my little one is going to be a witch from Harry Potter !! I am told that angry birds and black swan are  the most popular costume this year for haloween....popular or not make sure you have a great time and stay safe. ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!

You will need

Mango puree : fresh or tinned - 1 and 1/2 cup

Sweet lassi -  2 cup (Can be made from fresh homemade yogurt or  butter milk) 

cardimon powder :1/4 tsp

Pista crushed : 2 tbsp

Saffron : 2-3

sugar - 2tsp

Wip sugar cardimom powder, saffron with yogurt (homemade) so it is nice and creamy.  Keep aside. Or add sugar and saffron to buttermilk. Now sip the mango with some some more yogurt and cardamom. Mix them all together and serve chilled in a class or play around with the colors - some mouthwatering patterns...top with nuts, saffron and cardimom powder.

Serve chilled with your favorite meal!!

Mocktail with a friend

Morning well spent! I was out on a walk (after ages). It is sunny and nice...with white fluffy clouds dancing in the blue sky...lovely to be wasted indoors...considering the amount of rain we have had and the rainy weekend we are about to get.
Since I wanted to make the most of it I came home to the deck with some music and my favorite magazine.... and there goes the doorbell. Muttering under my breath...that there was no peace, I peek out to see a good friend standing there with a smile. What a welcome surprise! She was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by. I love surprises, even thou she could not stay for long -  she made my day. Thank God for friends who bring such joy into our lives.

For the mocktail:

1 tsp of rose syrup

1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sprite

Love the color and the taste !!

Happy mother's day weekend !!

Fresh Fruit Ginger Ale

 Love the punch in ginger...spicy and sharp.  We learnt to make the ginger syrup from Epicurious. It's delicious stirred into tea, added to smoothies, or drizzled over ice cream...yes it is true once you get hooked on to this...you will always have this syrup in your refrigerator...can turn a dull fruit juice into an exotic, spicy zesty drink. Did we mention healthy?

Ginger Syrup:

1/4 pound ginger, peeled and thinly sliced (about 3/4 cup)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Bring ginger, sugar, and water to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then gently simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve and reserve ginger for cooking....in chatnis, dips, ginger cookies, chai, curries and many more recipes.

Add this ginger syrup into any fresh fruit juice....to freshly squeezed grapefruit in the picture above and to pineapple smoothie below. Nothing else !! Jazz it up with some soda water....

Falooda

With temperatures reaching the low 90s (F), without  a shadow of a doubt, for us Midwesterners, summer is HERE ......!! Sipping falooda on the deck past the twilight hour …..gazing thru the stars....just relaxing and soaking in the calmness…the birds chirping at a distance…..a plane flying by ..this is therapy in itself ……. !! How do you like to relax and unwind yourself?

Ingredients: serves 2

Milk: 2 cups
Falooda sev: handful
Rose syrup : 2-3 tbsp
Tukmuri seeds/ Subza: 1 tbsp
Vanilla ice cream: 2 scoops


Boil the sev in water for about 20 min, drain the excess water and let it cool. Soak the tukmuri seeds, they will puff up and double in size…in about 15 min.

In a glass add cooked sev (cool), and soaked tukmuri seeds and rose syrup, pour in cold milk and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!!Now did we mention easy!:)

Did you know Tukmuri is basil seeds.

Watermelon Punch

Cooling off our weekend with watermelon....

Blend some seedless watermelon chunks with some blueberries, mint leaves, ginger (grated) and juice of half a lime..Wiz the blender…pour and garnish with blueberries and mint leaves and serve chilled…great for a hot summer day!!

The blueberries add a nice purple color to the red water melon…we often make this punch in summer especially if the watermelon is not sweet..!!

Berry Smoothie

Smoothies, shakes, ice creams, cocktails, barbeques, melons, the smell of freshly cut grass, refilling the bird feeder so very often...smell of citronella burners in the evening air…the list is endless…it is going to get busy…days are getting longer and there is much more to do in the longer daylight…!!The craving for spring and summer got us tangoing with berries to create a smoothie. Nothing like picking up produce from a farmers market, but our berry thirst will have to be quenched from the berries bought from the local grocer…but not for too long!! :)

For the smoothie: serves 4

Assorted berries: (We used Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and Red Raspberries) 1 cup (fresh or frozen)
Yogurt: 1 cup (we prefer organic vanilla yogurt)
Ice: 1/3 cup ( not required when using frozen berries)

Whizz the ingredients in the blender. Use water if smoothie is too thick….pour into individual glasses and Enjoy!! We have tried to use milk, but milk sometimes curdles when blended with berries…yogurt has no such attitude ;-)!! Get creative to garnish it with whipped cream, ice-cream, berry chunks, or mint leaves. For those of you not crazy about dairy, substitute it with orange juice. Was this quick or what? :)

Our entry for : Serve me Some…Juices, Shakes, Smoothies