While its too hot and humid, our mind always goes for something refreshing to drink, am here today with a beautiful green buttermilk which i prepared with some fresh and crunchy lettuce leaves along with buttermilk, spiced with pepper powder, salt and chaat masala..This buttermilk is definitely a thirsty quencher and its tastes very refreshing once this buttermilk served chilled...Since the name lettuce was quiet not familiar in making juices or shakes, the little ones at home were curious to taste this gorgeous green buttermilk and they loved it..Then only i wanted to post them in my space coz anything not accepted by my family wont never ever get posted in my space..Earlier i never posted whenever my family doesnt like them, but now most of my creative dishes are very much welcome in my family and am very happy...Coming to this lettuce buttermilk, u can either serve them with ice cubes with some lemon juice or either u arrange them in fridge for few hours and serve them chilled..



Few lettuce leaves
2cup Buttermilk
Pepper powder
Salt
Chaat masala
Lemon juice (per need)

Grind the lettuce leaves with few buttermilk as fine paste, now add the remaining buttermilk, pepper powder, salt, chaat masala and lemon juice and blend everything as smooth buttermilk, u can either strain the buttermilk, but i didnt strain them..Serve with ice cubes or chilled...

Its too hot here and we guys are really suffering to this sudden extremely hot sunny days..Am just running behind salads and lassis, after making out many spicy version of lassis i planned to make out a simple, quick and sweet lassi with simple ingredients especially with chocolate and nutella spread, we guys fond always for chocolate and anything with chocolate, finally i went for few spoons of nutella spread and a melted chocolate bar to prepare this delicious, fantastic drink along with yogurt, sweetened condensed milk and served chilled or  with ice cubes..Easy breezy drink get ready within few seconds and we enjoyed each and every sip of this chilled chocolate lassi..Best and fabulous lassi to beat the heat, definitely a excellent feast for chocholic person like me..



2tbsp Nutella spread
100grms Chocolate bar(I used lindt milk chocolate)
2cups Yogurt
2tbsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
1cup Cold Milk

Melt the chocolate bar in microwave oven for 2 minutes with water, blend the nutella spread, melted chocolate, yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, cold milk..Serve chilled or with ice cubes...

Barley water is a drink made from cooked barley grain or it can be made with barley flour. If made with grain barley, water is added and boiled then slowly simmered until the grain is very soft then finished in a number of ways. There are recipes that call for the water to be strained after reducing the liquid, after letting the mixture stand for several hours to allow the barley to really soften or strain as soon as the liquid is cooled. Recipes that call for barley flour call for a quick boil or simmer then straining..Lemon, lime and orange are all popular flavorings to add to the cooked barley water. If using a citrus juice, fresh squeezed lemon, lime or orange juice is added after straining and then sweetened. If using citrus zest, the citrus rind white pith removed is added to the mixture as it is being simmered. Spices such as cinnamon or ginger can also be used to flavor barley water. Sugar,maple syrup or honey are generally used as sweeteners.

These sort of flavoured barley water can be served and enjoyed anytime of the year and its most often prepared and drunk during the summer as a refreshing chilled drink, i prepared this simple and healthy barley drink with orange rinds and orange juice and we enjoyed having them, definitely a refreshing drink to enjoy without any guilt.



1/2cup Pearl barley
6cups Water
1tbsp Orange rinds
1no Orange (sliced)
1cup Fresh orange juice
Maple syrup or sugar as per need

Take pearl barley and water in a large sauce pan, bring to the full boil and then reduce the flame to simmer..add the orange rinds to the cooking barley, cover the pan and cook for 45minutes or either u can use a pressure cooker and cook the barley for 3hisses along with water and orange rinds..put off the stove, strain the water..now add the sugar or maple syrup as per ur need and add the sliced orange pieces, cool down the water, finally add the fresh orange juice and serve chilled or with ice cubes...

This barley orangeade can be conserved for three to four days in refrigerator, stir well before serving..

Are you guys used to trash  the mango peels after having some sweet mango flesh??? after seeing this lassi am damn sure that u rnt going to do this anymore, yep i prepared this lassi by using those mango peels which my family doesnt like  and we usually trash those peels whenever we enjoy some sweet mangoes..This time once i peeled those peels , i kept aside for making out some lassis, finally i prepared this delicious lassi with few mint leaves, both together works out wonder and this lassi tastes fabulous, the mild mint flavour doesnt dominate the mango flavour, also i prepared them simply with maple syrup, pepper powder and salt, yes this lassi wasnt either salt version or sweet version, its tastes tremendous... definitely a thirsty quencher which suits  prefectly for hot summer days..



