How to make Nannari Sherbet at home

Though there are many brands of Nannari Sherbet available in the market, the syrup can be made at home very easily.

Ingredients:
Nannari roots (Sarasaparilla roots) - 100 gms

Water - 5 cups
Sugar - 5 cups
Lemon - 6 nos (big)

Method:
Break the roots into small pieces (Say 1 inch piece), Spread the roots in a paper or clean cloth and dry well in hot sun for a day or two. Crush the roots and remove the hard part inside. Dry grind the roots to a fine powder.

Boil water and when it bubbles remove from flame and immediatly add the powder and mix well. Close and leave it for about 10 to 12 hours allowing the sediments to settle at the bottom. Strain using a muslin cloth in a clean vessel. Add sugar to the water and boil again stirring constantly so that the sugar doesnot settle at the bottom. The liquid should reach a sticky consistency. Remove from flame and add lemon juice which acts as a preservative. Store in a clean airtight bottle.

How to serve:
To 1/4 cup of syrup add 3/4 cup of chilled water and juice from half lemon.

Alternatively add 1/4 cup of syrup and 3/4 cup of chilled water to a blender. This will fizz up and tastes good too.

Salted Tender Mango - Uppu Manga

Tender mangoes soaked in brine water is the best ways to preserve it. These mangoes can either be used as it is or can be used to make Kadugu Mango (Kerala Style Pickle)

Ingredients:
Raw Mangoes small - 1/2 kg (Vadumangais round vareity)
Rock Salt - 1/2 kg
Water - 3 cups









Method:
Segregate the mangoes. Discard all the decayed ones and the ones with cut. Leave a small stub of stalk on top and remove the rest of it. Wash and dry the good mangoes. Boil the water and add salt to it. Let the salt dissolve in the water. When done filter using a cloth to remove off the impurities and let it cool. In a shallow vessel put the mangoes and pour the salt water to it. The water should be above the level of mangoes say 2 to 3 inches.

Cover the vessel with a thin cloth. Tie the rim of the vessel with a string. Keep the vessel in mild sun for 2 days just for not more than an hour. Transfer to a pickle jar after 2 days. Keep tossing it upside down every other day for 2 weeks with a dry laddle. This will ensure that all the mangoes are evenly soaked and shrinked.

Note: After transferring it to pickle jar ensure the water level is above the level of mangoes.

          The mangoes chosen for this should be very tiny and small.

Strawberry Milkshake

Ingredients:
Strawberry - 10 to 12 nos
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Milk - 2 cups
Vannila Ice cream - 1 scoop (optional)
Ice cubes - 2 to 4

Method:
Add Strawberry and sugar to a juicer blender and blend it thoroughly. Add milk and ice cubes and belnd them again till they frost. Serve in a tall glass with a topping of Vanilla Ice cream.

This quantity makes about 3 cups of milk shake.

Recipe for Mango Frappe

Ingredient:
Ripe Mango - 1 no
Vannila Essence - 1/2 tsp
Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
Ice cubes - a few
Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 4 tbsp

Method:
Peel and cut mango into cubes and freeze them for about 30 to 45 mins. Add sugar, milk, lemon juice and vannila essence to the mango and blend them till it forms a smooth mixture. Add the ice cubes and blend again. Serve immediatly along with a few frozen pieces of mango on top of the glass.

Note: It is better to use Honey instead of Sugar, if you are health conscious.
          Alphonso variety of Mango will taste much better.

Summer cooler Ragi Kanji recipe

Ingredients:

Ragi powder - 1/2 cups (now a days it is readily available in the market)

Sago - 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

Butter milk - 2 cups

Green chilly - 1 no

Ginger - 1/2 inch piece

Curry Leaves - 1/4 cup

Coriander Leaves - 1/4 cup

Mango - 1/4 (optional)

Water - 2 cups

Method:

Mix Ragi powder in water and bring it to a dosa batter paste consistency. Ensure that no lumps are formed. Soak sago in water for about 30 mins till they are soft. In a hard bottom vessel add 1 cup of water and soaked sago. Stir well and when the water starts boiling add the Ragi batter and keep stirring. Ensure that no lumps is formed. To check whether the ragi is cooked, take a little of the mixture in spoon and touch it with wet hand. If the mixture doesnot stick to hand it is cooked well. Remove from flame. 

