Tag: Drinks

My Birthday Party Recipes !!!

I will soon turn a year older an something clicked in my mind. Am I going to throw a party ??? The answer is still uncertain but one thing is for sure I will cook for me and will treat my tummy with dishes Like. It’s a nice nice idea, isn’t it ? If I play rewind record of my earlier childhood or teen-hood birthdays food was never my priority , it was always what birthday gift I got (I am confessing I was materialistic back then). Me and my friends use to party a lot and my mum use to cook best possible recipes for us and we use to just finish it in about 30 minutes. Long gone are those days and those friends are so far from my reach . Though they wish me through social media or a message or a call , few even gift me stuff through couriers but still my birthdays are not so happier the way they use to be earlier. They are now much milder in , much calm , much busy in work types these days . My

Mum still cooks for me on my birthday( Her famous kheer/Sweet rice pudding…a very popular dish among my friends ) but I am too far from her to taste that .If I look now the gifts are more sophisticated , much more expensive , much more “I like Stuff” but somewhere the birthdays with a pencil box gift wrapped or a plastic doll , or a chocolate bar with hideous decorations were more meaningful , lifelike , much more valuable for me. To have that feeling back I have decided to cook the way my Mum use to cook for me , dance on Bollywood cheap songs the way my friends use to entertain my make my parties fun , shout the way they use to scream “happy birthday” for me and Burst a balloon for myself filled with goodies inside. I again asked my self Am I eccentric ….Big deal even If I am. I will have fun the way I use to have a decade ago and cherish these memories a decade later rather than repenting on my arm chair with a ART OF LIVING BOOK on my side desk .I know my friends my parents , my best pal my sister wont be there in my little celebration this time but I am going to celebrate for me. I am going to make this birthday Rock . Will Click selfies of my own , will dress up , Will do make up. I will not repent this birthday to be on a weekday and so I am not celebrating it , No I will make it happier& funny for me. You feel terrible when you don’t try , But I wont give up I will just have a blast ….To celebrate with me try these recipes which I will cook for my birthday .

Mojito:

Yes I am talking alcohol now. BUt its a crime say that I am being drunk here its a celebration drink for my birthday and I have full right to break the rules. Drinks are party showstoppers for me and if its for my celebration I will commit this sin gladly.

Ingredients : Mint sprigs roughly cut , 1 tablespoon sugar syrup , 30 ml Vodka ,15ml Soda water, Ice cubes, Peppermint tablets finely crushed, Lemon wedges , lemon ring for decoration. For serving your choice matters .

Servings : Its crime to count the servings when you are celebrating so please repeat till you find yourself sane.

Method : Its easy and very quick to make. Firstly crush the peppermint tablets powder, mint leaves and lemon wedges together. Now Take a glass (Your choice matters not mine ) add ice cubes, sugar syrup , and freshly crushed mint peppermint and lemon wedges . Now add Vodka and soda water into the glass stir it gently with a stirrer. And Yes do decorate it with lemon ring and serve yourself .Cheers!!!

Cheese Corn Balls :

With a perfect drink we have to have the perfect starter. And to get that we have a very simple and quick recipe too. (Remember Its me who is cooking and I don’t want to get tired on my birthday so planned a quick dish celebration…being smart is justified ).

Ingredients : 2 cups corn kernels , 1/2 cup refined flour, 1 tablespoon chopped coriander, 1 cup grated processed cheese, salt to taste, 1 teaspoon red chilly powder, 1 teaspoon dry mango powder, 1 teaspoon lemon juice , 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chilled, oil for deep frying.

Servings : 2 to 3

Method : Crush corn kernels roughly in a blender. Mix blender corn , refined flour, corriander, dry spices, cheese , salt, and lemon juice and bind the mixture well into a fine dough. Adding water is not required as corn kernels hold a lot of moisture into them which will be enough for binding the mixture.

Make small equal round balls out of the dough and give them smooth round shape. Deep fry the cheese corn balls and serve them as appetisers or have loads of them to fill your tummy. Remember this party is to relax and have fun , extra work not required.

Monte Carlo:

Its easy to make dessert . Indulge yourself with this at the end and have a good nite sleep later.

Ingredients : 2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream (You may use butterscotch flavour also ), few butterscotch drops, Dark chocolate syrup ,1 teaspoon
honey,1 tablespoon whipped cream, choco-chips if you are a chocolate person.

