Mango Milkshake

Mango Milkshake, another delectable & refreshing summer drink. As I found out while doing this, there is no fixed measurement and I added the ingredients based on the sweetness of the mangoes and the thickness of the drink....You can also modify as per your wish...Here is the recipe....

Ingredients:

• 2-3 mangoes / 2 cups cubed mangoes
• 500 ml / 2 cups chilled milk
• 4 tbsp sugar (to taste and as per sweetness of mangoes)
• crushed ice cubes / ice cubes
• few cubed mangoes, for garnishing

Procedure:

1. Blend all the ingredients in a blender until mango pieces get crushed to a smooth puree.
2. Pour in serving glasses. Add ice cubes / crushed ice and chopped mangoes. Serve chilled. Enjoy!!

Tips:

While serving pour a little chilled milk on top. Do not stir. I particularly like the way the milk forms a pattern. You can also add a stirrer while serving.

You can even add whipped cream / vanila ice-cream to have a more creamier milkshake.

Sending this to 15 mins cooking, event hosted by Mahimaa of Indian Vegetarian Kitchen...

Mango Milkshake is also going to the Festive Food: Summer Treat, event hosted by Priti of Indian Khana...

Also sending the following cool drinks to the Festive Food: Sumnmer Treat event...

• Watermelon Cooler
• Pina Colada Smoothie
• Chocolate Icecream Milkshake
• Honey Lime & Mint Iced Tea
• Grape Juice

Chocolate Ice-cream Milk Shake

A Milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream / iced milk and sweet flavorings like fruit syrup / chocolate sauce and sometimes served with whipped cream for a richer taste. Milkshakes are usually served in a tall glass. 3 popular milkshake flavors being vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

Here is a simple version of chocolate & ice-cream milkshake, with ready & available ingredients at home. Believe me, you will just wait and watch your kids finish this delectable drink during the summer time and even asking for more�

Ingredients:

• 3 - 4 tsp chocolate syrup
• 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 2 cups chilled milk
• crushed ice / Ice cubes

Proedure:

• Place ingredients into a blender, cover and blend the ingredients on high until ice cream is dissolved and you have reached the desired consistency (Add three parts ice cream for every one part milk for a thick shake).
• Pour into tall serving glasses and serve with crushed ice / ice cubes, whipped cream or shavings of chocolate on the froth. Enjoy!

Tips:

• If you do not have access to an electric blender, you can combine the ingredients by hand and whisk quickly to combine and create froth or use a shaker, put the ingredients, close the cover and shake hard to form the delightful froth on top.
• Decide how thick you want your shake to be. More milk will yield thinner shake.
• Use melted chocolate for a delish rich chocolate milkshake.

Sending this to the "Summer activities and ideas event" @Bloggermoms. Join me in sending your recipes & ideas. Click here for details...

Here are some of the other beverages for the event....

Watermelon Cooler

Honey, Lime and Mint Iced Tea

Pina Colada Smoothie

Aam Pora Shorbot

Chocolate Ice-cream Milk Shake is also going to 15 mins cooking, event by Mahimaa....

Watermelon Cooler

Watermelon is not only delicious, but extremely healthy, as well. Though watermelons can be found in the markets throughout the year, the best quality & sweet watermelons are available only during summer time. Because of its higher water content, watermelon is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

Ingredients:

• 1 large watermelon, de-seeded & chopped
• 6 tbsp powdered sugar (to taste)
• 1 tsp rock salt
• 1 tsp roasted cumin seeds powder
• crushed ice / ice cubes (as required)
• 4 glass chilled water (as required)

Procedure:

1. Put chopped watermelon, powdered sugar, rock salt in a blender. Add crushed ice & chilled water and blend again.
2. Pour into fancy glasses, sprinkle roasted cumin seeds powder and serve with ice cubes.

Some benifits of watermelon:

It is an excellent source of vitamin A, C and B1, B6 & B5, contains important antioxidants (red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant, called lycopene).

