CREAMY BANANA SMOOTHIE

I know in some parts of the world its already time to cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate, but here in San Diego it was really hot today. Its the middle of November and we are still sipping down smoothies.
Just made this real quick banana smoothie just a few minutes ago. What's so special about the smoothie, well the fact that I used rich creamy strawberry flavoured yogurt in it.

So here is my recipe for RECIPE MARATHON DAY 15TH

You will need
Banana-1
strawberry flavoured yogurt-2 cups (I used Le creme)
milk-1 cup
whipped cream

You have to
its as simple as 1,2 , 3.
Just put everything in the blender and blend till smooth.
pour out in glasses. serve with whipped cream
enjoy.

check out whats being whipped up by all the runners

1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Curry Leaf 7)Medha 8)Priya 9)Bhawna 10)Raaji 11)Ruchii 12)Anu 13)Kamala 14)Roopa 15)Divya Kudua 16)Rekha 17)Divya M 18)Lakshmi 19)Raaga 20)Lakshmi Venkatesh 21)Sripriya 22)Viji 23)Pavani 24)Kamalika25)Roochi

THE INDIAN TEA

There is nothing like a nice cup of "kadak chai"on a rainy day, on a cold winter evening or simply when with friends. Drinking tea has been something that has been around in India for years. Its a simple way to unwind, discuss politics, sports, current affairs or simply gossip........

There are tea stalls around every nook and corner of the streets in India. Some tea stalls serve it glasses whereas some serve it in "kulad" or small clay earthenwares. I still remember the early morning days of my school and college. I use to smell the cardamom in the air. The smoke coming out of the "chulla" or the coal stove around the corner, with a kettle of tea simmering on top. So simple yet so divine. And on rainy days, gathering with friends and sipping hot tea with piping hot pakodas.......Those were the days.

I am sorry to go astray from my recipe. Its a very simple recipe of making tea, but I guess to get that cup of "kadak chai" or strong tea, one needs to add the ingredients in the correct order.

here it is

You will need- for two cups of tea

• water- 1 1/2 cups
• milk- 1/2 cup
• cardamom- 1-2 pods crushed
• tea leaves- 2 tbsp, I use red label. You could use the dip tea bags too.
• tea masala (optional)- 1/2 tsp
• sugar- 3- 4 tsp

You have to

1. in a sauce pan put the water to heat.
2. once the water begins to boil,add the tea leaves.(or the tea bags) to the water.
3. let the tea leaves boil with the water.
4. now add the crushed cardamom and the sugar.
5. add the milk. once it comes to a full boil, lower the heat.
6. let it simmer till you get a nice colour. now add the tea masala. stir it.
7. strain it into cups
8. and enjoy with any savoury items.

note: usually in winters or when someone is suffering from cold, a little bit of crushed ginger is added along with the cardamom.

This is my first entry to the RECIPE MARATHON. These are my fellow runners

1) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Curry Leaf 7)Medha 8)Priya 9)Bhawna 10)Raaji 11)Ruchii 12)Anu 13)Kamala 14)Roopa 15)Divya Kudua 16)Rekha 17)Divya M 18)Lakshmi 19)Raaga 20)Lakshmi Venkatesh 21)Sripriya 22)Viji 23)Pavani

MANGO AND STRAWBERRY

I will just make it on time to post this recipe for a few event, whose deadline is just an hour away.
The first event, that I am sending this to, required us to make something fruity using a fellow blogger recipe. I had mangoes and strawberries lying in my fridge. Curry in kadai's mango,peach and strawberry milkshake- a healthy decadence, was the closest fit.
though I did not use any peaches or nectarines, but the rest of the recipe remains the same.
So this goes to the MBP event fruit fare hosted by aparna of my diverse kitchen,

This recipe is also an entry to Ice creams and Milkshakes hosted by Me and My kitchen.

I am also sending one of my older recipes SIMPLY STRAWBERRIES to this event.

before it gets too late, here is the recipe.

You will need

• 2 ripe mangoes
• 3-4 strawberries
• 1 glass milk
• 2-3 tbsp sugar

You have to

1. simply blend all the ingredients together in a blender. pour out in glasses.
2. chill, or serve immediately.

enjoy.

SWEET AND SOUR WATER MELON JUICE

Each time I cut through a watermelon, the anticipation kills me. will it be nice and red? will it have lots of seeds? will it be sweet? Most of the time, I get good results.

I feel there is no other fruit in summer that actually can quench your thirst other than watermelon. with ninety eight percent water, why do we need artificial flavoured waters when we have one that is so abundantly available in summers.

have it all by itself with a little rock salt sprinkled on it, make a juice out of it, make a salad. make Popsicles out of it for kids. the options are endless.

I made this watermelon juice the other day. Gave it an Indian twist. With jaljeera powder and lime juice. trust me it was cooling in the afternoon and the mint simply made it refreshing. the best part is you can make it way in advance and chill it.

I am sending this in for the WFY-Juices and Ice Cream event hosted by easy craft of simple Indian food.

You will need

• watermelon- 1 small
• lemon juice- 1/2 cup
• sugar- to taste.
• mint leaves- 4-5
• rock salt or kala namak- 1 tsp
• jaljeera powder- 1/2 tsp (optional)
• roasted cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
• water- approximately a glass

You have to

1. in a blender, first blend the watermelon .
2. strain it through a strainer. add little water if required.
3. now add all the ingredients along with the strained watermelon juice to the blender and pulse it for a few seconds.
4. check for the taste. you should be able to taste the sweet and the sour taste. if not, adjust the taste by adding the required ingredients.
5. pour it out in glasses or into a jug. chill it.
6. serve chilled on a hot afternoon.

enjoy

SIMPLY STRAWBERRIES

As I blogged around, I came across the food photo event at http://jugalbandi.info/2008/03/click-april-2008-the-theme-is/

Though I think mine would be the last entries, for this months event, I did manage to get a shot.

SIMPLY STRAWBERRIES.

Strawberries are in abundance this season. Lots of them, red, ripe and bursting with flavour. All by themselves or as a smoothie, or added to a dessert, strawberries are "the thing" now.

Along with other berries, I churned up a smoothie with a few twists. here is the recipe

You will need

• Strawberries- 1 cup chopped
• black berries- 1/2 cup
• blue berries - 1/2 cup
• banana- 1
• yogurt- 2 cups
• strawberry jam- 2 tbsp
• sugar- 2 tbsp (this is optional. first taste)
• water- 1/2 cup

You have to

1. blend all the berries first in the blender.
2. then add the banana and blend.
3. add the yogurt along with the jam. blend
4. taste for sugar. if less sweet then add the sugar.
5. add little water, and blend everything.
6. pour in glasses, and serve.

check out the luscious pink.......no colours added.