DRYFRUIT AND KOVA MILK SHAKE

HAPPY NEW YEAR

After a major festival or a get together you will have many left over sweets. Some of them may also have become hard(kova, kalakand, badusha, Gulab jamoon, kaju barfi, milk based sweets). You will not want to discard the sweets, but no one of your family members would like to eat. Now I came out with this delicious drink which is very made with sweets. I used a couple of days back sweets, you can also use the fresh ones. Don't use the milk sweets which are made a week back. Actually this is not my own recipe, I came through this recipe through Sanjeer kapoor's kitchen. I made a few modifications to his original recipe. Try this out for sure.

INGREDIENTS

Kova and kalakand sweets                      5-6

Milk                                                         1 liter

Dry fruits                                                 2-3 Tsp chopped

Saffrons strands                                       a big pinch

Cardamom                                               1 Tsp

Sugar                                                       3- 4 Tsp

PROCEDURE

Boil the milk and let reduce a little bit, to about 3/4 liter. 

If you are in a hurry add 1/4 cup of condensed milk.

Now let the milk cool a bit and blend the sweets and milk along with sugar and cardamom powder in a blender.

Add the saffron stands and the chopped nuts and serve hot or cold.

This is a sure hit easy recipe.

BADAM MILK

Badam milk/Badam paalu is one of the tastiest milkshakes I have ever tasted. I remember my childhood days when I used to go to Ravindra cool drinks on hot summer days only for this drink. The cold milk with whole sweet almond flavor tasted heavenly. The sweet goodness is till the last sip and the crunchy  cashews at the bottom used to be another surprise and gives added taste. Don't wait for the summer days, try the recipe immediately.

INGREDIENTS

Almonds                   1/4 cup
Whole Milk               4 cups
Saffron strands           4-5
Chopped almonds      2 Tsp
Chopped cashews      2 Tsp
Sugar                         1 cup
Cardamom powder    1/2tsp

PROCEDURE
Soak the almonds for 4 to 5 hours or preferably overnight. The more they are soaked the more softer will be the almond paste.
Remove the skins and grind to a very smooth paste.
Soak the saffron strands in hot milk for 15 minutes.
Boil the milk and add the almond paste, Saffron milk, cardamom, sugar.
Boil for 10 more minutes.
Cool and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Just before serving add the chopped almonds and cashews. Can also add ice cubes.

TIPS
Use whole milk to enjoy the best taste.
To add an enhanced taste add whipped cream on the top.
If you did not get a fine paste of almonds, you can add some more milk to the paste, grind it again and then strain the milk. This milk can be added to the boiling milk instead of the paste.

PANAKAM

HAPPY SRIRAMA NAVAMI

Sriramanavami is the most important festival celebrated all over India. Marriage of Sita and Rama as well as birthday of Rama falls on  Chaitra shukla Navami of the Hindu calandar,and the occasion is celebrated a SRIRAMA NAVAMI. Many special naivedyams are prepared, but two of which are prepared by all Indians------Panakam ana Vadapappu.

Panakam is a very good summer coolent with rich aroma and taste. Unlike the teertham which is given in small quantity, this panakam is given with tumblers to all the devotees in every Sita Rama temple. Even Children loves it. The prasadam is served to all after the kalyanamahotsavam.
One of the important thing I remember from my childhood memories is the 9 days festival(Navaratrulu) celebrated under the "Chaluva pandillu". Unlike the cloth shamiyanas, these palm leaf (tataku pandillu) shamiyanas provide a cooling comfort to all the devotees in the hot summer.
Vdapappu is also a good coolant for the body. Soaked moong dal is called vadapappu. In the temples soaked moong dal is mixed with salt, chilly powder, grated coconut and lemon juice. It is one of my favorite prasadams. Coming to panakam, the main ingredients are jaggery, pepper powder, cardamom. There are many other ingredients added to enhance the taste. Now I give the procedure to panakam which is make in my home.

INGREDIENTS

• Water                             3 cups
• Jaggery                          3 Tsp.
• Cardamom powder        1/2 tsp.
• Pepper powder              1/2 tsp.

PROCEDURE

Mix all the ingredients, rest for 1/2 an hour. Serve chilled.

Sonthi(dry ginger powder) is also added for flavor.

Some people add a pinch of salt to enhance the taste.

Tulasi is also added in some temples.

