Spinach Watermelon Smoothie

 Another Popeye Drink

INGREDIENTS:

1 Bowl diced de-seeded watermelons

½ cup spinach

¼ cup strawberry

1 tsp honey (or more, according to your taste)

¼ tsp black pepper powder

1 Tbsp Lemon juice

METHOD:

In a blender add watermelon, lemon juice, spinach, honey, strawberry and black pepper powder.

Blend it thoroughly. Do not add water to it.

Now pour the smoothie into the serving glasses or mason jar.

You can sieve the smooth if you want. I don’t prefer to sieve it.

Have this smoothie twice a week or even daily.

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward to some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING! :)

FRUIT SALSA

                                   (Click the above for recipe video)

ORANGE KIWI STRAWBERRY SALAD

 This fruit salsa is a delightful creation. It has a burst of juices. I call it “Vitamin C Fruit Salad”. Because it contains fruits rich in Vitamin C. I have used only three fruits for this salad. You can add more of your choice. I am adding a summer essential or summer saver ingredient “Chia Seeds”. These seeds are high in fibre. It is also an excellent antioxidant.

I have also used Mint, another summer essential. It makes a salad very refreshing. And the sweet tangy dressing makes it a fantastic dish.

Check out the ingredients and make this refreshing, delightful, juicy and delicious Fruit Salsa.

INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup diced strawberry

¼ cup diced kiwi

¼ cup diced oranges

For Salad Dressing-

1 Tbsp Chia

2 Tbsp chopped Mint

1 Tbsp Honey

2 Tbsp Orange juice

1 Tbsp Lime Juice

¼ Tsp Black Pepper Powder

METHOD-

1.    In a bowl add the fruits.

2.    Soak chia seeds with enough water for 10 minutes. It takes around 10 minutes for chia to get swelled.

3.  For dressing-

Mix honey, orange juice, lime juice, mint, black pepper and swelled chia.

Mix everything well. The dressing should get mixed properly.

4.    Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss it.

5.    Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes

6.    Serve the salad chilled and enjoy!

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward to some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING! :)

Minty Berry Ice Lolly

Barf ka Gola/ Chuski/ Ice Lolly/ Ice Candy the name is enough to bring out the child in us. It is an iconic summer delicacy. During summers, after lunch it was a routine to fill in the room coolers, close all the curtains make the entire house dark and sleep on the floor. Aahh! What a blissful time it was. We use to play cards, Ludo, Snake n ladder. And around four in the evening we could hear a typical bell of Ice cream vendor. That bell was enough to make us crave for delicious Ice Lolly.

We were not allowed to eat Baraf Ka Gola from the vendors because of hygiene concerns. But Mom made sure that we devour the dessert without having fret about hygiene. She used to make some lovely, colourful, delicious Ice Lolly’s at home. Rasna (Orange energy drink), Kairi Panna, Khus, Rose Syrup (Ruhafza) these were some typical flavours of homemade Lolly.

We all had fun together, slurping the lollies, making our face and lips look colourful.

And now that the summers are already here, beat the heat with some lovely homemade Ice Candy.

I had some berries, mint and kiwi in my refrigerator. So I made Minty Berry Lolly instantly. [And the best part is- it doesn’t contain any food colour and artificial essence.]

All you need is-

¼ cup of sugar

1 cup of water

of2 strawberries, chopped

1 Tbsp Mint, chopped

4 Blue Berries

4 BlackBerries

4 Raspberries

¼ cup Kiwi, sliced

Ice Candy Mould 

Method:-

• In a pan add sugar and water. Boil it for two minutes on a high flame until the sugar gets dissolved.
• Now remove it from the flame. Add in the chopped mint and strawberries to it. Mix it and allow it to cool.
• Now to set the Lolly-
• Pour in the sugar syrup into the moulds. Pour till half. Now add all the berries and kiwi into it. [Distribute evenly]
• Again pour the remaining sugar syrup into the mould and fill in completely.
• Now cover it and freeze it. It takes around 4 hours to set.
• After 4-5 hours. Take it out and dip the mould in hot water a minute. (this way we can remove the lolly easily) 

Take out the Lolly gently and slurp it! 
[The above measurement makes 4 Lollies.]

