Raspberry Lemonade

Let me apologise first cos I had promised that I would open up the blog to 2014 with a classic dessert. But here I am breaking it. And so I am sorry. Not that I didn't make the dessert, I did make it and we did indulge in it. The whole plate was licked clean in one sitting. I made the classic apple pie for our New year dessert and it was perfect in every bite. The pie crust turned out beautifully flaky and melt in the mouth, the apples were soft but firm and cooked to perfection and the filling was to die for with the perfect blend of cinnamon and spices and a hint of orange. On the whole it was absolute perfection. I did save a slice so that I could click pictures the next day but thanks to the clouds it was snowing non stop. Thinking that the sun would never show up, I gorged on the piece for breakfast... And did you know what happened, the sun came out shining bright by mid-noon... I really messed it up and I was sulking around the whole day. But no worries, the pie was a great hit with the huss and so it is gonna show up atleast once a month so I will share it with you the next time I make it.

Till then lets enjoy this cooler. I know that it is cold here and I know that this drink is not for this weather. But it is perfect for me. Yes, when everyone prefers hot chocolate for the dipping mercury levels I love to sip on ice cold Mochas and freezing cold ice creams. So when I saw fresh raspberries in the market, I knew that I would pick them up and make this. Since it is just for me I made a small batch but this recipe could be easily doubled or tripled.

Prep time: 5 mins; Cooking time: 10 mins; Serves: 4-6 ~*What U Need*~ Fresh Raspberries - 1 1/2 cup Lemon juice - 1/4 cup Sugar - 1/3 - 1/2 cup Water - 1/2 cup How I Made it: Clean raspberries and pat dry. Heat water in a saucepan and add the sugar. Allow to melt. Add the lemon juice and mix well. Add the raspberries and cook till soft. Remove and cool down. Blend till you get a smooth mixture. Sieve to remove the seeds and store in a clean container. To serve add 2 tbsp syrup or more in a glass, top with ice cold water and serve with more icecubes.

Serve topped with ice!!!

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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Mango Juice | Fresh Mango Juice | Summer Drinks

I can never get tired of mangoes, can you??? Mangoes are my weakness and everytime I come up with a mango recipe for the blog, I am at a loss for words... How many times do you think that I can keep on repeating the same "I love mangoes" phrase over and over for every post. Yet again I am here with a refreshing mango juice and I so have to say again that I am addicted to this fruit...

If I say eating mangoes as it is, is a pleasure then I would say drinking this juice cold on a hot summer day is double the pleasure. Chennai had some showers last week and the weather was at its best after the unbearable Agni. But things have come back to normal and it was blazing hot yesterday... Even the air from the fan was laced with heat and we were sweating like anything when under the fan. Only another shower can revive the climate...

We have to keep us hydrated and so juices are the only option. The last week had been quite busy and I had to travel a lot. So a big batch of mango juice was all I could think about. Chopped, blended, dumped into the fridge and whenever I came back home after a ride in the hot sun, the drink was a refreshing welcome. Again use best quality mangoes that are fully ripe so that u can minimize the sugar. Alphonsos are the best down south and banganapalles come second. The drink is really easy to make without any preservatives and tastes just like frooti or slice or maaza or any mango-based drink, infact it is more tastier and healthier when compared to its artificial counterpart.

~*What U Need*~ Ripe Alphonso mangoes - 2 Sugar - 2-3 tbsp Ice cold water - 3-4 cups Ice cubes - to serve

How I Made it:
Remove the skin and chop the mangoes. Take the mango pulp in a blender, add sugar and 1/4 cup water and blend tille smooth. Add ice water and bring to desired consistency.

Serve chilled!!!

** My Notes:
** Use best quality, very sweet and ripe mangoes.
** Add sugar to taste.
** U can replace sugar with honey also.
** If you donot have ice cold water, add ice cubes.
** U can also chill the mango in the fridge and then use the pulp
** If the mangoes are too fibrous, strain this mixture.

