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.

Apple & Corn Salad

Ingredients

• 1 apple cut into small cubes
• 2 lettuce leaves chopped
• ½ cup cooked corn kernels
• ½ cup cooked pasta (any shape)
• ½ cup yogurt
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• ½ tsp black pepper powder
• ½ tsp sugar
• Salt

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix together yogurt, mayonnaise, black pepper powder, sugar and salt to a smooth dressing.
2. In another bowl mix together chopped apple, boiled pasta, lettuce leaves and corn.
3. Refrigerate both the bowls for 30 minutes.
4. Just before serving add the yogurt dressing to the chopped salad and mix well.
5. Serve chilled.

Saffron Delight

Serving Size: 4 to 5
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Chill in refrigerator: 2 to 3 hours


Ingredients:

• 1 litre full fat milk
• 1/5 portion of china grass (10 gms)
• 1/2 or 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp saffron strands
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• Pinch of yellow color
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds

Method:

1. Soak the china grass in a medium size sauce pan with 3/4 cup of water for 10 minutes.
2. Heat the soaked china grass along with water till the water starts to boil and china grass dissolves completely.  (The water should look transparent). Switch off the heat and when it slightly cools add milk and sugar. 
3. Turn on the heat and cook the milk till it starts to boil, stirring constantly.
4. Now add saffron strands, cardamom powder and color.
5. Pour into individual serving bowls or 1 flat serving dish.
6. Garnish with chopped almonds and set it in the refrigerator till the dessert sets and is firm,
7. 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.

Berry & Banana Smoothie

1 serving recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 banana
• 3 strawberries
• 1/4 cup blueberries (or 1 tbsp blueberry jam)
• 2 tbsp honey

Method: Blend together all the above mentioned ingredients till smooth. Serve chilled

Carrot Milk

A very easy way of convincing kids to have vegetable is to make them have these kind of juices. The juice is extracted from carrot and combined with milk and sugar and served chilled. 

An ideal, wholesome and nutritious drink for breaking a day long fast during ramadan. 

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• Juice of 4 carrots
• 2 cups of milk
• 2 tbsp vanilla icecream

Method: In a blender, add the above ingredients and blend for few seconds. Serve chilled.

How to extract carrot juice without a juicer?

Grate 3 carrots. Grind the grated carrot with 1/2 cup water. And then strain the ground carrots through a sieve and collect the carrot juice.  

Corn & Apple Salad with Mustard Dressing

A simple and a light salad with a dressing of mustard sauce. Ideal recipe for those on diet as it can be a wholesome and a complete meal for dinner.





Serving: 1 big bowl
Preparation time: 15 to 20 minutes


Ingredients:

• 1 red apple
• 1 green apple
• 1 cucumber
• 1/2 cup tin corn kernels
• 1/4 cup boiled chick peas
• 5 to 6 cherry tomatoes (or 1 small tomato cut into cubes)

For dressing: (Mix together)

• 3 tbsp mustard sauce
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp crushed black pepper
• Few leaves of coriander chopped
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• Salt to taste

Method: 

1. Chop apples and cucumber and place it in a large mixing bowl. Add corn, chickpeas and tomatoes. Place it in the refrigerator till it is served.
2. Just before serving add the dressing to the salad and mix well.
3. Pour the contents into a serving dish. 
4. Serve chilled.

Carrot & Cabbage Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup of grated carrot
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/4 cup milk (boiled & cooled)
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• 1 tsp vinegar
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a small bowl mix together yogurt, cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, black pepper and vinegar. Mix well to a smooth consistency. While mixing, slowly keep adding the milk till well combined.
2. In a large bowl add shredded cabbage & grated carrot.
3. Refrigerate both the bowls till serving time.
4. Just before serving add the dressing to the cabbage and serve the coleslaw chilled.

Broccoli & Apple Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup broccoli florets (steamed or boiled)
• 1/2 carrot sliced
• 1 cucumber chopped
• 1 apple chopped
• 1/2 cup boiled chick peas
• 1/2 red capsicum chopped
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/2 cup whisked yogurt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
• Salt

Method:

1. In a large bowl mix together cooked broccoli, carrot, cucumber, apple, chickpeas and capsicum.
2. In a separate bowl mix together cream, yogurt, salt and black pepper.
3. Chill in the refrigerator till serving time.
4. Just before serving add the dressing to the salad and serve.

Pineapple Salad

This tropical salad is fully packed with freshness, flavors and colors. If you see from the nutrition point of view, then it is loaded with Vitamin C and other minerals like manganese etc.


Some of the health benefits of pineapples are 

• Immune system support. 
• Bone strength. 
• Eye health.
• Digestion.
• Anti-Inflammatory benefits. 

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh pineapple ( or 1 tinned pineapple)
• 1 cucumber
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 small onion sliced
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp chat masala powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Few coriander leaves chopped / or spring onion 

Method:

1. If you are using fresh pineapple, then cut the pineapple into half and with the help of a knife and spoon, scoop out all the pulp from one half.
2. Peel the other half of the pineapple neatly, by removing all the eyes on the surface. Cut pineapple into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl.
3. Chop bell peppers and cucumber into bite size pieces.
4. Slice the onion and add everything to the mixing bowl.
5. Sprinkle desired amount of red chili powder, chat masala powder, salt, lemon juice, sugar and chopped coriander leaves.
6. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Take the scooped out half of the pineapple and use it as a serving dish for the salad.
8. Serve chilled.

Strawberry Cream

Ingredients: (To make 4 glasses)

• 6 strawberries sliced
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup icing sugar or powdered sugar
• 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream for each glass
• Strawberry syrup as needed (or make your own)
• 1 packet strawberry Jelly

Preparation:

• Prepare strawberry jelly and set.
• Keep the cream in freezer for 30 minutes only till it becomes cold and chilled. Do not freeze.
• In a bowl beat 1 cup chilled cream and 1/2 cup icing sugar till thick and fluffy.
• If you do not have Strawberry syrup: Make your own by making a paste of 5 to 6 strawberries + 1 tbsp of strawberry jam. Add few drops of water if needed. 

Method:

1. Take 4 big glasses or 6 shot glasses. Add strawberry jelly as first layer.
2. Add cream as second layer.
3. Strawberry slices as third layer.
4. Strawberry sauce as fourth layer.
5. And finally top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
6. Serve chilled.

Tender Coconut Dessert

A very humble dessert with the goodness of tender coconut water, cooked with china grass (agar agar) and served chilled in a jelly form. Very easy and simple method of preparing with just three ingredients - Tender Coconut, sugar and china grass. I got to learn and know about this dessert from my mother in law.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes (soaking time)
Cooking Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Setting time: 2 hours.

Ingredients:

• 500 ml Tender Coconut water
• 1 and 1/2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup sugar (according to standard measuring cup)
• Tender coconut pieces
• 1/5 portion of china grass bunch.

Preparation:

• Soak 1/5 portion of china grass in 1 and 1/2 cup hot water (not boiling water) for 30 minutes.
  
  

• Collect the tender coconut water into a big jar and pieces separately.

Method:

1. Boil the soaked china grass along with the water till it is fully dissolved and water looks clear.
   
   
   
   

2) Then add sugar and tender coconut water and start cooking on low flame till it starts boiling. Remove from heat and let it cool down for 20 minutes.

3) Pour into individual shot glasses or one flat serving dish. 

4) Add tender coconut pieces into each serving glass or dish.
5) Set it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
6) Serve chilled.

Note: For garnish I have used mint leaves, dried cranberry and tender coconut pieces.