Chocolate Honey Milkshake

Ingredients :

Milk – 2cups

Cocoa powder – 1 tbsp

Chocolate milk – ½ cup

Honey – 2tbsps

Crushed ice to taste

Preparation Method :

1. Put the milk in a mixing jar. Add cocoa powder, chocolate milk and honey.

2. Blend together with a hand blender.

3. Add crushed ice and blend again until smooth.

4. Pour into milk shake glasses and garnish with grated chocolate & Serve chilled.

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Tender Coconut Shake

Ingredients :

Coconut water - 1 cup

Tender coconut - 1/2 cup

Milk - 3 tsp

Sugar - 4 tsp

Crushed ice - of 3-4 cubes

preparation Method :

Mix all the ingredients in a blender and blend it. Serve immediately.

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Raw Mango Drink

Summer has started and the heat is on your head. Can't bear. This sharbat will give you a very cooling effect and is good for health too. Why not try this. This is normally made by Maharashtrians during Gudi Padva, the new year festival and it is a summer special during mango season. Enjoy.

Ingredients :

Raw Mango (sour one) - 1 medium

Black salt

Salt

Cardamom (elaichi) powder

Black pepper powder (optional)

Saffron - few strands (if u wish)

Sugar 

Sugar, salt, black salt you can add as per your taste and requirement. As some people like bit sweet and sour, some people like sweet.

Preparation Method :

1. Wash and pressure cook the mango for 3-4 whistles. 

2. Remove from the cooker and peel off the skin. Squeeze the pulp and put it in a mixer/blender to make a smooth paste. 

3. Add black salt, salt, sugar, elaichi powder and boil it again till the sugar is melted.

4. Cool the same and keep it in fridge concentrated. 

5. Whenever you feel like having this sharbat, take two teaspoon full of this in a glass and add water, serve chilled with ice cubes.

* You can also make the sharbat and keep it in fridge. Only add ice cubes while serving.

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Herbal Juice (With Tulasi and Mint Leaves)

Ingredients :

Tulasi leaves (Indian Basil) paste - 1 spoon

Mint leaves paste - 1spoon

Honey - 3 spoon

Lemon juice - 1 spoon

Preparation Method :

1. Add all the ingredients one by one by adding 150 ml water.

2. You can add more sugar before serving. 

*This is not only for old age people,but also for pregnant ladies.

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Raspberry Lassi

Ingredients :

Raspberries - 1 cup

Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Sugar - 2-3 tblsp

Water - 1/2 cup

Mint Leaves - 2 or 3

Black Pepper - a pinch

Salt - a pinch

Preparation Method :

1. Blend all the above ingredients in a blender until it becomes creamy and frothy.

2. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, fresh raspberries and serve chilled.

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Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

Ingredients :

Pineapple Juice - 2 cups 

Cream of Coconut - 1 cup 

Crushed Ice Cubes - 1 cup

Preparation Method :

1. Blend all the ingredients in a mixie/blender to a smoothie.

2. Add little sugar if you like it sweeter

3. Pour into glasses, garnish with a pineapple wedge or a cherry and serve.

Tips :

- Use heavy cream if you cant find coconut cream.

- To make life easier, just buy a can each of 'Coconut Cream' and 'pineapple juice' and blend together instead of making fresh juice

- The original recipe of pina colada calls for adding 2 spoons of Rum to the above mixture.

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Raspberry Tea

Ingredients :

Raspberries - 1 cup (fresh/frozen)

Tea - 3/4 tsp (or 2 tea bags)

Water - 2.5 cups

Sugar - 2 tblsp (or as needed)

Ice Cubes

Preparation Method :

1. Bring the water to a boil and switch off.

2. Add the tea and raspberries to the boiling water. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes.

3. Strain the tea into serving glasses.

4. Add ice cubes and sugar. Mix well.

* Garnish with some raspberries and serve chilled.

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Spicy Butter Milk

Sambharam, spiced and flavoured buttermlk, is a famous Kerala drink which was traditionally served to guests. It is also served as part of the Kerala Sadya. It is a cool and refreshing drink for hot summer days as well as aids digestion.

