Pina Colada --- Non Alcoholic Version

Pina Colada meaning strained pineapple is a sweet based refreshing smoothie/drink. Non Alcoholic version of Pina Colada is Virgin Pina Colada. 

This cool blended mocktail is very apt for summer afternoons after lunch.

This is very easier and quick drink which can be prepared by pineapple, coconut cream, milk and ice cubes.

Banana MilkShake

Banana Milkshake is very simple and easy to prepare. Besides its simplicity it is incredibly healthy and nutritious drink.

My husband makes this wonderful shake very frequently whenever we have bananas in our home. I can say he is an expert in this, as it is very easy to prepare right :). This milkshake will be more delicious with ripe bananas.  

We love to sprinkle boost on top of it. It’s really yummy. I can say that this milkshake is a perfect morning drink or perhaps a mid-morning boost.

Mango & Strawberry Smoothie

Yesterday after having dinner I and my husband wanted to have a nice cool fruit drink then I prepared this Mango & Strawberry Smoothie.  This smoothie was awesome with strawberry texture, tasted very yummy and healthy too.

Carrot Kheer

Carrot Kheer is milk based dessert which is very easy to make and full of nutrition. Although it is a kheer it does not need any ghee, it is just prepared by using carrots, milk. The main ingredient of this dish is carrot which is rich in vitamin A. This kheer reminds me of badam milk that I used to have at my grandmom’s place when we were kids. I miss those days :(

I learnt this recipe from my husband’s friend Tulasi he is really a good cook and he prepares a lot of varieties. I learn many recipes from him. My husband made that floating cute smiley. 

Carrot kheer serves best any time of the day, and is a perfect nourishing summer drink which can be prepared in less time. If you want to have a healthy dessert this is a great option.

We can also add nuts like almonds, cashews (raw ones) to get a nutty flavor.  But in my preparation I used just carrots, milk, sugar and flavored with cardamom.

Ingredients:

Carrot – 4 no Big ones

Milk – 1 liter

Cardamom – 3 pods

Sugar – ½ cup or as required

Preparation

• Peel the skin of carrot, cut into chunks and boil for 15-20mins
• Cool and grind to a smooth paste. While blending we can use the boiled water until the paste gets blended well or if boiled water is not sufficient we can use little part of milk to blend them if required.
• Bring milk to boil and add sugar.
• Reduce the flame and add carrot paste to it and stir continuously.
• Cook on low flame for 10-15 mins or till the raw smell of carrot goes away. 
• Lastly add cardamom and serve.

Sending this to Bookmarked Recipes hosted by Priya, Veggie/Fruit of the Month - Carrot hosted by Reva originally started by Priya , HCC - Healthy desserts hosted by Jolly Vindaloo originally started by Smita, MMK- Indian Mithai Mela hosted by Kalyani.

Quick & Easy Cold Coffee

My husband's Favorite beverage is Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Coffee,….did I mention Coffee?  :-)

He loves cold coffee in this warm weather.  So we make this cold beverage very often in our home.

This recipe is a super easy recipe and can be prepared with fewer ingredients which give a yummy taste!!

Recipe varies this can be complex as well as easy. But we usually prefer easy way.

If you are not a coffee lover this recipe just might change your mind, which has happened in my case. Cold coffee can be a refreshing afternoon treat, especially in hot summers.

Ingredients:

Instant Coffee – 3 tsps

Milk – 2 cups

Sugar – 2 tsps

Whipped cream – 2 tsps

Topping Icecream or Whipped Cream (optional)

Ice cubes

Preparation

• Blend Sugar, coffee and Ice cubes
• Add chilled milk, whipped cream to the above mixture
• Blend until coffee mix well.
• Top with either whipped or ice-cream

How easy is that?  :-)


Sending this to Fun N Sun hosted by Radhika, Series Summer Coolers hosted by Sukanya , Only Coolers and Mocktails hosted by Simplyfood originally started by Pari, Serve it - Chilled hosted by Krithi and Denny.

Sagu Jaava/ SaguBiyam – a Healthy Drink

Sagu Jaava (not Java Techies  :-) ) is a healthy and nutritional summer drink. This drink reduces heat in the body and it is a great remedy for tongue inflammation ( doesn’t make any difference for java Programmers :-) ).

My mom used to prepare this drink regularly in summer and it tastes delicious.

Sagu Jaava is very simple and prepared by using Sagu or Sabudan, water, milk, sugar and salt.

Ingredients:

Sabudan/ Sagu biyam/Sago – 3 to 4 tsps

Water – 4 cups

Sugar – ½ cup
Salt - a pinch

Milk – ½ cup

Cardamom powder – a pinch

Preparation

• Soak Sabudan in water for 30 minutes.
• In a cooking vessel take water and boil it.
• Add only sabudan by straining water from it to the boiled water.