It fights free radicals in our bodies, helps in reducing colon & prostate cancer, asthma, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Most melons are rich in rich in electrolytes sodium, thiamin, magnesium and potassium, help in controlling blood pressure, regulate heart beat, and prevent heat strokes.

Watermelon has a special cooling effect, protects our bodies from several diseases. It is fat free but also helps in energy production.

This is going to 15 mins cooking event by Mahimaa and also to Refreshing Drinks event hosted by Anu.

Honey, Lime and Mint Iced Tea

Though I am not a tea drinker, but find myself sipping a glass of really cool iced tea occassionally.

Iced tea, is a form of cold tea, often served in a tall glass over ice. It may or may not be sweetened. It can be mixed with flavored syrup, common flavors include lemon, peach, raspberry, lime and cherry. Apart from real tea, other herbs are also sometimes served cold and referred to as (herbal) iced tea.

Here is the recipe for Honey, Lime & Mint Iced Tea, a refreshing natural cold drink and a simple iced tea, with the taste of lime and mint. The iced tea will be much better flavoured if freshly squeezed lime juice and honey are added just before serving to get that sweet and tangy taste. Very simple to prepare at home too. All you need.....

Ingredients:

• 5 cups water
• 4 tea bags
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
• 6 tsp sugar (to taste)
• 2 tsp honey (to taste)
• juice of 1 lemon

Procedure:

1. Boil water in a tea pot and add tea bags, mint and sugar.
2. Cover the tea pot and let it brew for 3-5 minutes. Strain out the tea bags and mint leaves.
3. Pour into tall glases half filled with ice. Add honey, stir and mix well.
4. Chill and add freshly squeezed lime juice before serving.

Sit back, relax and enjoy your drink.

This is also going to the Refreshing Drinks (RD) for Summer event, hosted by Chandrabhaga.

Here are the other entries for the event.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Aam Pora Shorbot

Thandai

Grape Juice

Pina Colada Smoothie

Pina colada smoothie is a cool and refreshing summer drink with the goodness of coconut milk & soy milk and essential vitamins from banana and pineapple.

Ingredients:

• 50 ml chilled coconut milk
• 500 ml chilled soy milk
• 1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 small pineapple
• 4 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Procedure:

1. Peel the banana and make round slices. Cut the pineapple into chunks. Freeze the banana and pineapple pieces.
2. Combine the coconut milk, soymilk, sugar, vanilla essence, banana and pineapple chunks in a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the pina colada smoothie into fancy serving glasses. Serve chilled with ice cubes / crushed ice and consume immediately.

This is going to the Refreshing Drinks (RD) for Summer event, hosted by Chandrabhaga.

Tzaziki

Ever heard of tzaziki? Came across the recipe in my mom-in-law�s Continental cookbook. Tzaziki is a traditional Greek condiment / sauce made with either plain yogurt or sour cream served with plain or toasted pita bread, salads and other Mediterranean specialties. At its best, tzaziki is a thick, tangy sauce with a little bit of spiciness.
This dish is a wonderful summer treat. The main ingredients being yogurt & cucumber with addition of chopped garlic and salt & pepper. The best tzaziki takes a few hours to prepare, so be sure that you have plenty of time.

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers
• 400 gms / 2 cups yogurt
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, skinned & finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp salt (to taste)
• � tsp freshly ground pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• diced & round slices of cucumbers, for garnishing
• lemon wedges, for garnishing

Procedure:

1. Pour yogurt in a cheesecloth-lined colander / strainer (to drain the excess water) and collect the firm & thick yogurt for the tzaziki base. Allow the yogurt to drain for 30-45 mins).
2. Meanwhile wash, peel and roughly dice the cucumber. Put the diced cucumber into a colander / strainer, sprinkle with salt and leave to stand for 30 mins (to draw the juices). Rinse and drain well.
3. Transfer the strained yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Add chopped garlic, mint and coriander leaves. Add lemon juice, salt and freshly ground pepper and mix well.
4. Place the diced cucumber in serving bowl. Pour the yogurt mixture over the cucumber.
5. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for atleast one hour (so that the flavours mingle thoroughly). Drizzle olive oil on top before serving.
6. Serve as a dip / sauce with toasted bread, grilled chicken / fish. You can even use this as a spread on bread.