Cut mango into thin pieces, dice ginger into fine pieces, cut chilly into half. Cook all of them in 1/4 cup of water and a pinch of salt. When the mango pieces turn soft add it to the ragi mixture. Add the butter milk and the required salt and mix well. Decorate it with curry leaves and coriander leaves. 

If 2 glasses of this is taken in the morning, it is very refreshing and gives a filling feeling. It cools the body too.

Toffee in Coffee a recipe for chocolate coffee lovers

Some thing different and something yummy. Though pure coffee lovers may not approve this, still, it tastes good.

Ingredients:

Milk - 1 cup

Instant coffee - 1 1/2 tsp

Boost or drinking choclolate - 1 tbsp

cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp

Sugar - 1 tsp

Whipped cream - 1 tsp

Method:

Heat the milk and add instant coffee powder to it. Add cinnamon powder, boost and sugar. Add whipped sugar and serve warm. 

This can be served as iced coffee also by adding one or two ice cubes to it.

Gingerly Tomato - An energizing recipe

Every one wishes to have a healthy glowing skin. Tomatoes gives that glow to any kind of skin type. I am highly fond of this fresh juice recipe that whenever I feel a bit low of energy, I take it as we have all the below ingredients at home ever. Even if there is no lemon available one can have it without that and can feel a definite refreshing just in a few mins after taking it.

Ingredients
Tomatoes - 4
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Sugar - 1 Tbsp
Lemon Juice - From one medium sized lemon
Ice cubes - 2

Method
Grind tomatoes along with ginger and sugar. Blend well and add the lemon juice and ice cubes. It is the best drink to have to have in summer.

Check the health benefits of ginger

Best summer drink
Fights Cancer
Helps skin glow

Fresh Lemonade Syrup Recipe

Lemonade is one of the most favourite drink for every one at home. So I generally ensure that I store it. I try to store it whenever it gets over.

Ingredients:
Sugar - 3 Sugar
Water - 1 cup
Lemon Juice - 3 cups (16 to 20 lemons)

Method to make Lemonade:
Boil the water and dissolve sugar in it. Let it cool. Add the lemon juice and mix well. Store it in fridge and this can be used for a week.

(But I assure you this wont stay in your fridge for more than 2 days, as your family members will keep asking for it more and more).

To prepare lemonade for 1 serving, combine 1/4 to 1/3 cup syrup and 3/4 cups cold water in a glass. Add 1 or 2 ice cubes (depending upon the size).

Serve in parties with a piece of lemon rind in the tip of the glass.

Home Made Badam milk mix recipe

CBadam Milk is one of the favourite drinks in our household. To make any occassion special, either Badam Kheer or as a dessert Badam milk is served. This is one recipe that I learnt from one of my friend's mom which can be stored in fridge and use whenever needed.

Ingredients:
Almonds - 1 cup
Saffron - 1/2 gm(fresh)
Sugar - 2 cups
Water - 1 1/2 cups
Badam essence - 1 tsp (optional)

How to make Badam Syrup:
Soak almonds in hot water and peel them. Add 2 tbsp of warm water to saffron. Grind both almonds and saffron to a very fine paste. Better to avoid water but if needed, a little water can be added. In a heavy bottom pan add sugar and add 1/2 cup of water to make sugar syrup. Add the paste when the syrup starts boiling. Keep stirring so as to no lumps are formed. (Essence can be added when the mixture starts boiling again).

Let it cool and refrigerate it.

