Green smoothie

Green smoothie

Here's a refreshing and healthy way to drink your veggies and fruits. Here's how I make Green Smoothie:

2 handful baby spinach (I use the bagged kind)
1 handful cilantro
2 cups cubed honeydew melon
1 small avocado
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup cold almond milk

Blend all ingredients. Add more lemon juice or some honey if needed. Enjoy immediately.

Hibiscus Lemonade

This is a good way to add some oomph to regular lemonade. I had a half pack of dried hibiscus flowers I had purchased for a hair rinse, and decided to make this Hibiscus Lemonade for the heat wave we are experiencing.

Here's how I made Hibiscus Lemonade:

1 packed cup dried Hibiscus flowers ( I have used Sadaf brand)
1 cup water
2 tbsp agave nectar

Boil the water, take off heat. Steep the hibiscus in it for 20 to 30 mins. Strain and add the agave nectar. Stir. The Hibiscus syrup is ready.

To prepare the Hibiscus lemonade, make regular lemonade to fill 2 quarts. I used store bought lemonade mix for this. Add the Hibiscus syrup. Stir well and chill till ready to serve.

Orange juice punch

I love freshly squeezed orange juice and frankly don't think there is any need to "enhance" it with additions. But if you want to serve it to guests and/or make it a little special, this Orange Juice Punch is a good way to go.

Here's how I make it:

6 oranges (mosambi in Marathi) - juiced to get abt 3 cups juice
1 cup chilled sparkling cider
1 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp ginger pwd (soonth), 1 small lemon wedge

Rub the rims of your serving glasses with the lemon wedge. Dip in the sugar-ginger pwd mix. Fill each cup 3/4th way with the freshly squeezed orange juice. Top off with the chilled sparkling cider. Serve immediately.

Strawberry Lemonade

I had saved this recipe from my newspaper...but we have been having such a mild summer here in the Seattle area that I didn't get a chance to make this. Finally we saw some 80+ degree F days, so promptly made it. Here's how I put it together:
Pureed strawberries to make a cup of puree. I did not feel the need to strain this, but you can if you wish. Add 2 - 4 tsp sugar, depending on sweetness of strawberries and sweetness desired. Divide this concentrate among 4 cups. Add 2 tbsp lemon juice to each cup. Top with chilled sparkling water.

Enjoy cooling strawberry lemonade!

Detox Tea

Hello everyone, wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2011. To start off the new year, here's a Detox Tea for you. I learnt this from my neighbor on my recent visit to Mumbai.

Here's how I made it:

1.5 c water
1/2 tsp black/green tea pwd.
1/4 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cloves
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
2 tbsp chopped lemon grass
2 tbsp chopped tulsi/basil leaves
1 tsp honey

Bring the water to a boil. Add all the other ingredients except honey. Simmer 2-3 mins. Strain into a cup. Add honey, stir and drink hot.

This makes 1 cup of the tea.

I was very skeptical the first time I tried this as I was so used to my regular chai with milk and sugar. I could not imagine replacing it with this "kadha" like preparation. But the refreshing feeling I got after having a cup was so amazing. Though I still have my morning chai as usual, I have been having this Detox Tea atleast once daily since then.

Hope you try it too.

Watermelon juice

Watermelon is such a delicious fruit by itself that it needs no additions or enhancements really. But if ever you are trying to up its oomph factor, give this juice try. Here's how I make it:

2 cups watermelon chunks

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp ginger pwd (soonth)

Pinch of salt

Sugar - depending on how sweet the watermelon is. I usually skip this altogether.

Watermelon balls and mint leaves to garnish

Blend all the above except the garnishes till smooth. You can strain it or leave as is. Pour into a glass and garnish with the watermelon balls and mint leaves.

Enjoy chilled!

This Watermelon Juice goes to the Soup 'n Juice event at Mom's Recipes.

Berry Banana Smoothie

2 cups milk
1 cup flavored yogurt (I used Yoplait French Vanilla flavored 99% fat-free)
1 banana - sliced
handful of blueberries
5-6 strawberries - sliced
2 tsp sugar or to taste

Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Pour and enjoy.

My 5-yr old daughter loves making this for us and for herself ofcourse...its that easy. We often enjoy this after school.

This easy, healthy drink is off to Preety's Kitchen for her Cooking For Kis Event.