• Cook for 5 minutes add sugar, salt to it.
• Stir well and add milk to it and boil it for another 5 minutes.
• Cool and serve it. 

Sending this to Fun N Sun hosted by Radhika, Series Summer Coolers hosted by Sukanya, Only Coolers and Mocktails hosted by Simplyfood orginally started by Pari , Serve it - Chilled hosted by Denny and Kid's Delight - Coolers hosted by PJ orginally started by srivalli.

Panakam, VadaPappu, Chalimidi – Sri Rama Navami Neivedyam

శ్రీ రామ నవమి శుభాకాంక్షలు !!!! జై శ్రీ రామ !!! జై శ్రీ రామ !!!

Happy Sri Rama Navami !! Jai Shri Ram !! Jai Shri ram !!

Sri Rama Navami is a famous Hindu Festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama as well as his marriage.  This day also marks the end of the nine day Utsavam called Vasanthothsavam , festicval of spring that starts with ugadi.

Today I made Panakam, VadaPappu, Chalimidi as naivedyam ( prasadam).

Panakam is a sweet drink prepared with jaggery and flavored with cardamom powder. Vada Pappu is prepared with split yellow moong dal and Chalimidi is a rice flour sweet prepared with rice flour, jaggery and flavored with cardamom powder.

Panakam

Ingredients:

Grated Jaggery – 4-5 tsp

Pepper powder – 1 tsp

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp

Water – 2 glasses

Preparation

• Dissolve the granted jaggery in water
• Add pepper powder and cardamom powder
• Mix well and serve 

VadaPappu

Ingredients:

Moong Dal – ½ cup

Water

Preparation

• Soak Moong Dal for 30 minuts in water
• Drain water and Serve
• This is eaten raw and uncooked

Chalimidi

Ingredients:

Jaggery – ¼ cup

Rice powder – ½ cup

Water

Cardamom powder a pinch

Preparation

• In a bowl take rice powder and add grated jaggery and mix well
• To this add cardamom powder and very little water and make a smooth dough
• Chalimindi will be taken with vada pappu.

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

Raspberry Banana Smoothie is a cool, refreshing fruity drink prepared by raspberries, fresh bananas and milk.  

This Smoothie is a great cool relief from a hot summer day.

Ingredients:

Raspberry fresh or frozen– 1 cup

Ripe bananas – 2 no
Milk – 1 cup

Sugar or honey – 1tsp

Vanilla extract – ½ tsp

Ice cubes

Preparation

• In a blender combine raspberries, bananas (sliced into smaller chucks) and milk.
• Blend the ingredients on high for about a minute or until smooth.
• Add sugar or honey, vanilla extract, ice cubes and blend again until smooth.

• Pour the smoothie into glasses.
• Garnish a few raspberries or banana slices on top and serve. 

Sending this to Think Pink hosted by Sarah originally started by Monthly Mingle

  

Thai Iced Tea

Thai Iced Tea is a delicious beverage and popular drink hailing from Thailand and commonly found in restaurants across US. It is very strong, sweet tea often spiced with ingredients such as star anise, orange blossom water, crused tamarind seed and sometimes other spices well. 
This tea is then sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served over ice.

There are many ways to make Iced Tea. Here is my easy recipe for this tasty Iced Tea which is prefect complement to hot weather and spicy food.

Ingrediants:

For 3 servings

Water - 4 cups
Sugar - 1 spoon based on sweetness
Star anise pods - 4
Tea - 3 spoons
(If american tea bags are used - 6 nos)
Sweetened Condensed Milk - 1/2 cup
Ice
Mint leaves ( optional)

Preparation

• In a tea vessel on medium heat bring water, sugar and star anise pods to a boil
• Add tea to the boiling water and boil it for some time.
• Remove the vessel from heat and cool it.
• After it gets cooled filter the tea.
• If tea bags are used discard the star anise pods and tea bags.
• Whisk the filtered tea well with the condensed milk.
• Pour into a large container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.
• To serve pour the tea into 3 ice-filled glasses and garnish with mint leaves

Fruit Punch (Juice)

Fruit Punch is a mixed fruit drink made with several fruits mixed with water or soda. Here is the delicious fruit punch I tried that is made with strawberries,orange, apple and grapes.

Ingredients:

Fresh Strawberries - 6 nos
Orange peeled and sectioned
Apples cored and chopped - 1 cup
Seedless grapes - 1/2 cup
Sugar or Honey - 2 tsp

Preparation

• In a blender, combine Strawberries, orange, apples, grapes and sugar.
• Use more or less water or ice depending on the thickness you want for your juice.
• Process until all the fruits are smooth.
• Pour into glasses and serve. 

Sending this to Juice Recipes hosted by Sameena and Dish Name Starts with F hosted by Akila,Cooking with Fruits hosted by Smita, Veggie/Fruit A month-strawberry hosted by Pari originally started by Priya.