How to make Badam Milk using Badam Syrup:
Add 2 tsps of syrup to warm milk. (Though no sugar is needed, if you have a sweet tooth 1/2 spoon of sugar can be added).

How to make Badam milk shake:
In a blender add Badam syrup, ice cubes and milk and whip once or twice. Pour in a glass and add Vannila or Butter Scotch Ice cream. Serve chilled with Wafer Biscuits

Recipe for a simple and easy home made Lemonade

Lemonade Syrup comes handy if it is there at home when guests come. It is also a refreshing drink and whenever one feels slightly dehydrated, this syrup can be added with a pinch of salt and luke warm water.

Ingredients:
Fresh Lemon Juice - 2 cups
Grated Lemon Rind - 2 tbsp (option
Sugar - 2 cups
Water - 1 1/2 cup

How to make instant Lemonade Syrup:
Mix sugar and juice (and also the rind). Stir constantly until dissolved. Add water and cover tightly. Keep the mixture in an air tight container and keep it in fridge untill it is time for serving. (Can be prepared in the morning if the party is in the evening) 

How to make lemonade out of the instant lemonade syrup:
Add 1/2 cup of the lemonade syrup in a large glass. Add 1/2 cup of water and 2 or 3 ice cubes.

How to serve this lemonade in a party:
Place a thin rind of lemon on one side of glass. Place one or two mint leaves on the top of the glass. Add a decorative party straw. Add the ice cubes just before serving.

Rich and Royal Milkshake

A very rich easy to make milkshake. This gives instant strength and energy too.

Ingredients:
Badam - 10 to 12 pieces (soaked and skin peeled)
Crushed Ice - 4 cubes
Pista - 8 to 10 pieces (unsalted)
Butter Scotch Ice cream - 3 scoops
Kesar - 1/2 tsp
Cardamom - 2 nos
Milk - 1 cup

Method:
Add milk, 2 cups of butter scotch icecream, badam, cardamom, pista and 4 cubes of ice. It is better to use a whipper rather than grinding it. Garnish it with pista pieces and Kesar strangs.

This makes 2 glasses of milkshake. While serving add the remaining 1 scoop of icecream, (half scoop in each glass) and serve chilled.

A healthy fruity breakfast

Bored of the regular breakfast, want to try something healthy and refreshing, try out the following which is definitely filling refreshing.

Ingredients:
Banana - 2
Strawberries - 2
Papaya - 3 to 4 medium sized cubes
Pineapple - 2 medium sized cubes
Apple - 1 no (peeled and de-seeded)
Honey - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 2 tbsp (optional)
Ice cubes - 2 nos
Milk - 2 glasses

Method:
The above measurement will give almost 3 cups of fruit juice.

Blend all the ingredients except milk in high blending speed in a blender. Pour 1 glass of milk and run the blender in whip mode for 2 to 3 times. Transfer it to a vessel and add the remaining glass of milk and serve it for breakfast.

Neer More - Spiced Buttermilk

This is one recipe which I like very much. Though I keep making alterations (which I have given at the end of this post).

Ingredients:
Yogurt - 2 cups
Water - 2 cups
Salt - To taste
Green Chillies - 2 nos
Ginger piece - 1 inch piece
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
Hing - 1 pinch
Oil - 1/2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tbsp
Ice cubes - 2 to 4

Method:
Cut green chillies and ginger into small pieces. Beat the yogurt and add water, salt, curry leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger pieces, hing.

Temper it with mustard seeds.

You can add 1/4 cup grated cucumber or grated carrot or both to the butter milk.
Decorate the glass with mint leaves before serving.

Easy Cold Coffee Recipe

This is one ingredient that became a great hit when I served it to my friends.

Ingredients:
Full Cream milk - 2 glass
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Instant Coffee Powder - 2 tsp
Crushed Ice - 1 cup

Method:
In a blender, add all the ingredients and whisk it thoroughly. Serve in tall glass with pieces of choco chips on top.