It has many variations in many parts of India like the masala mor (thalicha mor) from Tamil Nadu, spicy lassi from Punjab, chaas (chaach) from Gujarat and Rajasthan etc. 

Ingredients :

Curd (Yogurt) - 1 cup 

Water - 2 cups (to make buttermilk)

(You could also use store bought buttermilk/yogurt)

Green Chillies - 2-3

Ginger - 1" piece

Cilantro - 2-3 stems

Curry Leaves - 5-6 leaves

Preparation Method :

1. Crush the green chillies, ginger and cilantro using a mortar and pestle or using the pulse mode of the mixie.

2. Beat the curd nicely using a fork and add the water to it. 

3. Mix the curd-water mixture nicely using a hand blender or with a spoon.

4. Add the crushed mixture, torn curry leaves and required salt and mix everything together.

5. Serve on a hot summer day as a refreshing drink or have with some plain rice.

Variations :

- Make a seasoning of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chillies and some curry leaves and add to the sambharam. This adds nice flavour to the sambharam.

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Ginger Cardamom Tea

Ingredients :

Milk - 1 cup

Tea - 2 tsp

Water - 1.5 cup

Ginger - 2 " piece (crushed)

Cardamom - 2 pods (crushed)

Sugar/Honey - to taste

Lemon - 1/2 piece

Preparation Method :

1. In a saucepan, bring water to a boil along with crushed ginger and cardamon pods.

(You could also add ginger powder and cardamom powder)

2. Add the tea leaves and let it come to a rolling boil again.

3. Reduce the flame and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes for all the essence of the tea to be released in the water.

4. The basic ginger cardamom tea is ready. You could flavour it in different ways. I've given 2 options below.

Type - I (Ginger tea with milk - Chai)

5. Add the milk to the above tea water and bring it to a boil.

6. Strain the tea using a strainer, add enough sugar and enjoy it piping hot with biscuits.

Type II (Ginger Lemon tea with honey) 

5. Strain the tea to a cup and squeeze in the lemon juice.

6. Add honey to taste and enjoy it after a heavy meal or as a refreshing drink. This type of tea could be served hot or cold.

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Sparkling Mixed Berry Punch

Ingredients :

Cranberry Juice - 2 cups

Rasberry Soda - 2 cups

Sparkling Water/ Club Soda - 2 cups

Lime - 1 (juiced)

Frozen Mixed Berries - 1 cup

Preparation Method :

1. Combine the cranberry juice, lemon juice, sparkling water/club soda and rasberry soda in a large punch bowl.

2. Add ice cubes as needed and the frozen berries to this.

3. Garnish with lime slices and mint leaves and serve.

Variation :

- If you want a frothy appearance add some strawberry sherbet or strawberry ice cream along with the above punch.

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Watermelon Agua Fresca

Agua fresca is the spanish word for "fresh water". It generally refers to a cool and refreshing Mexican beverage made with a combination of any fruit/ fruits/ cereals/seeds, water and sugar.This is also very commonly sold in india under the name 'fruit juice'.

The varieties of fruits/ cereals that can be used include grapefruit, watermelon, guava, apple, orange, mango cashew apple, cantaloupe, honey dew, passion fruit, papaya, grapes, peach, nectarines, tamarind, cucumber, lime, lemon, strawberry, rasberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, dried hibiscus flower, rice, barley seeds etc.

Ingredients :

Fruit(cubed) - 3 cups

Water - 1.5 cups

Sugar - 4 tblsp

Grapefruit Agua Fresca

Preparation Method :

1. Blend the fruit with the water. If it is a citric fruit(lime, lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerines), juice it 

using a juicer.

2. Pass the fruit pulp through a fine sieve and strain the clear juice. 

3, To this add the sugar.

4. Chill and serve this cool and refreshng drink.

Tip :

- The juice of 1 lime can be added with any agua fresca for a different touch.

