Sathu Maavu Kanji – Health Mix Powder
No. of servings: 3 Preparation time: 15 minutes Ingredients: Ragi flour – 200 grams Wheat flour – 200 grams Bhajra flour (pearl millet or kambu flour) – 200 grams Par boiled rice (pulungal arisi) – 100 grams Barley – 50 gram Tapiaco pearls (javvarisi or sago) – 50 grams Whole green moong bean – 200 grams Peanuts – 2 tbsp (with or without skin) Almonds – 1/4 cup Cashew nut – 5 to 6 Dried ginger (sukku) – 1″ piece Cardamom – 15 Chickpea or dry garbanzo beans – 2 tbsp Roasted chickpea (pottukadalai) – 2 tbsp Method of Preparation: Dry roast peanuts, pottukadalai and chickpeas, cardamom separately. And then dry roast par boiled rice. Also dry roast moong bean, almonds and cashews separately until just before it changes color. Dry roast other flours one by one until...
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Homemade Grape Juice
Do you have a lot of grapes sitting in your refrigerator for a long time? Then it’s time to make some grape juice. I was bored of eating all the grapes by myself and I thought why not make some juice which will be refreshing. It also has a lot of anti-oxidants and other benefits. It is very easy to make and nothing is better than a fresh homemade juice. You can cut down the sugar or even avoid it if you like. Enjoy!! Preparation time: 20 minutes No. of servings: 8 Ingredients: Black grapes – 1.5 lb ( 680 grams) Sugar – 1/2 cup Juice from one lemon Method of Preparation: Wash grapes, remove from their stem. Grind it in a blender until smooth. Strain it through a wire mesh or a strainer and extract the juice. Grind...
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Panagam
Panagam or Panakam is a drink made with jaggery and spices. It is one of the best natural drink to beat the heat apart from Neer More (spiced buttermilk). Jaggery is unrefined natural sugar which contains iron and traces of other minerals. It is by far the most natural sweetener and it has the ability to cleanse your body, helps indigestion, relieves fatigue, etc. SInce it is unrefined it may contain some impurities but you can removed them by dissolving it in water and filtering it. Jaggery is used in many Indian sweets considering its health benefits. Panagam is one of the best way to add jaggery to your diet. This drink is generally made as a neivedhyam (offering to God) for any pooja at home and temples. Specially on the occasion of Rama Navami, it is one of...
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Neer More – Spiced Buttermilk
Neer More, that is what Spiced Buttermilk is called in tamil. It is a refreshing drink and the best drink to beat the summer heat. It is very easy to prepare in a short time. Back in India, during summer time there would be “More Pandhal”, places where “Neer More” is served on the road side under a temporary shed set up by well wishers. It is just to serve people a refreshing drink which gives them a temporary relief from the scorching summer heat. Some people have a big pot full of this beverage outside their houses for the passers by as a token of good will. There is nothing better than serving people around us without expecting anything in return. Have a glass full of buttermilk and get refreshed!! Preparation time: 15 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: Yogurt...
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Fruit Punch
This is a non alcoholic Fruit Punch which is easy to make and great for kids or adults parties. Adding soda gives it a sparkle and a refreshing taste. You can also add ginger ale to this punch if you like the taste. I made some strawberry ice cubes to float on top. You can either float the ice cubes on the punch bowl itself or you can serve individual glass of punch with one ice cube on each. If you have different shape molds, use it for making the strawberry ice. Kids will love it. Preparation time: 30 minutes Servings: 20 Ingredients: Frozen lemonade concentrate – 12 oz Frozen orange juice concentrate – 12 oz Frozen pineapple concentrate – 24 oz Sugar – 1 1/2 cups Water – 3 cups Strawberries – 2 cups (preferably frozen) Sprite or...
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Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie (Gluten and Dairy Free)
If you are looking for a delicious, dairy/gluten free smoothie then this is perfect for you. I have used almond milk which is very nutritious and has a nutty flavor. This is also perfect for the 28 Day Weight Loss and Detox Program that I have written about in our blog. Ingredients: Strawberries (fresh or frozen) – 10 to 12 (washed and cleaned) Kiwi fruit – 2 (wash and peel the skin) Almond milk (gluten free) – 3/4 cup Agave nectar – 1 tsp Ground flax seed – 1 tbsp Method of preparation: Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend till everything is smooth. Transfer it to a serving glass and you can top it with chopped fresh fruits. You can add a few ice cubes to the blender along with the other...
