Avocado Smoothie

Avocado Smoothie 

Avocado Smoothie 

Start off your day by indulging in this simple yet delicious, creamy and thick avocado smoothie. This smoothie is absolutely worth a try because it might just become your new go-to smoothie! 

What you need:

• 1 avocado 
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning or chat masala

Method:

1. Cut the avocado. Scoop out the flesh. Transfer it to a mixer jar.
2. Add sugar and milk. Run the mixer for 2 minutes. 
3. Add cold water and blend it again. 
4. Serve it with Italian seasoning or chat masala on top. 

Orange Punch

We need

200 ml of water

Sugar to taste

1 tbsp mango rasna/tang

1 big orange

Peel orange. Place the segments in a clean thin cloth and squeeze out the juice.

Dissolve sugar and rasna/tang powder in water.

Add orange juice. Check the taste. Cool for a while. Serve.

Pumpkin Milkshake

Pumpkin Milkshake

Unbelievable! Milkshake from a vegetable ! !Pumpkin milkshake tastes sooo good. Unless told, can't guess it is pumpkin milkshake! Good substitute for store bought juices.

You need

100 gm pumpkin, peeled and cut into small pieces
100 ml milk
100 ml or more water
1 tsp sugar
2 pods cardamom peeled

• Blend pumpkin pieces, sugar, little water and cardamom in a blender till smooth.
• Add milk and rest of the water, whisk a few times.
• Check the taste, add sugar and water if need be. Whisk again. 
• Chill for some time and serve. Tastes better when chilled.

Note: Not necessary that you adhere to the quantity given. When pumpkin is bought to cook, a piece of it can be used for milkshake. Can substitute honey instead of sugar. 

Tulsi Tea

Tulsi Tea

Tulsi, the queen of herbs! Tulsi leaves can be used fresh or dried. Tulsi tea relieves cough, flem and tension. This tea also works as mouth freshener.

You need

1 glass of water

¼ tsp tea powder

3 fresh tulsi leaves

1 tsp sugar or honey optional

¼ tsp lime juice, optional

·     Wash the tulsi leaves well and tear into 2-3 pieces

·     Boil the water. When it starts boiling add tea powder and tulsi leaves.

·     Close the lid and boil for 2 minutes. Can feel the tulsi aroma.

·     Put off the stove

·     Let the tea stand for 1 minute.

·     Strain and serve.

·     May add sugar or honey if you prefer it sweet.

·     Can add lime juice to enhance taste with or without sugar.

KOKUM/ BINDA/ PUNARPULI JUICE easy to make, great to health

KOKUM/ BINDA/ PUNARPULI JUICE easy to make, great to health

Kokum juice is very popular in South India all through the year especially during summer. As tempting as it looks, it is very cooling to the body. It helps in preventing dehydration and sunstroke in hot summer. In South India many herbal stores (granthike shops) sell dried skins of kokum.

It is said that Kokum aids weight loss, relieves indigestion, constipation, acidity and flatulence. This juice is very easy to make. After eating the fruit, preserve the skins by drying in the sun light which have a shelf life of more than a year.  

            

                               Kokum Whole Fruit                                   

 The edible part inside        

Kokum skin  when fresh     

 Skin when dried

You Need

6-8 pieces of dried kokum skins

2 glasses of water

Sugar as per your taste

Salt – a pinch (black salt tastes better

¼ tsp cardamom powder (optional)

Pinch of pepper powder (optional)

1.    Wash the dried skins of kokum and soak in water for a minimum of half an hour or more in half a glass of water.

2.    Squeeze out the juice from the soaked skins changing the water twice.

3.    Sieve the squeezed juice in to a vessel and add sugar, salt and pepper and cardamom powder.

4.    Stir well and serve.

Tip:

·     You can soak the skins and squeeze out the juice whenever you are free. Store the juice in a clean glass jar/steel vessel in the refrigerator. Just before serving add the other things.

·        Fried and powdered cumin/jeera also tastes good if you don’t like pepper/cardamom flavour/taste.

     If you have kokum dry skins at home, you may also like to try  this easy rasam KOKUM/ BINDA/ PUNARPULI RASAM