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Grape Fruit Agua Fresca

Agua fresca is the spanish word for "fresh water". It generally refers to a cool and refreshing Mexican beverage made with a combination of any fruit/ fruits/ cereals/seeds, water and sugar.This is also very commonly sold in india under the name 'fruit juice'.

The varieties of fruits/ cereals that can be used include grapefruit, watermelon, guava, apple, orange, mango cashew apple, cantaloupe, honey dew, passion fruit, papaya, grapes, peach, nectarines, tamarind, cucumber, lime, lemon, strawberry, rasberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, dried hibiscus flower, rice, barley seeds etc.

Ingredients :

Fruit(cubed) - 3 cups

Water - 1.5 cups

Sugar - 4 tblsp

Grapefruit Agua Fresca

Preparation Method :

1. Blend the fruit with the water. If it is a citric fruit(lime, lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerines), juice it 

using a juicer.

2. Pass the fruit pulp through a fine sieve and strain the clear juice. 

3, To this add the sugar.

4. Chill and serve this cool and refreshng drink.

Tip :

- The juice of 1 lime can be added with any agua fresca for a different touch.

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Chocolate Grape Shake

Ingredients :

Mini Chocolate chips -15 nos

Seedless Grapes - 25 nos

Sugar - 1 tblsp(or as needed)

Milk- 1/2 cup

Cold Water -11/2 cups

Preparation Method :

1.Blend the grapes with chocolate chips, water in the mixie.

2.Then add milk,sugar and blend well.

3.Filter the contents.

* Serve it cold.

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Cherry Lassi

Lassi is a traditional drink in India made by blending yogurt with water, salt/sugar and other flavouring until it is frothy. It originated in Punjab and soon became famous throughout the country. It is usually served as a chill and refreshing drink with a meal or just as such. The different variations of sweet lassi are honey lassi, mango lassi, saffron lassi, rose water lassi etc. Spices can also be added to lassi like cumin, black pepper, grated ginger, black salt etc. Fresh herbs are also often added to the salted lassis like mint, cilantro, basil etc. Different lassi flavours can be made with any fresh fruits. Here i've given the recipe for a sweet lassi made with sweet cherries.

Ingredients : 

Yogurt - 1 cup 

Water/milk - 1/2 cup 

Sweet Cherries (or any other fresh fruit) - 1 cup (deseeded) 

Sugar - 2-3 tblsp (or to taste) 

Preparation Method : 

1. Blend together the cherries, yogurt, water/milk and sugar in a blender till it becomes frothy. 

2. Pour into individual glasses and garnish with some fresh cherries. 

3. Chill and serve. This can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. 

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Falooda

Ingredients :

Milk - 2 cups

Takmaria (Basil Seeds) - 1/2 tsp

Falooda Sev - handful *

Rose Syrup - 3-4 tblsp **

Sugar - to taste

Vanilla Ice Cream - 2 scoops

Cardamom Powder - a pinch

Pistachios/ Almonds - 1 tblsp (corsely ground)

Vanilla Ice Cream - 2 scoops

 

* If you do not have falooda sev, substitute with normal sev or any thin pasta.

** If you do not find rose syrup, substitute with roohafza and 2 tsp of rose water.

Preparation Method :

1. Soak the takmaria in water for an hour or until the seeds swell up. 

2. Cook the falooda sev as per packet instructions. ( Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the broken sev and cook it for 3 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.)

3. Bring the milk to a boil and switch off. Mix in the sugar and cardomon powder.

After this you have 2 options :

 

Option 1 (If you are making it ahead of time.)

 

4. Add the rose syrup and cooked falooda sev to the milk.

5. After the milk cools down, add the takmaria seeds and refrigerate it.

6. Serve it chilled in a long glass topped with some vanilla ice cream and ground pistacios/ almonds.

 

Option 2 (If you plan to serve immedietely.)

4. Take a tall glass and add some ice cubes and some cooked sev at the bottom.

5. Add the rose syrup next followed by the milk.

6. Next add the takmaria seeds.Top it with a scoop of ice cream and some crushed nuts. 

7. It will be a wonderful presentation to see the different layers.

 

Tips :

    - You can make this with skimmed milk to make the falooda healthy.

