Lemon Shots!!

Have you ever tasted the "kanche wala Soda"(Soda bottle which have marble in it for the tangling sound effect). This is a great  and a very famous summer coolant In Delhi. It is also known as the "Masala lemon soda" in many restaurants. This drink is mix of fizzy soda, lemon juice and Salt with a tangy taste of Chaat masala. Here I am presenting "Lemon Shots" which is the home version of the original Soda style. It is very quick and easy to make as my Son enjoys in making it. A Great drink to enjoy with family and friends on any occasion!!


Ingredients:
500 ml Any sweetened Fizzy soda(I had used Sprite)
1/2 teaspoon table salt (per glass)
1/2 teaspoon chaat masala(per glass)
1/2 lemon juice (per glass)
Method:
In a medium serving glass, put salt, lemon juice and chaat masala. When to serve pour the soda and let the fizz rise.

salt, lemon juice and chaat masala

Pouring the soda

Garnish it with  slices of lemon and  decorated umbrella toothpicks!!

Tangy and Fizzy "lemon shots " are ready!!

Optional notes:
I do not like to use ice for this drink, instead I chill the soda bottle and then use it. If willing to use ice Crush it nicely and then use, will give the effect of a slush....
This drink is quick to prepare and serve.
Adjust salt and chaat masala as per desire
One can use any sweet flavored soda for this drink.

Healthy Banana shake

" Banana" is almost every child's delighted fruit. Not only is banana rich in its nutritional values but is also a great laxative and good for improving digestion problems. It is a very good source of  potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and almost all the essential vitamins for a healthy body like Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin B. 




For more details pls check:
http://www.organicfacts.net/nutrition-facts/fruits/nutritional-value-of-banana-and-kiwi.html
Doctors recommend Mashed banana or banana pulp especially for the infants for their healthy growth. Many food items are prepared with this fruit (raw or ripe) like Banana chips, Banana salads, Banana shake, Banana Ice cream, banana Vegetable and even Tasty savory like "Kele ke Dahi vada". World over Banana is eaten in its various forms. 
Here is "Healthy Banana Shake" which is Flavored with Honey, sugar and cardamom Powder. My son loves this shake and so I feel is a great health drink for the young ones!!!


This preparation is for 2 medium Glasses 
Ingredients:
4 medium ripe bananas.
4 cups cold milk (1/2 liter)
3 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 tablespoon honey
Method:
In a blender, make pulp of bananas.
To this add milk, sugar and honey. Blend well all the ingredients. Add the cardamom powder and again blend it.
Serve it in a colourful glass with decoration of your choice!!!
"Healthy Banana shake" is ready!! Serve it with Dahi wale Sandwich and fruits for a great Morning Breakfast!!

Thandai!!!

"Thandai" is an Indian beverage which is made from milk, dry fruits and special Ingredients like poppy seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, black pepper powder and cardamom powder. It is a great summer coolant. This drink is made specially for the festival of "Maha shivratri"and colourful festival of "holi". One can prepare and store this drink in advance and can serve it chill  !!!

Ingredients:
1 liter milk (preferably full cream milk)
3/4 cup sugar
few saffron strands(kesar)
1/4 cup Almonds(soaked)
1/4 cup cashew nuts(soaked)
10 -12 pieces of pistachios(soaked)
1 teaspoon black pepper powder (kaali mirch)
2 tablespoon poppy seeds(khus khus)soaked
1 teaspoon rose water(gulab jal)
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder(illaechi)
1 teaspoon fennel powder(saunf)
few rose petals(for garnishing)
  
Method:
Drain the water of the soaked ingredients. Ground them all into a very fine paste using a little milk.
In a pan boil the milk and sugar, lower the flame when the first boil comes. Add the saffron strands and stir well.
To this milk add the grounded paste and rose water, mix well.
Let the milk cool at room temperature. Store this milk in fridge for future consumption.
Garnish with rose petals and serve....
Tasty and chill "Thandai"is ready for welcoming guests this "Holi"!!!
Optional notes:
This drink is a great summer coolant and is healthy for kids too.
One can avoid dry fruits if allergic to them.
This drink tastes best when served chilled !!!
                                                                       

Kesari ilaechi lassi(cardamom smoothie)

Indian cuisines are made from variety of ingredients, be it lentils, grams, flour, vegetables or milk products like Paneer, Khoya or curd!! There are many varieties and flavors of main course dishes, starters and drinks. Here I am presenting one of the most relished drink "LASSI" which means curd/yogurt smoothie.

 It is flavored with cardamom powder and a natural color of saffron is blended with it. Its a great and healthy drink which could be prepared in minutes and enjoyed with your family & guests!!!


This preparation is for 2 medium glasses
Ingredients:
1 cup curd
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
few strands of saffron
Sliced almonds for garnishing
Method:
In a blender add the curd, milk and water.
Give two rotations, add sugar,cardamom powder and saffron strands. Give one more round of rotation . The lassi should be semi thick.
Finally add lassi into serving glasses and garnish with sliced almonds.
 Delicious Kesar Ilaechi lassi is ready!!
Optional notes:
One can add ice cubes at serving time but I prefer to use chilled curd and milk instead of adding ice .
The sugar quantity can be reduced or increased as per requirement.

Cappuccino

"Good morning every body"!! Its Cappuccino time....

"Cappuccino' is an Italian hot beverage which Is pronounced like "Capuchin" (meaning small cap).
This coffee is made with coffee powder and steam hot milk & foam. Now mostly available in almost every part of world , Cappuccino is liked and made in homes too..,for more details check: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappuccino .
Here i had made my own home version of cappuccino which may also be referred as "beaten coffee".
ENJOY!!!
This preparation will make two medium size cups
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon coffee
4 tablespoon sugar(prefer powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon drinking chocolate
1 cup water
1 cup full cream milk
For garnishing:
a pinch of hot or drinking chocolate for each cup
Method:
Heat and boil the water & milk in a pan on medium flame .(the milk + water is required to be very hot)
In a ceramic coffee mug add the sugar and coffee powder. To this add 1/2 teaspoon of hot water.

