Thandai is a very popular drink , which is actually dry fruit and saffron flavoured milk, that is traditionally prepared as an offering to Lord Shiva during the festival of MahaShiva tri. Thandai is often mixed with ‘bhang’ to make an intoxicating drink.

Ingredients:

Milk 4 1/2 cups.

Sugar 1/4 cup .

Black pepper powder a pinch 

Saffron a few strands.

Make into powder 

Almonds 1/4 cup

Poppy Seeds 2 tbsp

Fennel seeds 2 tbsp (saunf)

Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp.

Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp.

Method:

Boil the milk in a deep pan, allow it to cool completely.

Combine the powder and milk in a deep bowl, mix well using a whisk and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Strain the mixture through a sieve, add the sugar, pepper powder and saffron and mix well.

Pour equal quantities of the thandai into 4 individual glasses add serve chilled.

Happy Cooking!!!

Sameera.

This drink is a favourite of kids,at times mine also…..easy to make simple recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 litre Coke/Pepsi/Thumps up

2 scoops Vanilla Ice cream.

1/2 cup Crushed Ice.

Method:

In a nice tall glass put ice,pour  Coke/Pepsi/Thumps up.

Top up with 2 scoops of Vanilla ice cream.

Serve immediately with a straw and a spoon.

Happy Cooking!!!

Sameera

Last month I had visited Cochin,I have a very close friend Sanjay Kurup there,climate in cochin was horribly hot and dry.My friend’s wife Suvarna treated me to a chilling and refreshing drink…simple,tasty and refreshing….  Thanks Suvarna for this recipe.

Ingredients:

2 Cucumber.

1 inch Ginger.

4 tbsp Sugar.

1 tbsp Lemon juice.

6 leaves  fresh mint.(Optional)

6 pieces crushed Ice.

pinch of  Salt.

2 lemon wedges for garnishing.

Method:

Mix all the ingredients in a mixie,blend till turns into puree.

Add 1 and half glass of chilled water,blend again till ice is completely dissolved.

Pour in a tall glass,garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately.

Happy Cooking !!!

Sameera

Ingredients:

1 cup thick Curd.

1 tbsp  Almonds paste(soaked in hot water for ½ hour,deskinned and grinded to paste)

2 tsp Sugar.

2 tbsp Cream.

¼ tsp Elaichi powder.

4 strands of Kesar.

2 cubes of ice ( crushed)

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients in a blender and blend well.

Pour in a glass and serve immediately.

Happy Cooking !!!

Sameera.

Ingredients:

1 glass Milk (cold)

4 cubes of Ice.

2 tbsp Curd

2 tsp Sugar.

1 tbsp Cocoa powder.

Method:

Mix all the ingredients in a shaker and shake well till ice is completely melted.

Pour in a tall glass and serve immediately.

Happy Cooking!!!

Sameera.

I use Everest milk masala,there are many other brands available,but everest is one of my favourite.Milk masala is  a  powder made up of  roasted and ground nuts and dried fruits,  masala. The typical ingredients are almonds, pistachio, cardamom, nutmeg, saffron, etc.

This milk is made especially on Kojagiri,I make it for Haldi kunku.

Ingredients:

4 cups Boiled Milk.

4 tbsp Sugar.

4 tbsp Everest Milk Masala.

½ tsp Elaichi powder(Cardamom powder)

8 to 10 strands of Kesar.

2 tbsp Badam (Almond) paste.10 to 12 almonds soaked in likewarm water for 1 hour,deskinned and ground to paste)

Method:

In a heavy bottom pan,keep milk for boiling,add sugar,milk masala,and kesar,mix well and let boil for 5 minutes on slow flame,stirring twice in between.

Add almond paste and mix well. and let boil for another 5 minutes on slow flame,stirring twice in between.Switch off the gas,add elaichi powder and mix well.

Pour in cups and serve hot/warm.

Happy cooking !!!

Sameera.

This is a yummy vegetable juice which we daily have with our food…….

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber chopped

1 Carrot chopped

2 Tomatoes chopped

1/2 Beetroot chopped.

Few sprigs of mint leaves.

2 pinch Rock salt.

Juice of 1/4 Lime.

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixie jar,add 1 cup water and blend to a fine puree.

Pour in a long stem glass,decorate with slice of carrot and mint leaf in toothpick and serve immediately.

Tip-This juice should be had within 20 minutes of making,or else the nutrients of this juice are lost.

Happy Cooking !!!

Sameera.