Tips:

1. It is best to refrigerate the yogurt while it is draining.
2. If possible, refrigerate the final tzaziki overnight and enjoy the following day.
3. If you don�t want to go through the process of straining yogurt you can use sour cream instead.
4. Prepare tzaziki with low fat or nonfat yogurt (if you are watching your weight!).

Sending this to the AFAM: Cucumber event hosted by Neha of Tasty Recipes.

Aam Pora Shorbot (Roasted Mango Pulp Sherbet)

Delectable summer drinks like Aam Pora Shorbot, Beler Shorbot (sherbet made with passion fruit), Zafrani / Kesari Sherbet, including yogurt drinks like Ghol / Chaas and Lassi are traditional coolers and excellent remedies to beat the sweltering heat of Kolkata summer. They help in digestion and the salt & sugar combination of the drinks keeps the electrolyte level of the body in control.
Aam Pora Shorbot (sherbet prepared with roasted mango pulp) is useful in rehydrating the body and preventing Heat Stroke / Sunstroke (A metabolic disorder where the body temperature increases and the body is unable to dissipate the heat and can even lead to unconsciousness). Here is the recipe as learnt from my mother.

Ingredients:

• 2 raw mangoes
• a pinch salt (per glass or to taste)
• 3-4 tsp sugar (per glass)
• 150-200 ml water (per glass)
• a pinch of rock salt (to garnish)
• a pinch of roasted cumin seeds (jeera) powder
• ice cubes

Procedure:

1. Wash the mangoes and cut a small portion (circular shape) at the tip of the mangoes.
2. Roast the mangoes on gas flame while turning them to ensure even roasting on all sides.
3. Remove from flame and let them cool. When the mangoes are cool enough to handle, remove the outer skin and discard the pit.
4. Collect the mango pulp and accumulated juices in a mixing bowl and coarsely mash the pulp.
5. While serving, put 2 tsp of roasted mango pulp (if you want it thick, put more pulp) in a glass. Add sugar and salt (mix as per requirement) and requisite water and stir well so that the sugar is completely dissolved.
6. Sprinkle a pinch of rock salt and roasted jeera powder, stir and serve with ice cubes.

Treating Heat Stroke / Sunstroke:
Mix 4 tsp of roasted mango pulp with 200 ml of water and enough sugar with salt. Consume it every one hour. (Generally symptoms of Heat Stroke subsides within 3 to 6 hours of consuming using mango pulp drinks).

Aam Panna

Found about a wonderful cause from Priya who is a member of BloggerAid. The group is publishing a book with the recipes prepared by the foodie bloggers around the world, a really noble gesture againt the hunger. The profit from the sales of the cookbook will be directed to School Meals, a programme of The World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations frontline agency......

Here is my contribution to the cause: Aam Panna

I wrote about Coolers in a previous post. Aam Panna is type of Cooler known for its heat resistant properties and is an effective remedy for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It is made from raw green mangoes and also used as a delicious, refreshing and healthy beverage to fight against the intense summer heat.

The recipe requires few ingredients and mangoes are readily available across the globe, but you have to ensure to prepare with raw mangoes only. I cannot write the recipe, until the cook book is out...

So you have to wait till the book is finally published.

Guidelines:

You don't need to be a member of Blogger Aid to submit a recipe. You just need a willingness to share your love of food from around the world and want to be involved in raising awareness and money for this program. There is no cost to you, just a sense of satisfaction that comes from participating in this exciting project and seeing your name and recipe in print.

You may post about your recipe but without revealing the ingredients...the cookbook will be the round-up where your recipe will be published. Once the cookbook has been published you can publish your recipe wherever you like...it will always be yours and you will always receive full credit.

Here to encourage all in joining hands for a wonderful cause...For more details, click here