Coffee and sugar crystals

With the help of a hand beater, beat this mixture well enough to form froth.(it will be light creamy brown in texture and colour)

beaten coffee and sugar mix 

For serving: take two medium size cups. Add a tablespoon(a little more) of the froth into each cup.

adding froth 

Pour over the hot milk&water mix into the cups. With the help of teaspoon mix a little so that the froth and milk mixes well enough to form foam.

Ready Cappuccino!!

Sprinkle hot or drinking chocolate on top for final finishing.!!
CAPPUCCINO is ready. Serve and have it hot & immediately...!!!
Optional notes:
One can make many variations for cappuccino like cardamom, nutmeg,chocolate and cinnamon. Add a teaspoon of each powder while beating the coffee powder.
The ratio of coffee and sugar must be 1:2(1 table spoon coffee and 2 tablespoon sugar)

Thick strawberry shake

Strawberries are a delight to have. They are  good source of dietary fibers and vitamin C. High in sugar content, this fruit is used in making shakes, salads and desserts too..! So here is a sweet thick milk shake made with this delicious fruit, healthy for kids ......!!!

This preparation makes 2 small glass.

Ingredients:

8-10 strawberries

1 cup cold milk

2 -3 teaspoon powdered sugar

for garnishing:

2-3 strawberries.

Method:

Wash strawberries properly. In a grinder, ground these strawberries into a very fine paste.

Add powdered sugar and milk and give one more round of rotation in the grinder.

Pour this shake into a small serving glass. Garnish it with sliced strawberry piece.

Enjoy thick strawberry shake with family and friends!!!

 

Onion Mushroom soup

This combination of onion and mushrooms in a soup form is really tasty and good. Mushrooms are low calorie fungus/vegetable which is available in market through out the year. So try this soup and enjoy the healthy benefits of this vegetable.

This preparation is for 3 persons:

Ingredients:

200 grams white button mushrooms

1 large onion(nicely cut into small pieces)

1-2 Mushrooms(nicely cut into small pieces)

3 cups water

1/2 teaspoon cornflour(if required)

1 teaspoon black pepper powder

salt according to taste

1 table spoon butter

For garnishing:

1-2 table spoon cream(optional)

Method:

Wash and blanch the mushrooms. Leave them in hot water for 5 minutes.

Ground them into a fine paste.

Mushroom paste

In a pan heat butter, add onions and saute them till they turn light in color. To this add cut mushrooms and saute them too for a minute on medium flame.

Sauteing onion mushroom

Add the mushroom paste and mix well with other ingredients. Add salt and pepper.

Add water and give 2-3 boils on medium flame.

Adjust the consistency of the soup. If required, add cornflour mixed with little water to the soup to get the desired thickness.

Yummy Onion Mushroom soup is ready. 

Garnish with a teaspoon of cream for each serving.

Tomato soup

Tomatoes are  all time favorite vegetable/fruit, available through out the year. They are  very good source of Vitamin C and their intake (in raw form ) helps to cure digestion problems. 

So here is a Delicious soup made from Tomatoes with a slight touch of Cinnamon spice!!!

This preparation is for 3 persons:
Ingredients:
6 large red tomatoes
3 cups water
1cinnamon stick(dalchinni)
1 teaspoon black pepper powder(kaali mirch)
1/2 teaspoon black salt(kaala namak)
salt according to taste
for garnishing:
butter(amount on ones choice)
Chopped coriander leaves
Method:
Wash the tomatoes properly in water and  boil them along with the cinnamon stick (till they get tender).
 Remove the cinnamon stick and ground tomatoes  into puree.
Sieve this puree using fine mesh sieve as we do not want remaining seeds or skin of tomato in our soup.

Tomato puree

Put this fine puree into a pan and add water. Let it boil for few minutes on low flame. Add all the seasonings and mix well.

Adjust the consistency of the soup as desired.
Finally garnish the soup with chopped coriander leaves and butter.

Tomato soup

Tasty Tomato soup is ready. Enjoy it with bread sticks or croutons.!!

Optional notes:
One can also add finely cut cheese slices instead of butter.

Creamy pea soup

"Peas" or "mutter" in Hindi, is one of the vegetable which is found in abundance in markets during winter season in India. It is not only a good source of vitamin A and C but is also of medicinal value to those who are suffering from osteoporosis(thinning of bones).

 So here is Creamy Pea soup, which is healthy and delicious too!!!

This preparation is for 3 persons

Boiled peas

Ingredients:

1.5 cup  green peas(boiled)

1 medium onion (cut into slices)

1 tablespoon butter

4 cups water

1 teaspoon cornflour

1 teaspoon fresh cream(for each soup serving)

1 teaspoon black pepper powder

salt according to taste

Method:

In a pan heat butter, add onions and saute for few minutes till they turn light in color.

Sauteing Onion and peas 

paste of onion and peas

Ground the mixture of onion and peas into a fine paste.

In a pan add the paste & water and let it boil for few minutes on low flame. Add the seasonings.

 Mix cornflour with little water and add it to the soup( to get a thick consistency).

Give it one more boil and remove it from flame.

Serve the soup in a soup bowl and add fresh cream .

Healthy and tasty Creamy Pea soup is ready!! Enjoy it with Bread sticks or Nachos

Optional notes:
One can increase or decrease the amount of water to get the desired consistency of soup.