Masala Buttermilk

There is no other thirst quencher than buttermilk on a hot summer day. Traditionally buttermilk was offered as a welcome drink  to guests in South Indian households. But now a days soft drinks, coffee, tea took over its place. Masala buttermilk is a must in my home in the summer season. This awesome tasting buttermilk is simple to make.

INGREDIENTS

• Fresh curds        2 cups
• Salt                    to taste
• Ginger               1 inch piece
• Jeera                  1 Tsp
• Lemon juice       2 Tsp
• Water                 as required

PROCEDURE

Grate the ginger and blend all the above ingredients in a blender.
Add water as required.
Serve chilled.

COFFEE MOCHA

Coffee mocha is one of the best versions of coffee I like. This is also a favorite of many. When you are new to coffee then this is the best coffee to start with. Coffee latte with a part of chocolate or cocoa makes the coffee mocha. Latte in Italian means milk. Coffee latte is one part of brewed coffee in 3 parts of milk. This is what most of the Indians take every day. On the other hand one part of coffee to four parts of milk is called “coffee Macchiato”. Coffee mocha can either be hot or cold. I like the cold coffee mocha and I present the same recipe here.   
INGREDIENTS

• Instant coffee powder                  1tsp
• Cold whole milk                             1 cup
• Sugar                                              1 Tsp
• Whipping cream                             1 Tsp+1 Tsp
• Chocolate syrup                             3 Tsp
• Chocolate Shavings                        1 tsp

PROCEDURE
In a tall glass pour some chocolate syrup along the inside edges and chill this glass in a refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. The chocolate syrup cools and become hard and this way you can design a glass without the design melting away into the coffee mocha.  
In a blender add the Very cold milk, coffee powder, sugar, 1 table spoons of whipping cream, chocolate syrup. Blend all the ingredients till all are well incorporated and the mixture turns frothy. Now pour the coffee mocha into the chilled glass. Top it with a spoonful of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
TIPS

• If you do not have the  instant chocolate syrup make the chocolate syrup using the plain chocolate bars and a spoonful of whole milk. In a double boiler add the chocolate pieces and the milk and heat for 3 minutes. Your syrup is ready. Alternatively microwave the chocolate and milk for one minute and the syrup is ready.
• Chocolate shavings can be made by grating the frozen chocolate.
• If excess whipping cream is used frothy coffee mocha is not attained, so use less amount.
• Dark chocolate or white chocolate can also be used to suite your taste.                                         

WATERMELON JUICE

I remember the hot summer days I spent in Vijayawada when I think of watermelon. Watermelons and toddy palm seeds(Tatimunjalu) are the two fruits we used to eat a lot in summer along with mangoes. Watermelon is a good thirst quencher for a hot summer afternoon. More than 95% of it is water, so it is good for health. Although these are available throughout the year we get the best and sweet watermelons in summers. A glass of cool juice refreshes the mind and body. 
INGREDIENTS

• Watermelon pieces      2 cups(small pieces)
• sugar                            1 –2 Tsp
• Pudina leaves               3-4(optional)
• Ice cubes                     3-4

PROCEDURE
Remove the seeds if any in the watermelon. Blend all the ingredients in a blender and serve cold. Sieve the liquid if required . Pudina is refreshing. Can skip it if you do not like. Adjust the sugar level depending on how sweet  the watermelon is.

MANGO MILKSHAKE

Mango MilkShake

  Milk shake is a cold beverage made with milk or ice cream  and the milk is flavored with either fruits or chocolate. This cold milkshake is a refreshing drink for summer days. The healthy delicious drink when combined with ice-cream tastes the ultimate and moreover when it is  made with the king of fruits-MANGO- makes everyone crave for more. There is no specific measurement to the ingredients used in making the milkshake. Make your own variations in the measurements and enjoy the beverage.  

INGREDIENTS

• Ripe mangoes                     2
• milk                                    2 cups
• sugar                                  4 Tsp
• honey                                1 Tsp(optional)
• cream                                 1/4 cup
• ice cubes                            8-10

PROCEDURE

Choose sweet and ripe mangoes and take the pulp out of those. In a blender add mango pulp, milk, sugar,honey and blend till a smooth liquid is formed. Now add the heavy cream and the ice cubes and pulse the blender till all the ingredients are well incorporated. Serve this milkshake and I am sure you will be filled with cool compliments on a hot summer day.