Servings : 1

Method : Take a ice-cream bowl or a fancy glassware , add two scoops of vanilla ice-cream to it , top it up with ,whipped cream , butterscotch, honey, choco-chips and at last chocolate syrup. Serve it .

So, isn’t it a great idea to celebrate your birthday and throw yourself a small party. The only way to keep yourself tempted for life is to appreciate each day and keep yourself engrossed in you to get out of all cribbing’s which we generally do all day. Make a difference and spread happiness.

December 13, 2014
Mango drinks for summer

Everyone need more than air-conditioning or a dip in the pool to battle the hot summer weather of May, June and July. So cool off and chill out with cool summer drinks. Summer is the best suited time to have cocktails. Summer is the perfect time for friends to gather and share a few drinks. So brake out the tropicals, the frappes, the coolers and chill out. Cool drink refreshes your mind, soul, heart and body so never forget to take cold drinks during summer.

AAM PANNA–

It is the traditional North western Indian summer cooler drink. Aam Panna reduces the occurrence of heat strokes. It is not only a good refreshment but also a great rejuvenating drink as it restores the Sodium which was lost due to dehydration. It is rich in antioxidant which helps to remove the toxins from the body and purify blood. Here is a simple recipe for how to make aam panna.

Ingredients-

3 medium size green raw mangoes
1 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon roasted cumin powder
Black salt to taste
Salt to taste
2 cup water
1 tablespoon Mint leaves
Ice crushed

Recipe– Place the mangoes along with water in a sauce-pan and boil them. Simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from gas. Alternately you can pressure cook the mangoes with water till they become soft. When they get cool, peel the mangoes and get the pulp with the help of a spoon. Grind mango pulp with water to a smooth paste. Take the pulpy mixture in a pan, add sugar and let it cook on gas till the sugar get dissolved completely. Stir continuously. Remove from gas and add roasted black salt, cumin powder and salt. Let this mixture cool down in proper time. To make the drink, take a glass and pour 1 -2 tablespoons of the mango mixture and pour it in chilled water. Now add finely crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaves and serve immediately.

MANGO MILKSHAKE-

Mango has a plenty of benefits that are good for our health and can fight against diseases such as cancer. It helps in digestion as it is rich in fiber. It is a rich source of vitamin A, hence it also boosts the immune system and lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. Mango shake contains good amount of proteins and irons, therefore it is very beneficial for anemic patients. Vitamin D and calcium present in mango milkshake helps in strengthening the bones. The recipe for making mango shake is as follows-

Ingredients–

1 cup milk,Ice cubes, 3 small ripe mangoes, 1/4-1/2 tablespoon cardamom powder (start less and increase as per taste), 2 tablespoon sugar.

Recipe- Peel the mangoes and then add their pulp to a blender. Add the milk and cardamom powder to it. Start with the minimum, since some may find the flavor of cardamom too overpowering. Blend it well along with ice cubes until they get mixed. Taste and add sugar if needed and give it another whirl if added. Pour into glasses with ice-cream on the top and enjoy.

MANGO MARGARITA –

Ingredients-

Mangoes peeled and cut into small pieces, Ice cubes as required, salt as required, lemon juice 3 tablespoons, and 1 cup mango squash.

Recipe- Put the pieces of mangoes in a blender and blend for a minute. Add mango squash, two table spoons lemon juice, ice cubes and blend it again for three minutes.Apply the remaining lemon juice at the rims of the glasses and dip the rims in the plates containing salt and then remove. Pour the margarita in the glasses and serve.

MANGO LIME COOLER–

Ingredients-

1 tablespoon honey, ½ cup low fat milk, 1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into chunks, 1 tablespoon lime juice, Ice cubes, ½ cup plain fat free yogurt.

Recipe- Put all the ingredients except the ice cubes in the blender, then cover and blend the mixture on high speed around 15 seconds. Add crushed ice and then continue blending for 15 seconds. Now kick back and enjoy the perfect summer drink.

MANGO MOJITO-

A mango mojito features muddled mint leaves mixed with mango rum.

Ingredients-

1 lime wedge, 4 mint leaves, fresh mango (pureed), 90ml soda, ice cubes, 22ml light rum.

Recipe- Muddle the mint leaves and lime juice until they are fragrant by pressing a muddler into the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Then pour the rum and the mango puree into the shaker. Fill the shaker 2/3 full of ice cubes. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well mixed and chilled. Place ice cubes in a fashioned glass. Strain the drink from the cocktail shaker over the ice cubes. Top the drink with club soda and garnish it with a slice of mango.