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Sweet Lassi

Lassi is a healthy beverage that originated in Punjab but is popular all over India. It is made by blending yogurt and water with some other flavourings until it is frothy. Flavourings can be savory or sweet. Here I've given the recipe of a simple sweet lassi. Other variations of lassi can be made by adding suitable flavourings eg :- Mango Lassi (Mango Pulp is blended along with the other ingredients.), Strawberry Lassi , Kesar lassi (with saffron strands) etc.

Ingredients :

Yogurt - 1 cup

Cold Water - 1 cup

Sugar - as needed

Rose water - 1 tsp

Cardomon Powder - a pinch

Preparation Method :

1. Blend together all the above ingredients together using a hand mixer or a mixie until it becomes frothy.

2. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, pistachios and serve as a cool, healthy and refreshing drink.

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Strawberry Smoothie (Juice)

Ingredients :

For 3 Cups of Smoothie

Fresh Strawberries -10 nos

Sugar - 3 tbsp(or to taste)

Cold Milk -1/2 cup

Water -1 1/2 cup

Ice cubes -5 nos

Egg -1 (or) Plain Yogurt -3 tbsp

 

Preparation Method :

1.Wash the Strawberries and cut off the leaves.

2.Blend Stawberries with sugar first.

3.Blend again smoothly with the remaining ingredients

4.Serve cold and add sugar according to taste

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Apple Cider (Unfiltered Apple Juice)

Apple Cider is a non alcoholic beverage made with apples and just apples. The sweetness and tartness comes naturally from the apples itself. Apple Cider is not as clear as the apple juice which is commercially extracted using big equipments.

Ingredients :

(for 1 cup)

Apples - 2 big/3 small

Preparation Method :

1. Wash and chop the apples into small pieces with the skin on.

2. Puree it in a blender/mixie.

3. Using a very thin strainer and the back of a spoon, squeeze out the juice alone. You can also use a clean white cloth or cheese cloth to squeeze the juice.

(If you have the juice extractor jar in your mixie, it makes making apple cider very easy as the juice is automatically separated.)

4. Serve immedietely as such or use it  to make other delicasies like

    (a) Hot apple cider or mulled cider:

 Simmer the apple cider with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and lemon zest for 15-20 minutes.

    (b) Sparkling cider : 

Mix the apple cider with some lemon juice and add some soda/ ginger ale while serving. 

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Dry Ginger Tea (Chukku Coffee)

Ingredients :

Dry ginger (Chukku) - 1/2" piece (ground or crushed)

jaggery (Palm Sugar) - as needed for sweetness

Whole Peppercorns - 1 tsp

Coffee powder/Tea leaves -  1 tsp (optional)

Cumin seeds - 3/4 tsp

Basil leaves(Tulsi) - 4-5

Water - 1.5 cup

Preparation Method :

1. Boil the water in a saucepan with Jaggery (palm sugar), dry ginger, crushed

peppercorns and cumin seeds. 

2. Add the coffee powder/ tea powder to this if needed.

3. Let this boil for 4-5 minutes.

4. Finally add the basil leaves(tulsi) and switch off.

5. Serve it piping hot as a remedy for cold and throat infection.

Tips :

   - If Jaggery (palm sugar) does not give enough sweetness add little sugar.

   

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Banana Lassi

Banana smoothie is a cool and refreshing drink for a hot summer day. The same recipe can be modified with other fruits to get Mango smoothie, orange smoothie, strawberry smoothie, blackberry smoothie, rasberry smoothie, peach smoothie, pineapple smoothie, cherry smoothie etc.

Ingredients : 

Banana - 2 (diced)

Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Ice cubes - 1/2 cup

Preparation Method :

1. Blend the yogurt in the mixie/ blender first.

2. Add the Banana pieces and ice cubes and blend till a everything is blended nicely.

Tips :

- Add little sugar if you need additional sweetness and little milk to get a thinner consistency.

- Add a cup of orange juice to get an additional flavour.

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