Strawberry Limeade

Serves 2
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes


Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped strawberries
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups of drinking water
• Ice cubes
• Sliced lime and sliced strawberries

Method:

1. First add 1 cup chopped strawberries, sugar, salt and lime juice to the blender and blend to a smooth paste.
2. Then add 2 cups of water and blend again.
3. Serve chilled with sliced lime, sliced strawberries and ice cubes.

Strawberry Oats Smoothie

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 6 strawberries
• Half a banana
• 2 tbsp oats
• 4 tsp sugar
• ½ cup yogurt
• 1 ½ cup milk

Method:

1. Heat a pan and slightly toast the oats.
2. Add chopped strawberries, banana, sugar, oats and yogurt to the blender jar and blend it till you get a smooth mixture.
3. Then add milk and blend for few seconds till smooth. Taste and check if more sugar is needed. You can add more milk if needed.
4. Serve chilled.

Watermelon & Mango Shake

Serving size: 4 glasses


Ingredients:

• 3 cups chopped watermelon
• 1 cup chopped mango (ripe)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 5 mint leaves
• 5 tbsp sugar (or honey)
• Water and ice cubes if needed

Method: Blend together all the above ingredients in blender. Serve the shake chilled.

Note: You can add more water if the consistency is too thick.

Ragi & Almond Drink | Red Millet Drink | Finger Millet Drink

Ragi is also known as Red Millet or Finger Millet. It has tremendous health benefits like - aids in weight loss, increases bone strength, controls diabetes, reduces cholesterol, treats anemia, aids digestion and the list goes on. Especially during fasting days, taking ragi drink or in any form gives the body a cooling effect.

1 cup = 250 ml

Ingredients: (For 4 servings)

• 1 1/2 tsp whole ragi
• 3/4 cup almonds
• 3 cups of milk
• Sugar as needed
• 2 cardamom
• Pinch of cinnamon powder

Method:

1. Soak ragi and almonds overnight or at least for 4 hours. Peel the almonds.
2. Grind into a smooth paste by adding cardamom and 1 cup water.
3. Take a muslin cloth and sieve the ragi almond juice, discard the leftovers on the cloth.
4. Heat a heavy bottom sauce pan and add the sieved ragi and almond juice along with milk and sugar. Keep stirring and cook on low flame till it starts to boil.
5. After it reaches boiling point, cook for 1 more minute and then turn off the heat.
6. Set aside and wait till it reaches room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
7. This drink can be served either hot or chilled.
8. Sprinkle cinnamon powder on top and serve.  

Note: You need to constantly stir the drink while it is cooking and keep a close watch on it. Adjust sugar according to your preference. I added little less than 1/2 cup sugar. 

Variation:

Substitute ragi for wheat and make Wheat & Almond Drink. Whole procedure and quantity remains the same.  

Step by step pictures

Strawberry Falooda ~ Strawberry Basil & Vermicelli Drink

Ingredients

• 5 strawberries chopped
• 1 packet strawberry jelly
• 2 tbsp strawberry syrup (or rooh afza/ rose syrup)
• 2 tbsp vermicelli
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 tbsp sabja seeds (basil seeds)
• 2 tbsp chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
• Blueberries for garnishing (optional)

Method:

1. Prepare strawberry jelly according to the packet and set in the refrigerator.
2. Boil vermicelli in water, sieve and set aside.
3. Soak sabja (basil) seeds in half cup water till it soaks and puffs.
4. Take a serving glass, add 2 tbsp strawberry syrup or (rooh afza/rose syrup).
5. Then add vermicelli, soaked sabja seeds, strawberry jelly cut into cubes, and chopped strawberries.
6. Then pour chilled milk over the fruits and jelly and stir slightly.
7. Finally top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
8. Serve chilled.

Serves 1

Note: You can either use falooda vermicelli or normal vermicelli which is available in pasta section. 

Orange Iced Tea

1 serving


Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag
• Sugar (2 tsp or according to preference)
• 1 glass fresh orange juice chilled
• Some orange slices
• 2 mint leaves
• 3 ice cubes

Method:

1. Place the tea bag in hot water for 2 minutes or as strong as you wish. Add sugar and stir till it dissolves. Discard the tea bag and chill in the refrigerator.
2. Take a tall serving glass and combine chilled tea and fresh orange juice.
3. Put some orange slices, mint leaves and ice cubes and serve cold.

Dates & Almond Drink

2 Servings


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dates paste
• 5 to 6 soaked and peeled almonds
• Sugar or honey (optional)
• 2 cups milk
• Pinch of cinnamon powder

Method:

1. Place the dates paste, almonds, honey and cinnamon powder in a mixer jar.
2. Add 1/2 cup milk and blend till smooth.
3. Then add rest of the milk and again blend till you get a smooth mixture.
4. Serve chilled. 

Note: To make dates paste, soak 6 to 7 dates in 1/2 cup hot water along with a pinch of baking soda for 3 to 4 hours. Then grind to a smooth paste with the same water.