2cups Sweet Mango Peels (chopped)
2cups Yogurt
1/2cup Milk
5nos Mint leaves
Maple syrup
Pepper powder
Salt

Blend the sweet mango peels with milk with pepper powder and salt, strain this blended juice..Blend again this strained juice along with yogurt, maple syrup and mint leaves and serve chilled or with ice cubes..

Enjoy !!!

Have you ever thought of making spiced lassi with avocado, but i did and finally i have accomplished by making spiced avocado lassi with mint leaves..This green lassi is quite a thirsty quencher suits prefectly for hot sunny days..I have never tried out lassi with avocado before, so before preparing this gorgeous green lassi i was quite anxious about the taste, but truly with mint, pepper powder, lemon juice and chaat masala this lassi tastes very refreshing and tasty..I was quite happy to see that everyone at home enjoyed having this minty avocado lassi....



1no Avocado
2cups Yogurt
5nos Mint leaves
1/4cup Milk
1tsp Lemon juice
Pepper powder as per need
2pinches Chaat masala
Salt

Scoop out the flesh from the avocado and blend as smooth lassi with yogurt, mint leaves, lemon juice, salt and milk..finally add the pepper powder, chaat masala, give a stir and serve immediately with ice cubes..

In the earlier post i have told that my DH surprised me sterday with a glass of healthy, delicious and refreshing smoothie for my breakfast, here is that gorgeous smoothie which he prepared for me and he took the pic since am pestering him to make out something specially for me for Priti's event..I have bought a bag of frozen raspberries long back and i told my hubby that am gonna make some shake with oats for a sunday breakfast quite a long back, seems he got hooked with my idea of making of smoothies with raspberries and oats and finally he prepared sterday for our breakfast which he served me specially..Am so proud of him and this smoothie is an excellent breakfast smoothie, definitely a best and better booster to start a day also suits prefectly to beat the heat..



1cup Raspberries (frozen)
2tbsp Quick Cooking Oats
1cup Yogurt
1/2cup Milk
Honey or Maple syrup as per need

Blend together the frozen raspberries, oats, yogurt, milk and honey or maple syrup per need as thick smoothie, serve immediately with ice cubes or chilled..

My H topped the smoothie with oats and garnished with a strawberry..So cute na!!

Smoothies, these thick shakes are prefect to beat the heat, it has been a long i had smoothies with jackfruits, i often try to get either frozen jackfruits chunks or canned jackfruits pieces to make out either salads or simply for desserts drizzled with honey...We love these jackfruit that much, i prepared this simple but delicious smoothie which tastes awesome, this jackfruit smoothie wasnt that much strong in flavour either too sweet but very refreshing and absolutely prefect for hot summer...This time i used frozen jackfruit pieces for making out this beautiful smoothie..



1/2cup Jackfruit (chopped)
2cup Yogurt
1/2cup Milk
Maple syrup as per need
Ice cubes

Take the chopped jackfruit, yogurt, milk and maple syrup in a blender, blend everything as thick smoothie..serve immediately with ice cubes..

Enjoy!!

I love adding cardamom seeds in most of my shakes and smoothies preparation, i love those flavour in my homemade juices too..There were a bag of pears were sitting in my fruit basket as none wanted them to have  and i prepared this smoothie with those sweet pears with thick yogurt and cardamom seeds, obviously this smoothie tastes fabulous, truly refreshing and a healthy drink to enjoy while its hot, when served chilled its definitely tastes too prefect to beat the hot summer,also as usual i didnt add sugar to this smoothie instead of adding sugar, i went for honey,if u dont have honey u can go for sugar as per ur need, since i used honey in this smoothie this drink suits prefectly for any aged peoples..


2cups Pears (chopped)
2cups Thick yogurt
1/4cup Milk
Agave syrup or honey as per need
2nos Cardamom pods

Blend the chopped pears, yogurt, milk ,honey and cardamom pods together, u can strain either this smoothie or else can serve immediately with ice cubes or chilled..

Enjoy this refreshing drink..

A prefect shake for a lazy morning breakfast or a delicious refreshing drink while its hot..I had prepared this shake with strawberry chunks with some left over Quinoa Granola for our saturday breakfast..We enjoyed each and every sip of this beautiful and healthy shake..Simple, refreshing, delicious, thick and filling shake suits prefect for everyone, since i prepared this shake without sugar and the sweetness for the quinoa granola was quite enough for the sweetness of this shake, if its not enough just add few tsp of honey or agave syrup and just enjoy this fabulous shake...