Aloo Raitha

To make kids eat curd a bit more I tried this recipe, and it is a real hit.

Ingredients:
Potatoes - 4nos
Curd - 2 cups thick unsour
Salt to taste
Asafodeita - a pinch

To season:
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Green Chillies - 2 nos
Curry Leaves - a few
Coriander leaves -1/4 cup

Method:
Boil, peel and dice the potatoes to small pieces. Beat the curd to make it smooth and add it to the potatoes along with salt and Asafodeita,

Slit the green chillies. Heat oil and add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add cumin seeds. Add the green chillies. Cut the curry leaves into two and sprinkle on top of the curd mixture. Pour the seasoning on top of the curry leaves. Mix all thoroughly and decorate it with coriander leaves.

Variations:
Instead of green chillies red chillies can also be used.
Instead of chillies pepper powder can also be used
Cumin seeds can be powdered and added to the potatoes instead of adding it while seasoning.

Pomegranate Milk Shake

Ingredients:
Pomegranate  - 1 no (big and ripe)
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Milk - 3/4th cups
Ice cubes - 2 nos

Method to make Pomegranate Milk Shake:
In a juicer, add all the ingredients together and grind well till it frosts.

Pour in a tall glass. Serve with a twig of mint leaf.

Recipe for Special Buttermilk

I have started having this buttermilk as the summer have started. It is a great drink for this time. I have started avoiding tea and coffee in the day. It is very refreshing too.

Ingredients:
To powder:
Cumin - 1/4 cup
Methi Seeds - 2 tbspns

Method:
Fry Methi seeds and Cumin in a dry pan and this can be stored in a dry container.

Cut curry leaves, coriander leaves, one inch of ginger piece and mix with salt and keep it for 15 mins. In a glass, add 2 ladels of thick curd and add 3 cups of water and churn well (this will give 2 glasses of buttermilk). To this add one spoon of the powder, and one spoon of the cut leaves and ginger. If you like you can add half of small green chilly.

Let everything set for around 30 mins. If needed it can be refrigerated for 15 mins before drinking. But I prefer not to refrigerate it.

Lemonade Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:
Sugar - 3 Cups
Boiling Water - 1 Cup
Lemon Juice - 3 Cups

Method:
Dissolve sugar in boiling water. Cool. Add lemon juice, mixing well to combine. Cover and store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

To prepare lemonade for 1 serving, combine 1/4 to 1/3 cup syrup and 3/4 cups cold water in a glass, stirring well.

Fresh Lemonade Syrup Recipe

A great refreshing drink that helps in feeling fresh after coming back from hot sun. This can be made readily and kept in fridge.

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh lemon juice
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups water

Method:
Mix together juice and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the water, cover tightly and keep in the refrigerator.
To serve, put 1/2 cup syrup in a large glass with ice, then fill with water.

This syrup can be kept in fridge only for a few days so keep making it fresh.

Choclate Milk shake - Kid's favourite recipe

This is one milkshake that can be had either cold or hot. I dont make it with the coco powder that we get in the supermarkets, they give a bitter taste, instead I use a combination of choclate drink and Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

Ingredients:
Milk - 2 glasses
Sugar - 3 tbsp
Boost - 4 tbsp
Dairy Milk Bar - (the Rs. 5 bar is enough for 2 glass)
Water - 1/4 cup
Ice cubes - 2

Method:
Warm the water add boost to it and mix well. Scrap the Dairy Milk into pieces and add that to the warm water. Take a hard bottom vessel and add the milk, sugar and the choclate mixture and keep stirring till everything blends together. Remove from flame, let it cool. Take half of it and blend in a blender till it frosts. Mix it with the remaining. If you want it hot, heat the remaining mixture before adding the forsted mixture to it.

If you are serving it cold, blend both together, add ice cubes and serve chilled.

Alternatively, you can add choclate ice cream while blending. But avoid Dairy Milk.