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Rice Porridge – Puzhungal Arisi Kanji
Parboiled Rice Porridge called Puzhungal Arisi Kanji in tamil is a healthy and delicious porridge which is perfect for both adults and kids. This is generally served when people fall sick. It is easy to digest, good for health and easy to make. Parboiled rice is used for making this dish. If you like it savory, you can substitute sugar and milk with buttermilk and salt. It is also perfect if you are diabetic. I always have the rice powder handy so that I can make this porridge for a quick breakfast or if I am sick. You can also add palm sugar or honey to this porridge. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes No. of servings: 2 Ingredients: Parboiled rice – 1/2 cup For Porridge: Parboiled rice powder – 4 tbsp Milk – 1 cup Sugar...
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Filter Coffee
Filter Coffee, a traditional South Indian Coffee made from dark roasted coffee beans is aromatic, milky with right amount of sweetness. In South India, coffee is served in a traditional steel cup and saucer topped with froth. Though I am not a coffee lover or addict, I would love to drink filter coffee once in a while. It is so refreshing. My husband is a coffee lover so I always filter coffee for him. For brewing coffee (also called decoction), we use a metal filter which has four parts, the top container has a lid and a perforated base, the bottom container is to collect the coffee and a stemmed disc for pressing. The metal filter keeps the coffee fresh and tasty for a longer period of time. For those who live outside India, you can check with your...
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Mango Milkshake
I am back to ST after a short break. I went to India this summer and got a chance to taste all the summer fruits and obviously mangoes. I had really missed eating mangoes for a very long time. Yesterday I went to Sam’s club and bought these delicious lipsmacking mangoes from there. I love milkshakes and especially mango shake is my favorite. SoI made this for a beautiful evening drink and it came out really yummy. Preparation Time : 15 minutes No of servings : 2 Ingredients: Mango Pulp : 1 cup(I’ve used 2 fresh mangoes) Fat free Milk : 1 cup Vanilla Ice cream : 2 scoops (I’ve used fat free) Sugar : 2 tbsp (optional) Method Of Preparation: Add all the ingredients in the blender or mixer and blend it well until it becomes smooth and...
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Cantaloupe Berry Smoothie
This is a simple and delicious smoothie with berries and cantaloupe blended with milk. You can use fresh or frozen berries for this smoothie. This is a good way to incorporate fruits in your diet and kids will love it. My husband and I generally have these smoothies for breakfast or after a heavy workout. I am sure it will definitely quench your summer thirst. Enjoy… Ingredients: Half Cantaloupe Fresh strawberries – 3/4 cup Fresh blueberries – 1/4 cup Milk – 1 cup Sugar – 2 tbsp Honey – 1 to 2 tbsp Method of Preparation: Peel the skin off the cantaloupe and remove the seeds and pith. Cut into small cubes. Hull the strawberries. Now blend everything together until smooth. Add or cut sugar and honey according to your taste. Serve it in a tall...
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Berries and Peach Soda
It’s summer time and are you ready to beat the heat?… I am going to share my recipes for blended fruit juices and many other summer drinks which will definitely quench your thirst. Most of them are rich in antioxidants and other vital nutrition and vitamins. This non-alcoholic mocktail is a combination of strawberries, blackberries and peach along with sparkling water which gives a fizz and makes it so refreshing. I got the idea of making this soda from Giada’s show and I tweaked it according to my taste. You will love this and will always want to have a pitcher of juice in your refrigerator to serve your family and friends. You can also serve theme at parties and not the least, kids will love it. So come join me… Ingredients: Fresh or thawed frozen strawberries – 1...
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Triple Berry Smoothie
Berries are nutritious and low in calories. They are naturally sweet (though some are tart). They are rich in antioxidants which helps to fight cancer, heart disease and provides other health benefits. I have used three types of berries in this smoothie but you can try this with any berries that you have on hand. You can also add a tbsp of flax seed or protein powder to this smoothie. Start your day with a glass of smoothie and add berries to your diet for a healthy life style. Ingredients: Fresh or Frozen Strawberries, Blackberries and Raspberries – 1/2 cup each (preferably unsweetened frozen berries, thawed) Low fat flavored yogurt – 1/2 cup (you can also use plain yogurt) Honey – 2 tbsp 1/2 cup of ice cubes 1 cup of low fat milk Method of Preparation: In a blender, add all...
