Spinach Banana Smoothie

Can't imagine spinach in your breakfast smoothie??? You have to try this spinach banana smoothie then, it tastes nothing more than a banana smoothie with added nutrients from spinach.

Ingredients:

1. Banana - 2
2. Baby spinach leaves - 2 cups
3. Sugar to taste (optional)
4. Strawberry - 3 (optional)
5. Ice cubes - 1 cup
6. Water - 1cup

Method:

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender this wonderful green smoothie

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Mango Lassi/ Mango flavoured yogurt

Who doesn't love this simple mango flavoured yogurt aka mango lassi? I never used to like Lassi some time back, actually I had never tasted a Mango lassi before. But once I tasted it....wow.. it was so good that now I have it when ever I can.. :) Mango Lassi have the sweetness from mangoes and the tanginess from yogurt. It used to be made with homemade yogurt and sweet mangoes. Now, that reminds me of the thick yogurt which my Velyamma (aunty) used to make at home. She always got it right... Whenever we went to her house for lunch, she used to have this thick yogurt that she made at home..mmm..
Coming back to the Mango Lassi recipe..

Ingredients:

1. Mangoes, peeled and cut - 1.5 cups
2. Plain thick yogurt - 1.4 cups
3. Water  - 1 cup
4. Sugar to taste - optional
5. Ice cubes

Note:

• Omit sugar if mangoes are really sweet
• I have used Greek yogurt and Alphonso mangoes to make it
• Try it as frozen popsicles

Method:

1. Blend all ingredients in blender to get smooth mango lassi!

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Frozen Yogurt Bites

Theses are such an easy healthy recipe that anyone can make. They looks so cute too...
There is no recipe needed for these. You can use any fruit and some yogurt to make it. I have used greek yogurt plain one, some mango puree and some mangoes, strawberries and mint leaves. You may use flavoured yogurt, yogurt+ fruit puree, add sugar to yogurt and fruits, even a sprinkle of chaat masala on it to make it to your taste.

Spoon a teaspoon of yogurt to silicone cupcake moulds and top with any fruit pieces on it and freeze.. that is it.. Frozen yogurt bites are ready!
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Fruit Punch

Ingredients:

1. Mango, peeled and chopped - 1 cup
2. Banana - 1
3. Strawberry - 5
4. Orange, peeled - 2 wedges
5. Sugar to taste (optional)

Method:

1. Chill all the fruits
2. Blend strawberries and banana with some ice cubes , 1/2 cup water and sugar in a blender. Keep it aside
3. Clean the blender
4. Blend mango and orange with 1/2 cup water and sugar. 
5. In a serving glass, pour 1/2 the glass with strawberry mix, then the rest with Mango mix 2-3 swirls using a spoon tail

Note:

• If you want make it quick, just blend all in a blender and enjoy...it still tastes good!
• Use sweet fruits and omit sugar

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Cucumber Mint Lemonade

Cucumber Mint Lemonade is so refreshing and delicious iced drink. It is a must for beating the summer heat!

Ingredients:

1. Cucumber - half a cucumber, around 2 inch long
2. Lemon - 1/2
3. Mint leaves - 12
4. Sugar to taste
5. Ice cubes - 2 cups

Note:

• Use lemon and not lime
• Don't omit ice cubes during blending, it makes a lot of difference
• Swap sugar with honey to make it healthier
• Add few drops of ginger juice for a change

Method:

1. Peel cucumber skin and remove seeds
2. Take juice of half a lemon
3. Blend the cucumber, lemon juice and other ingredients in a blender
4. Add a cup of water and mix it well and enjoy!

Beat the Heat!

Grapes Surprise, a Grape juice with a twist!

Who doesn't like some tender grape surprise bites in Grape juice?? Here is a must try recipe for all those who love grapes..

Ingredients:

1. Red/Black seedless grapes - 300gm
2. Sugar - 1/4 cup (adjust according to the sweetness of grapes)
3. Water - 1.5cups
4. Cardamom - 2
5. Cinnamon - 1 cm piece

Method:

1. After thoroughly cleaning the grapes, cook grapes in a pressure cooker with all the ingredients in it for 3-5 minutes in medium flame.
2. Once pressure is gone, open the cooker and let the mixture cool.
3. Remove cinnamon stick and cardamom from the cooked grape mixture.
4. Using a ladle, take out 10-15 grapes from it and keep it aside..
5. Blend the rest of the mixture well in a blender .
6. Mix the grapes which were kept aside with the grape juice and chill it in fridge.

Grapes surprise is ready to be served!

Mango Raspberry Popsicle

You don't have to be a child to love these colourful Popsicle. But it will take you to your childhood memories of having those ice lollies during the festive seasons with your cousins.

Ingredients:

1. Mango, cubes - 1 cup
2. Raspberry - 1/2 cup
3. Sugar - 2 tbs ( optional)

Method:

1. Purée mangoes with a tbs of sugar( only if mangoes are not sweet)
2. Separately purée raspberry with a tbs of sugar
3. Fill in the Popsicle mould with both purée , alternately using a spoon
4. Dip ice lolly stick or using stem part of spoon, give one or two vertical movements in the pop sickle mould. 
5. Close the Popsicle mould (I used mini popsicle mould) and freeze it overnight
6. Enjoy the frozen mango raspberry Popsicle with or without chocolate dip

"Beat the Heat" with above recipe. This is recipe 3 from beat the heat series. 

Jujubes Sharbath/ Red Dates Syrup

This is my first recipe for "Beat the summer" series. I am trying to come up with a recipe series to cool down this summer.

Jujubes aka "Red dates" is not a common kitchen ingredient in India, but it is considered as a superfood in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's benefit list is too long to list down here. It has a very mild distinct taste too.

 

Ingredients:

1. Dried red dates - 2 cups
2. Water - 4 cups
3. Sugar - 1.5 cups
4. Lemon peel - a pinch (optional)

Method:

1. Boil dates with lemon peel and  water in low flame with closed lid till water is almost halved
2. Once cool, pass it through a mesh.
3. Boil the  syrup with 1 to 1.5 cups of sugar till the syrup is of honey consistency
4. Switch off the flame and pass it through a mesh and store it in an airtight container
5. Red date sharbath can be made by mixing 3 tbs syrup, 1 cup water and few ice cubes. It is refreshing, it is cool, it is good. 

Minty Mango

Let us "Beat the Heat" with this Minty Mango Shake!!!

Ingredients:

1. Mint Leaves - 1cup
2. Mango, cubes -  2cups
3. Sugar to taste
4. Chaat Masala - a pinch (optional)
5. Milk/water - 2 cups

Method:

1. Blend mint leaves, mangoes, sugar, milk and 2 cups ice cubes using a blender.
2. Place the serving glass inverted on a plate with some water in the plate.
3. Spread chaat masala on another plate and place the inverted glass on it so that the glass rim gets a coating of chaat masala on it.
4. Pour the minty mango juice to the serving glass with chaat masala on the glass rim.