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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Mosambi or Sweet Lime Juice

We are getting Sweet Limes in abundance here. Reliance Fresh has mountains of them and am loving the season. Fresh sweet lime juice to quench the thirst… A glass of juice after breakfast and after dinner has become a daily routine for us… Browsed for some health benefits and was stunned to know that there are so much… Have listed out some of them…

Health Benefits of Fresh Lime:
* Rich in vitamin C, lemons are just the thing to make up the vitamin deficiency that causes scurvy.
* The fragrance that lemons exude can increase the secretion of digestive saliva, which helps to digest the food quickly.
* The acids in lemons are good for flushing out the toxins from the bowel tracts. The roughage in lime is also good for relieving constipation. Lime juice with a pinch of salt is often given to people who have constipation problems.
* Flavonoids such as Limonin Glucoside have anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, detoxifying and antibiotic properties that are great for healing oral ulcers and peptic ulcers.
* The oil extracts of lime have anti-congestive properties and are often used in balms, inhalers and vaporizers. Lime is also good for preventing and treating nausea. Just chew on a piece of new lime whenever you’re feeling nausea.
* The antioxidants in lime are good for flushing out the uric acid and free radicals from the body.
* Gum diseases are generally caused due to a deficiency of vitamin C. So, regular consumption of lemons is good for preventing gum disorders.
* You can drink a glass of warm water with lime juice and a spoonful of honey first thing in the morning for reducing your weight.
* Lime has a high concentration of potassium detoxifies the kidneys, bladder and can cure infections in the urinary bladder.

~*What U Need*~

Mosambi / Sweet lime – 3 to 4
Sugar – 2 tbsp
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Ice cubes – as needed
Water – as needed

How I Made it:
Cut the lime into halves and using a citrus juicer, extract the juice from the lime.
Combine well the Lime juice with the sugar, lemon juice, ice cubes and required amount of water.

Refreshing glass of sweet lime juice ready to be served!!!

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Watermelon Cooler and a few tips | Summer Special

The sun is scorching here. Step into it and you will find lot of shops selling cut watermelons everywhere. Imagine the cool watermelon passing through ur mouth into ur tummy for this heat. You can even trace back its pathway in ur hot body. That is what I have been doing for the past week.

With Agni natchathiram started, the temperature in Chennai is soaring day by day. I just cant imagine how it is gonna be by mid / end of May. Probably we ll have to reside in ice baths.

A few tips to beat the heat.
* Wear coolers when you go in the sun.
* Apply sunscreen lotion regularly.
* Drink tons of water.
* Exercise a lot.
* Avoid spicy items.
* Have lots of buttermilk.
* Cover ur body when you drive.
* Wear loose cotton cloths and avoid black.
* I would suggest have loads of water melons, muskmelons and any eatables that cool ur body.

~*What U Need*~

Watermelon - 15 chunks
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Ice cubes - 5
Lemon juice - few drops

How I Made it:
De-seed the watermelon chunks
Blend all the above ingredients in a blender and refrigerate.
Serve chill.


Stay Cool!!! Stay Healthy!!! Happy Weekend to all !!!

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Musk Melon in Rose Syrup | Summer Special

It is melon season here... Muskmelons and watermelons are abundant everywhere. These melons are perfect coolers for the ever rising temperatures in Chennai. The heat is scorching out here and I have been browsing for fruits and food items which will cool our bodies and this is one of them... Click here to know more on the health benefits of musk melon.

Serves - 2

~*What U Need*~
Muskmelon - 1
Milk - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 4 tbsp
Rose syrup - 1/2 tsp
Ice cubes - 5

How I made It

Cut the musk melons into halves.

De-seed the melon.

Scoop out the pulp.
Add milk, sugar, ice cubes and the musk melon pulp and blend well...
Add the rose syrup and mix well.

Serve chill.

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