ABC Smoothie ( ஆப்பிள், பீட்ரூட் & கேரட் பானம் )

ABC Smoothie 

ஆப்பிள், பீட்ரூட் & கேரட் பானம்

 Ingredients:
Green Apple ( கிரீன் ஆப்பிள் ) - 1
Carrot ( காரட் )  -  1
Beetroot ( பீட்ரூட் )  - 1/2  of a big size or one small
Lemon Juice ( optional ) - 1 tsp
எலுமிச்சை சாறு ( தேவையானால்)  - 1 தேக்கரண்டி



Steps:

Wash well and cut the apple, carrot and beetroot into small tiny bits.

Make a smoothie using a blender. Add water in small quantity. 

My Notes:

A college friend sent a text about ABC juice and its benefits. Then it sprang to my mind  that it is quite sometime since I have made this smoothie of  apple, beetroot and carrot. My elder son prefers the crunchy  green granny smith with the tart to the red apple and bites to enjoy the juicy crunchy fruit rather the drink . So I do not make his smoothie often. 

I am a big fan of this tangy sweet drink. So prepared this morning. Very refreshing. We both enjoy this while my second son prefer to eat one fruit at a time. No mixing of vegetables or any fruit ;))

I have not peeled the fruit as would prefer to have its benefits too. Then again it is individual choice.

Also some may use a juicer to extract the juice. But loaded with all its fibre content is more nutritious. 

While blending add both the root vegetables first without adding water. Blend on high first and then add the apple chunks. Together with apple can throw in a few ice cubes for a chill drink.

Sometimes the green apple is mildly sweet and so a spoon of lemon juice will give that  tangy taste to the smoothie and also beat the earthy taste of beetroot. 

A bright coloured drink to brighten up your day :)

Dry Ginger-Jaggery Drink / Panakkam ( பானக்கம் )

Dry Ginger - Jaggery Drink / Panakkam

( பானக்கம்)

Ingredients:

Jaggery (cane sugar ) (வெல்லம்) - 1 cup

Dry Ginger Powder ( சுக்கு பொடி)  - 1 tbsp

Cardamom Powder ( ஏலக்காய் தூள் )  -  1 tsp

Lemon ( எலும்மிச்சை பழம்)  - 1

A Pinch of Salt ( ஒரு சிட்டிகை உப்பு)

Steps:

Pound the jaggery into fine powder. Soak in 4 cups of water. Mix well and  leave it aside for 10 minutes for it to dissolve completely.

Run through a sieve / filter to remove any impurities that may be present.

Add in the powdered dry ginger and cardamom and a pinch of salt.

Stir well. Finally squeeze in the juice of a lemon. 

A refreshing drink is ready to drink.

The ingredients itself have a  cooling effect and the drink does not need to be chilled.

Traditionally tamarind pulp is added instead of lemon for that tangy taste. Also in another variation, a small quantity of pepper powder is added. Add chilled water if preferred.

My Notes:

Panakkam is our own, swadeshi drink. An excellent thirst quencher reviving your energy level and taste buds as well. Instantly prepared
Mainly prepared and distributed during big temple festivals in villages and towns. A coolant to beat the heat during the sweltering summer days. I remember drinking this during "Chithirai Thiruvizha" at Madurai, my hometown. During Chariot procession and other festive days when people throng the streets, Well wishers used to prepare this in large scale and keep the big vessel at their front yard and distribute freely to all the passers by to have a refreshing drink. We, kids,have had happy feeling of serving the public.
This simple drink is a must item to offer to Lord Rama on Rama Navami celebration. The drink is paired with kosambari, a type of salad which I shall post soon.
Recently at our satsangh, we had Sundara Kandam parayanam which is always ended with Ramar Patabhisegam recitation. I had prepared panakkam and it resonated the festive days in me. And here is the post.😊
Panakkam is a traditional form of our modern Oral Rehydration Solution. So with no festive or offering, go ahead to prepare this on a hot day and enjoy for a rejuvenating feel.
 Also can be served as a welcome drink or after a heavy meal as it aides digestion  😋

Palmyra fruit Milk shake ( நுங்கு மில்க்ஸேக் / நுங்கு குளிர்பானம் )

Palmyra fruit Milk Shake 

( நுங்கு மில்க்ஸேக்  / நுங்கு  குளிர்பானம் )

Ingredients: ( for 4 servings )

Palmyra / Palm fruits ( நுங்கு ) - 3 

Sugar (சக்கரை) - 6 tbsp

Milk (பால்)  -  400 ml

For flavouring: ( optional ) (சுவையூட்டி)

Rose essence ( ரோஸ் எசன்ஸ்) - few drops ( சில துளிகள்)

(or)

Cardamom Powder (ஏலக்காய் தூள்)  - 1/4 ts (1/4 தேக்கரண்டி)

Steps:

Boil and let the milk chill in refrigerator. Alternatively can use fresh chilled milk.