MANGO COLADA-

Ingredients-

1 cup ripe mango cubes, 1/3 cup light rum, 1/3 cup cream of coconut, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, ice cubes.

Recipe- Place all the ingredient shown above in a blender and then blend until it becomes smooth and thick. Add ice cubes. Pour into tall glass and enjoy your drink.

July 1, 2014
Tea: A Drink for Every Season

Tea, as evident by the consumption in an average Indian’s household, is most widely consumed drink- after water. Tea is found as an important part in every house and that is what I am taking about today. It is the only beverage commonly available hot or iced for every occasion.

It is not just a beverage for the sake of drinking, but it also has numerous health benefits. Oolong tea and White tea, for example, help in weight control. Black tea helps to reduce stress. Various flower teas help to increase metabolism and reduce stress. There are various reasons to drink a cup of tea everyday and to make your tea experience rich and interesting, here is a list to different type of teas you can try in every season.

Summer:-

We can never give up on drinking tea let it be the 45⁰C heat of summer. For this summer, we have got Iced Lemon tea for you. It is easy to make, cool and refreshing; perfect for a summer evening.

Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients needed:-

1 Lemon

Sugar to taste

½ cup fresh Mint Leaves

1 Black tea bag

Directions to make:-

Using a vegetable peeler remove bright yellow peel from lemon. Combine lemon and sugar in a medium saucepan with 1/2 cup water and boil. Stir to dissolve sugar. Lower the heat and let it heat for one more minute. Remove from heat and add mint. Cool to room temperature.

Now in 1 cup hot water put the tea bag for 5 minutes. Then remove the tea bag and add the syrup, 1 cup cold water and ice cubes.

Serve in tall glasses filled with ice cubes and a few mint leaves on the top.

Autumn:-

In autumn, there is nothing as delightful as sitting at the balcony in the cold breeze with a hot cup of tea nearby. Cinnamon Apple tea is a perfect tea to sip in the autumn-ish cold morning. As evident from the name, it is an apple based tea and doesn’t need tea bags.

Cinnamon Apple Tea

Ingredients needed:-

½ teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

1 cup water (boiling)

Directions to make:-

Cut the apples and mash lightly with a fork in the bottom of a mug. Add the dry ingredients on top. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the apples and other ingredients and stir. Let it simmer in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. Top with whipped cream and enjoy.

Spring:-

It is the most interesting season for trying new tea flavors. In the flowery spring, add some new flavors to the life with some flowery drink.

Lavender Tea

Ingredients needed:-

3 Tablespoons fresh Lavender flowers or 1 1/2 Tablespoons dried Lavender flower

2 cups boiling water

Honey and Lemon (optional)

Direction to make:-

To make Lavender tea put the flowers in a teapot or container along with the boiling water allowing them to stay for a good 4 to 5 minutes.
Pour into cups straining if necessary to remove the flower buds. Drink Lavender flower tea with honey and sliced lemon for better taste.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has a naturally sweet tasting drink with a tinge of apple flavor. It is a good source of Magnesium and is used as a soothing and relaxing herb.

Ingredients needed:-

1 chamomile teabag or 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers

1 cup fresh water, brought just to the boil

Optional additions to taste such as honey, lemon, or mint

Directions to make:-

Add the teabag or dried flower to a cup. Cool the just-boiled water slightly (chamomile tea is best when steeped in hot – not boiling – water), and then add to your cup. Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Its taste and benefits improves with longer steeping time. Remove the teabag or loose tea leaves. Drink it this way or add extras, like honey, lemon, or mint, if you wish.

Winter

Winter, no doubt, is the perfect season for drinking a hot cup of tea every morning and evening. To make winter more healthy and delicious, there is green tea for you to try.

Green Tea

Green tea, with its incredible taste, has many health benefits. Drinking green tea increases metabolism. Also, it helps to maintain a healthy heart. You can also say ‘A cup of Green Tea a day, keeps a doctor away.’

Ingredients needed:-

Green tea leaves- 1 tsp
Water – 1 cup
Honey to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste

Direction to make:-

Heat 1 cup of water. Do not bring it to boiling point. Switch off before that stage to reduce bitterness. Add 1 tsp green tea and brew it for about 2-3 minutes. If you brew it longer, the tea will taste bitter, so just 2-3 minutes is sufficient. Strain the tea into a cup.
Add honey and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Do not add milk in this tea. You can use 2-3 fresh mint leaves to get a minty flavor.