2cups Strawberry chunks
1/4cup Quinoa granola
2cups Yogurt
1/2cup Milk
Honey as per need
Ice cubes

Blend together the strawberry chunks, quinoa granola, milk,yogurt and honey..Serve immediately with ice cubes or chilled..

Its kinda hot here but not that much hot as in India..I love this mild hot spring eventhough its quite a beautiful climate to go for picnic and bbq...I prepared this simple,refreshing drink which is quite a thirsty quencher today with some cucumber chunks, buttermilk and spiced with pepper powder, ginger, lemon juice,salt and chaat masala, this tempting and refreshing buttermilk suits prefectly for hot summer to beat the heat also good for health..This spiced cucumber buttermilk tastes awesome and definitely everyone at home love this thirsty quencher which is quite healthy as well as a prefect drink for hot upcoming summer for the sure..


1cup Cucumber chunks
2cup Buttermilk +1/4cup water
1/2tsp Ginger (grated)
1tsp Lemon juice
Pepper powder
Salt
Chaat masala as per need..

Blend the cucumber chunks, buttermilk,water, salt and grated ginger together..strain this blended buttermilk and add the pepper powder and chaat masala as per need..

Serve chilled or with ice cubes..

Sometimes less ingredients may bring out many delicious recipes from our kitchen, one among those less ingredient drink is this strawberry and pear smoothie, i blended few leftover frozen strawberries with fresh pear chunks along with thick yogurt and maple syrup  to get this beautiful, catchy and filling smoothie..Really very easy to prepare,with adult's help even a kid can prepare this catchy and refreshing smoothie...Nowadays am getting hooked with smoothie for my breakfast or brunch,which is quite easy to prepare,refreshing and filling..Who will say no to this smoothie,definitely not me..I enjoyed having this smoothie...Sending to Indrani's Spotlight-Summer Foods & Drinks & to Srivalli's Thanda Mela..


1cup Strawberries
2nos Pears (chopped)
Maple syrup as per need
2cups Thick Yogurt

Take all the ingredients in a blender, blend until the smoothie turns thick and well blend..Serve chilled or with ice cubes..

Enjoy the refreshing smoothie..

Zobo, Nigerian hibiscus punch is made from an infusion of dried hibiscus calyxes which form at the base of flowers as they mature, this red calyxes are frequently used as a natural food colouring also make a delicious herbal punch which can be taken hot or cold.. Its important to dry this hibiscus calyxes in the sun for 2-3days before using which brings out a wonderful fruity aroma..In West Africa, this calyxes are know as bissap or roselles and in Nigeria the drink from this dried roselles is called as Zobo, these roselles are rich in Vitamin C and calcium..I enjoyed having this punch since its non-alcholic..With ginger,sugar and this dried roselles this punch tastes great and we enjoyed it when they were still warm...


1cup Dried roselles
2tbsp Ginger (grated)
Sugar
4cups Water

Heat water with grated ginger and dry hibiscus calyxes..put off the flame and cover the vessel and let them sit for few hours...Strain the infusion and stir in sugar as per need..

Serve warm or cold..

Quick,easy, healthy and tasty orange lassi, prepared simply with beaten yogurt, orange segments, maple syrup and milk..Orange lassi tastes fantastic while its hot,also for cold winter since oranges are rich in vitamin C coz this powerful vitamin protect our body against many harmful elements...Its helps for lowder cholestrol, high blood pressure etc..Large consumption of oranges will decrease the outpouring of mucus secretions from the nose, calcium presents in orange helps to protect and maintain the health of our bone and teeth..So needless to say how healthy and refreshing this lassi is...This orange lassi goes directly to Madhuri's Serve Me Some...Juices, Shakes & Smoothies and to Srivalli's Colouring Ur Kid's Delights...


1cup Oranges (cut as segments)
2cups Thick Yogurt
Maple syrup as per need
Ice cubes
Water

Blend the orange segments, thick yogurt, maple syrup with enough water as smooth drink...serve immediately with ice cubes..

Enjoy the refreshing lassi!!!

A smoothie is a blended, chilled, sometimes sweetened beverage made from fresh fruit or vegetables and in special cases can contain chocolate. In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit, honey or frozen yogurt, although some smoothies are 100% fruit. They have a milkshake-like consistency which is thicker than slush drinks. This beetroot and banana smoothie is an easy breezy smoothie which i prepared with cooked beetroot chunks, banana,honey and yoghurt..Tastes fantastic when served chilled also catchy smoothie, kids will definitely like it..


1no Beetroot (cooked and chopped)
2nos Bananas (chopped)
2cups Yogurt
Honey / sugar as per need
Ice cubes

Blend the chopped beetroots,bananas and yogurt with enough honey/sugar with ice cubes as smoothie..Serve immediately or chilled..