Remove the skin of the fruit using a peeler or knife. Cut into small bite size to process in a blender.

In a blender' dry jar, powder the sugar first. Then add the fruit bits and blend well. If you are adding flavouring, add few drops of rose essence or a pinch of cardamom powder at this point and whisk again using the blender. Transfer this to a pitcher, pour in the cold milk. Using a fork whisk into a smooth form. Transfer to serving glass and serve. Serves 4.

 My Notes:
Palm fruit is commonly found in South and South east Asian countries. A pleasant sweet taste fruit grows in clusters on tall palm trees. It is available mainly during summer season.
The top portion of the fruit has to be removed to reveal the jelly like translucent juicy white fruit found in sockets.Usually found as threes or sometimes in twos in a single fruit.The jelly like fruit is covered by a thin yellowish brown skin.
This fruit is one of my fond childhood memories. During summer holidays,at my maternal grandpa' farm, the fruits are plucked and served fresh. The whole fruit is given with the top portion cut off. We put our thumb in and dig out the young, juicy fruit seeds. Tender sweet pulp is eaten non stop on a dreadfully hot day is heaven. 😊😉
I have witnessed the village boys making a simple toy, vehicle, built using the shells on either side as wheels with a rod in between. They even have a race.  Its an era of no hand phone / gadgets or even battery operated cars were not common. The fun and excitement is no less par than the electronic gadgets.The memories  abide  interest to go back to those days.

The fruit loaded with minerals and vitamins  have a very cooling effect . Believed to cure ulcer.
The tender ones are the most preferred. The more mature ones are firm and one has to be mindful of the number eaten as it may cause a discomfort in stomach due to delay in digestion.

The milkshake can be taken in its original flavour. But if you need a twist, use rose essence or cardamom. I prepared a glass each of the flavour. Both were  delicious.
A yummy drink that cools the tummy :))

Plum Nectarine Juice

                 Plum Nectarine  Juice

                                           
Ingredients:
Deep Red Plums  -  2
Nectarine  -  1
Honey  -  2 tsp
Salt  - a pinch

Steps:
Wash and slice the fruits.
Blend the fruits with honey and a pinch of salt into a smoothie.
Add a few teaspoons of water to bring it to right consistency. Or add a few ice cubes to chill and enjoy the drink.

My Notes:
It is an excellent drink to start a day or can also be a refreshing evening drink on a hot day.
Sometimes plum may be slightly sour, so adding a pinch of salt balances the taste.
Choose  deep red ones and avoid the very hard textures as it may not be a fully ripened one.
Plum is believed to be good for cardiovascular.
Nectarine is a seasonal fruit with a pale yellow flesh. It is more fragrant than a peach.
Each fruit has its own health benefits and my opinion is that we should develop a liking and enjoy all types of fruits without any restrictions. Nature has given us in abundance.

Healthy Celery fruit Drink

Healthy Celery - fruit Drink

Ingredients:
( to make 2 glasses of drink )

Celery Stalks  -  2 or 3
Strawberry  - 8 to 10
or mandarin oranges / peaches / watermelon / pear
Salt  - a pinch

Steps:
Snap off required stalks from the bunch.
Trim at the base and remove the strings and leaves of the Celery.
Wash the celery sticks well as the base has roots and may be muddy sometimes.
Choose a fruit of your choice. Can be a combination of two fruits.
Dice the fruits and the celery sticks.
Blend celery and the fruit with a pinch of salt into a smoothie.
Chill and enjoy your healthy drink.

My Notes:

I use a blender to prepare the drink rather than a juicer to extract. Mine will be more like a smoothie.

Bare with its distinct pungent taste to get your daily dose of fiber and a whole lot of benefits. Actually its leaves have the strong flavour than the stalk. The Indian coriander leaves are milder and we are used to its taste. likewise you will get accustomed to its taste.

Celery increases bile acid secretion which flushes out cholesterol from body.
It reduces LDL cholesterol to great extent.
But the best I read about it is that it reduces stress hormone and cure insomnia.