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Rich and Creamy Hot chocolate
Hot Chocolate is a delicious chocolate drink and you can make a lot of variations in the procedure which can make it more delicious and rich. It is rich in antioxidants and is a comfort drink during this cold weather. You can prepare hot chocolate with semisweet, dark chocolate or bitter sweet chocolate. I like the semisweet and that is what I have used in this recipe. You can prepare this as a welcome drink for your family and friends during the Christmas or New year eve. Try this and enjoy. Ingredients: Semisweet chocolate – 1/4 cup Store bought hot cocoa mix – 1 packet (or 2 tbsp) Whole milk – 2 cups Heavy whipping cream – 3/4 cup Instant milk powder – 1/2 tsp (optional) 2 drops of vanilla essence Sugar – 2 tbsp a pinch of ground...
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Eggnog Recipe
Eggnog is popular drink in the US and Canada and is traditionally associated with the holiday season especially Christmas. You can find ready-made eggnog drinks on store shelves around this time of the year. But, you may be surprised to find out how easy it is to prepare it at home. If you are having a Christmas party and looking for recipe ideas, this Eggnog recipe can come in handy in making this popular holiday drink! Eggnog is usually made with alcohol especially Bourbon but you can also make Alcohol-free Eggnog by not adding alcohol in this preparation. Preparation Time : 30 minutes No Of Servings : 3-4 Ingredients: Egg yolks : 2 Whole milk : 1 cup Egg whites : 2 Bourbon (Whisky) : 11/2 oz (optional) Heavy Cream : 1/2 cup Ground Nutmeg : 1/2 tsp Granulated...
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Jigarthanda – Simple Cold Drink
Jigarthanda is a popular cold beverage in Madurai, Tamilnadu. I had this drink in Chennai at Murugan Idli Shop and I just loved it. I watched them made it step by step but was not sure what was in the bottom of the drink which was delicious. And then she said it is badam pisin (almond tree gum) which is available in herbal medicine shop (Naatu marundhu kadai) or in some grocery shops. It is good for health. I bought it and tried it at home and it came out so good. Hope you all enjoy this drink. Ingredients: Badam pisin (Almond tree gum) – 1/4 cup Vanilla ice cream – 2 scoops Whole Milk – 3 cups Sugar – 1/3 cup (adjust to taste) Nannari syrup – 2 tbsp Rose essence – 4 tsp Slivered pistachios for garnishing...
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Cafe Frappé – Cold Coffee
Cold Coffee or Iced Coffee is a popular drink in many cafes and restaurants. It’s very refreshing for the hot summer. Though I am not a coffee lover, I locoffe when it’s served cold. Making cold coffee at home is very easy. All you need is some brewed coffee, milk, ice and some whipped cream (optional). You can skip the whipped cream, if you want to avoid some extra calories. You can have double shot or even less coffee depending on how strong you want it to be. Use your imagination and squeeze some caramel or chocolate syrup before serving.Enjoy the homemade Coffee!! Preparation time: 5 to 6 minutes No. of servings: 3 Ingredients: Ice cubes – 1/2 cup Cold milk – 2 cups Refrigerated strongly brewed coffee or black coffee – 1/4 cup (adjust to taste) Sugar – 5...
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Ginger Chai – Hot Ginger Tea
Ginger Chai or Tea is made by brewing tea along with fresh ginger. Nothing is better than a cup of chai in the evening. And I always prefer spiced chai to regular chai. I love the aroma of spices when it is blended with tea. It just freshen up my mind and fasten my day. There are many versions of chai and today I am going to share my version of Ginger Chai. I hope you all like it. Here you go… Preparation time: 10 mins No. of Servings: 2 Ingredients: Tea or chai – 2 tbsp Crushed fresh ginger – 1 and 1/2 tbsp 2% Milk – 3/4 cup Water – 1 cup Sugar – 4 tsp (adjust to taste) Method of Preparation: I use Red Label Regular Tea. If you are using skim milk or full fat...
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Strawberry Milkshake
If you are craving for a refreshing cool drink that is healthy as well in the summer, this strawberry milkshake will hit the spot. You could make it a little decadent if you add a scoop of fat free vanilla or strawberry icecream at the top. This is a perfect refreshing summer drink! Preparation Time : 10 minutes No of servings: 2 Ingredients: Fresh Strawberry or Frozen strawberry : 8 ounces, hulled and sliced Granulated Sugar : 2 tbsp (according to your sweet level ) Fat free milk or 1% organic milk : 1/2 cup Vanilla extract : 1tsp Fat free Vanilla ice cream : 1/4 cup Ice cubes : 1 cup ( crushed) Method Of Preparation: In a bowl add sliced strawberries, sugar, vanilla extract and combine them all well. Set it aside for 10-15 minutes. After that add...
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