So, what are you waiting for? Go make a nice cup of tea for yourself and others. Drink your health and taste at the same time and Enjoy.

June 24, 2014
SNACK WITHOUT GUILT
Until recently the common wisdom on snacking was that it was bad; something you must be guilty about. Don’t eat between meals, you were told. It will ruin your teeth, make you gain weight and spoil your appetite. Far from true! “The word snack has a negative connotation, but it can be a good thing.” Dieticians, nutrition and fitness experts now say the best way to keep healthy is by eating small frequent meals. It keeps you from overeating at mealtimes and fires your metabolism.

Why we need to snack

Intake of food and breakdown of it during metabolism releases glucose-the simplest form of sugar. This glucose is taken up by insulin and used to regulate the body’s energy levels. All this takes place in the spleen. Twice a day a healthy person’s blood sugar dips when the glucosein the blood gets used up. This brings on lethargy. This is when snacks come in handy. It is essential to get it right.

The right time, right pace

It is generally two hours after breakfast and a couple of hours after lunch that you need to pump your blood sugar, these are the high activity zones of our day when maximum energy is consumed either at work or while doing chores at home. A feeling of lethargy, lack of concentration, compulsive eagerness to get over with work and head over coffee machine indicates tumbling sugar level but very often we confuse the need for a break with the need to snack. We end up munching out of boredom.

What to eat, what to drop

Look for foods with complex carbohydrates (wholegrain breads or fiber-filled vegetables). Combine them with protein rich stuff like low fat cheese. High protein snacks keep you full longer and may reduce the amount you eat next time. The ideal break up for a person should be:

carbohydrates: 10 to 12 grams

Proteins: 5 to 6 grams

Fats and oils: 3 to 5 grams

You could get this from:

A cup of tea with whole wheat bread, sandwich (skip the mayonnaise), try low-fat cheese or a glass of sweet lassi with a bowl of upma or poha or fresh juice with medium sized sprouts.

Snack smart

DO’S
- Balancing snacks with meals is a clever idea. If you had a carbohydrate rich breakfast and no protein, at snack time pick up low cal flavored yogurt.
- Eat a variety of foods with different food groups and tastes to fill up on nutrition deficit.
- If you are self confused sweet lover, try to replace a few sugary snacks with more healthy ones. It may not be very difficult.
DON’Ts
- Snacks by definition are quickies but that does not mean you stuff them in a speed. Eat your food slowly. The brain transmits the message of food satiation when you chew leisurely.
- Do not couple foods of the same food group together. To get maximum value from nutrients, select food from different groups.
- When ordering out, remember that you needn’t eat the entire portion. Go for pooled snacks share them with friends.
The right drinks

Avoid coffee, tea and colas. Packaged juices have high sugar level but the added vitamins and minerals make them preferable to drink. Stick to calorie free drinks such as iced tea or club soda with a twist of lime. But remember nothing beats a glass of cool freshly squeezed fruit juice.

Snacking strategies

We never plan for snacks simply because the idea of impending lunch or dinner is too overwhelming both for cooking and eating. Being a smart snacker is not that tough it only needs you too understand the logic of healthy snacking planning and buying groceries wisely.

At home
- Go for steamed veggies or cut salads accompanied by a yogurt or mint dip.
- Toast small pieces of whole wheat bread. Dip them in olive oil, flavored with some oregano and chili flakes.
- A bowl of cut fruits is great idea. Different fruits for breakfast and snack time should be your mantra
- Satisfy cravings in a healthier ways. Get a chilled milkshake, stirred with drinking chocolate.
At work
- Dip into a cup of yogurt. There is a huge variety in the market. Carry them along with you if you don’t get them in the office canteen.
- Pack some light snacks. Sprouts, cut vegetables, fruits or idlis. Prepare them the previous evening and store them in the fridge for office next day.
- Simply nibbling on a cucumber works!
When out shopping
- Identify juice and salad bars. Ask for fruit and vegetable juices. They are nutritious and filling.
- Stop over cafes and takeaways that give you a break from oily stuff.
- Go for a yogurt smoothie and gelato.
- Carry a pack of roasted grams and nuts in your bag. They give you an instant energy boost.
- Avoid steamed corn (they are frozen and packaged). Always look out for a freshly roasted corn.
Pacing your snacks with your meals is all important and required for a healthy living. Many of us watch what we eat through the day-only to lose control at the end of the day if we have been starving. If you catch yourself eating in large quantities, grabbing chips and digging into ice creams, watch out!!
January 4, 2014