Celery sticks are crunchy to eat. Try with a dip like peanut butter  but if you are calories conscious  go for yogurt dip. Can try with any salad dressing.

It can be changed to a tasty drink by adding the right fruits

Though not their preferred choice of drink, my husband prefers it with fragrant pear while my son prefers to have with watermelon. They drink  considering its goodness and my effort ;)

DIY to find out your favourite ;))

Falooda

Falooda

Ingredients: 

 Milk  - 3 Glasses

Rose Syrup  - 3 tbsp

Sugar  - 6 tsp

Vermicelli  - 3 tbsp

Sago  - 3 tbsp

Basil seeds / Sabja / Chia seeds  - 2 tsp

Almonds & Pistachios  - few each

Strawberry puree or essence - 1 tsp

Sweetened Milk koya / Ice cream  - 4 scoops.

                                        

On the right is dry sabja seeds , on the left is soaked in water for 15min.

Steps:

Soak the sabja seeds in water. It will swell to more than double its volume. 

Boil milk, dissolve sugar in it. When lukewarm, add the rose syrup and chill the milk.

Boil vermicelli in milk  with a spoon of sugar added to it. Add  food colour. Refrigerate.

Boil the sago , add strawberry pulp ( alternatively, can use strawberry essence and red food colour). Mix well.Refrigerate this also separately. 

Thin slice almonds lengthwise and fine slice pistachios.

To arrange the serving, take a tall glass.

Add a spoonful of strawberry flavoured sago, vermicilli, sabja and then followed by the milk koya. Pour in the flavoured milk. Garnish with chopped nuts and serve.

My Notes:

In the excitement to serve the guests, forgot to take the picture of the drink completely arranged to serve.

I pureed 3 fresh strawberries and added a few drops of strawberry essence to add to boiled sago.

Vermicelli can be cooked in water and run under cold water so that they don't stick together and form lumps. I have also used the cendol ( green coloured) available from the chilled section at the supermarket. It is a vermicilli made of tapioca n rice flour combination.

 I have used sweetened koya as I had it at home. Mostly vanilla ice cream is used.

The combination of ingredients is a personal choice. Easy to prepare but a very rich fulfilling dessert. The ingredients can be prepared and chilled earlier. Arrange in the glass before serving.

Falooda, a drink dessert, is quite popular with North Indians as well as in major Metropolitan cities like Chennai, Bangalore in the South. Deep South, in Madurai, they have their own version of this drink called Jigirthanda.

My Mother' favourite drink. I remember, she always go for onion rava dosai and falooda for dinner at Hotel Palimar, Chennai. Being a native of Madurai, may be she was looking at the falooda as a substitute for Madurai Makals' popular drink Jigirthanda.

I learnt to make this drink only after moving to Singapore and feel nostalgic that I didn't get to serve my mom her favourite drink as she is no more. 

Mango Lassi ( மாம்பழ தயிர் பானம் / மாம்பழ லஸ்ஸி )

Mango Lassi ( மாம்பழ தயிர் பானம் - மாம்பழ லஸ்ஸி  )

Ingredients: ( makes 4 servings)

Mango Pieces  - 1 Bowl ( from 2 medium sized ripe mango)

Thick Curd /  Plain Yogurt  - 250 ml

Sugar  - 4 tbsp

Honey  - 2 tbsp

Ice cubes  - as required 

Salt  - Just a pinch to enhance the sweetness.

Steps:

In a mixie jar, add the mango slices and blend it well in a blender.
Add the curd and blend again.
Add sugar, honey and ice cubes , blend to form a smooth paste.
A pinch of salt can be added to enhance the sweetness of lassi.
Pour the chilled drink in a glass. Topping it with a cherry is optional.
Enjoy the yummy drink.

My Notes:

Lassi is a favourite drink of all age group. A refreshing drink on a hot day is a welcome treat. Especially in this hot summer and with the season of Mangoes. mmm...yummy drink..

During my childhood days, I have had relished this juicy sweet fruit from our own farm at Sholavandan. So,mentioning  mangoes always has a fond memory.

Well ripen mango is a great combination with curd rice, which is a South Indian favored choice.

Moving to Chennai, I have had the taste of mango lassi. Since then, have a liking for the drink.

My family loves to have the drink on a Sunday afternoon.I used to make plain lassi when mango season is not around. But now a days have reduced the frequency due to its calorie count.

In this recipe, I have used honey as well. If not preferred, can replace it with more sugar.

Use fresh curd prepared at home. It can be slightly sour. A well set curd aids digestion.