Tip- you can add a dash of lime juice to it.

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward to some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING ! :)

Berry Jam

"Strawberry-RaspberryPreserve"

This homemade jam tastes like you wouldn’t believe! For this Berry Preserve I am using farm fresh Strawberries and Raspberries. This is by far the easiest recipe. The jam turns out soft, spreadable and delicious. We are not using any synthetic preservatives or pectin neither any food color for this Jam. You can store it for almost 1 year. For better taste I recommend using Organic Berries.

You can even gift this Fruity Ruby Red colored Jam jar or simply enjoy spread on toast. 

Prep Time- 10 minutes

Cooking Time- 20 minutes

Makes- 500g Jam 

Ingredients:-

125g (1 cup) Strawberry

125g (1 cup Raspberry)

[You can adjust the quantity of berries according to your taste. Example- 200g strawberry and 100g raspberry]

250g Sugar

2 Tbsp Lemon juice

[To add little flavor you can add 1 tsp vanilla]

Method:-

1.    Wipe the berries using a damp kitchen towel.

2.    Chop the berries.

3.    Heat a saucepan. Add chopped berries to it.

4.    Cook it on a low flame. Within few minutes the berries starts getting soft. Keep stirring it with a ladle or spatula.

5.    Now add in the sugar. Keep stirring the mix till the sugar gets dissolved completely.

6.    Once the sugar gets dissolved remove it from the flame.

7.    Sieve the berry pulp. (this helps to extract the seeds of raspberries)

8.    Now again boil the sieved berry pulp for another 5 minutes on low flame. Remember to keep stirring continuously.

9.    Once the pulp starts bubbling check whether the jam has reached to the setting point. Take little jam on the spatula, make a line with your finger; if the jam doesn’t flood to fill the gap, it is ready. If not, the heat back on and boil for 2 minutes more.

10.                      Now remove it from the flame and allow it cool for 10-15 minutes.

11.                      Meanwhile, sterilize the jars. I prefer using the jars which has wax disc on the lid as it prevents mildew forming.

12.                      Now pour in the jam, allow it set for at least 4 hours.

13.                      Once the jam sets, cover it and store it in refrigerator.

14.                      You can label (include date) the jar.

15.                      You can store it for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place.

This jam looks absolutely gorgeous. The ruby-red color is very attractive. You can involve your kids for this preparation. They will definitely enjoy making one jar for themselves.

This Homemade jam tastes better than store-bought.

 Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward for some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING ! :)

Strawberry Yoghurt Smoothie

Smoothie is a thick cold beverage made with pureed fresh fruit and sometimes with dairy products (Milk, yoghurt, curds, ice-cream etc). It is a healthy shake to get your morning started. Smoothies are delicious and super refreshing. You can use any seasonal fruit for this. So let’s get started all you need is a blender and some fresh fruits. I am using strawberry, yoghurt and Chia seeds (Sabza) for this smoothie.

Ingredients:-

3 strawberry, washed and chopped

1 cup low fat yoghurt

1 tbsp chia seeds 

Method:-

1.  In a cup add chia seeds and 3 tbsp water. Stir it and allow

it to swell. Chia seeds require 10 minutes to swell.

2.  In a blender add 2 chopped strawberries and yoghurt. Blend it into a smooth mixture.

3.  Now for serving- in a glass pour swelled chia seeds at the bottom. To this add some chopped strawberries

.

4.  Now pour the blended strawberry yoghurt over the chia seeds.

5.  Add some more chopped strawberry on the top. And serve it.

[Note- You can replace yoghurt with skimmed milk or almond milk]

 

Hey Friends! If you like my blogs kindly post your comment below the post and do share your response. Looking forward for some new innovative recipes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY COOKING ! :)