If u feel like having something refreshing packed with vitamin C also an easy juice, just have a look at this cinnamon flavoured clementine juice...We are in spring here, clementines are getting almost disappearing from our farmer's market..so needless to say that most of the clementines we get now are almost tangy..I did a mistake of getting some clementines this weekend from farmer's market without any knowledge about their tanginess, as usual none at home wat to have, i can even say that none want even to touch those tangy clementines,so finally i turned them out as a delicious cinnamon flavoured clementine juice by making a syrup with sugar and cinnamon stick which i finally blended along with clementine segments to turn out this refreshing juice packed with vitamin C...Needless to say that the whole jar of this juice vanished within few minutes and everyone at home enjoyed it...Am sending this cinnamon flavoured clementine juice to Madhuri's Serve Me Some...Juices,Smoothies, Shakes...


2nos Clementines (cut as segments)
1tbsp Sugar or as u desire
1cup Water
1no Cinnamon stick(medium) or cinnamon powder as per need
Pinch of Salt
Icecubes

Heat the water, sugar,salt and cinnamon stick,bring them to boil and let them sit for few minutes and get them cool, discard the cinnamon stick, if u r using cinnamon powder strain the sugar syrup...Blend the clementines segments with the cinnamon flavoured sugar water...Strain the juice and serve with icecubes or chilled...

If anyone ask me wat u want to drink my choice always goes to sweet lassi, just love them..Those refreshing drinks are really healthy and prefect drink when its too hot, needless to say that lassi is drink prepared basically with yogurt either with salt and herbs or with fruits and sugar, its our desi style of smoothie, yesterday i prepared this simple desi smoothis with few pineapple chunks and honey which tastes delicious together and we enjoyed having...Easy pineapple smoothie goes directly to Madhuri's Serve me Some..shakes,juices & smoothies..




1cup Pineapple chunks
2cups Yogurt
1/4cup Milk
1/4cup Water
2tbsp Honey or Sugar
Icecubes

Blend together pineapple chunks, honey or sugar, milk, water , yogurt and ice cubes..blend well for few seconds until they turns frothy...

Serve them chilled!!!!

Breakfast plays an important role for our everyday's menu...Few months back, i dont put that much interest in taking complete breakfast coz of my very quick and fast morning routines..but now i am not the one who skip my breakfast, am enjoying my breakfast either with cereals or with quick breads i usually prepare atleast twice or thrice a week..Here is one among those quick breakfast bread which i prepared with butternut squash puree, whole wheat flour, quick cooking oats, barley flour as eggless breakfast bread which suits incredibly even for a lazy sunday morning brunch..As my lil ones loves anything with chocolate, i have added almost a cup of chopped chocolate pieces instead chocolate chips which turned out this breakfast bread really delicious...Also this is the first time am preparing bakes with butternut squash, for my surprise this bread tastes marvellous, so soft and really very moist coz of the butternut squash puree..I followed very easy and simple process of baking which i usually follow to make out my quick breakfast bread..


2cups Butternut squash puree (homemade)
1cup Whole wheat pastry flour
1cup Quick Cooking oats
1/2cup Barley flour
1/2cup All purpose flour
3/4cup Chocolate pieces
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/2tsp Baking powder
1/2cup Butter (room temperature)
1/2cup Sugar
Few butternut squash seeds for garnishing

Beat together butter and sugar until they turns creamy, meanwhile combine together the whole wheat pastry flour, quick cooking oats, barley flour, all purpose flour, chocolate pieces, baking soda and baking powder together and keep aside...I prepared butternut squash puree by pressure cooking some butternut squash pieces upto three whistles and pureed it in a blender until a soft and smooth puree..Preheat the oven to 350F..

Now add the homemade butternut squash puree to the creamy butter and sugar mixture and beat until well mixed..add gradually the flours-chocolate mixture to the wet ingredients, whisk until everything get well mixed..Grease a loaf pan and line a baking sheet over the loaf pan...pour the batter over the baking sheet,sprinkle the butternut squash seeds over the batter and bake for 25-30minutes until they turns brown or the skewers inserted comes out clean..

Enjoy this breakfast bread warm or cold!

Almond Milk:
10nos Almonds
2cups Thick milk
Sugar

Heat a cup of milk and soak the almonds in this hot milk for an hour or overnite..I usually soak the almonds overnite..Blend together the soaked almonds, milk and sugar..heat this milk for few minutes(until they gets slightly warm), they tastes divine if they are served warm...

A complete breakfast!