Mango milkshake

Here is a quick milk shake that can be whipped up in minutes .It is healthy as well as filling ,just serve a toast of bread and this milk shake and you are done with a healthy breakfast .Perfect for the after school hanger pangs .As it is Ramadan now it fits well for the iftar (time to break the fast)   or suhoor ( pre-dawn meal) table too  .

Mukhwas kulfi | Mouthfreshner kulfi | Indian kulfi | Unique kulfi | Betel leaf,fennel gulkand kulfi |summer special

Summers are here .Phew!!! Unlike in India  here in Qatar we get to experience almost 6 months long Summer !!!. No it isn't a typing mistake ,summer here lasts for as long as 6 months from may until the onset of October .And the temperature reaching as high as 48-49 c  ,apart from the high humidity content in the air .Its the season when fresh dates ripen, so imagine the temperature where a  fruit as hard as a potato ripens to a texture like avocado ,no less than a tandoor (hot clay oven)!!! . 

Are you wondering why am I presenting you a weather bulletin ?yes you guessed it right today's recipe is a summer treat,Kulfi . Kulfi is an Indian version of ice cream where in  milk is thickened and nuts are added to it and set in kulfi moulds .In India summers are synonymous to kulfi and lemonade-the official Indian summer drink .So to survive  in this temperature we definitely need some thing soothing ,refreshing to beat the heat.

Spinach oats smoothie

Due to the sedentary lifestyle these days ,knowingly or unknowingly we gulp down so much of the junk food!!!!

Actually we don't agree its junk food ?right ......the pizzas ,burgers ,fries and what not .....?every thing that we love to enjoy at the call of a phone or simply relax with family in a food court of a mall is loaded with so much of trans fat ,salt ...etc ,that our body needs to flush out those toxins on regular interval to avoid any bitter health consequences .We have incorporated these food habits in our lifestyle that we don't even realise that these are junk .

Even my self , not a bare exception .I too love to be lured by such occasional indulgence !!!!(to be read... occasional only!!!  hhmn).But aftermath carry the guilt on my shoulders and weight over my waist line !....) 

And coming to the smoothie......

Spinach is  recognised as one of the functional foods for its wholesome nutritional, antioxidants and anti-cancer composition.

Oats  of course are the power house of nutrients and fibre....

Spinach ,oats  and yogurt are blitzed together to smoothie.I love smoothies and smoothies I think are the easiest and nutritious way to quench the thirst 

So go ahead and make  one for Ur self and your gut is going to say thank you!!!!

Strawberry- oats smoothie

Aah!!winter is officially  in ,thank God at least by mid Jan we are able to enjoy the winter season .

Though winter has knocked a bit late this year ,but arrived with a bang !! .Before we feel the change in climate one comes to know the change in season by merely seeing this great winter produce .

Be it the luscious strawberries ,oranges .....you just name it and its there in the market .During my last visit to the farmers market was lucky enough to get  some red,juicy ,luscious  strawberries .I couldn't behold my self to make a cake or a dessert ,just wanted some thing easy,refreshing and fulfilling.Finally decided to blitz a smoothie and gulp it down .

Smoothies are nothing but yogurt based drinks which are very popular in this part of the world....in Indian terms you can call it a thick lassi with addition of fruits ,cereal, oats and the list continues...... 

It serves as a great breakfast  on the go option ,can be had as a pre lunch snack  or simply your evening snack.A healthy and of course yummy drink with a fibrous- tag-  the oats ...

over to recipe.......

Coffee - banana milkshake

Banana is not much liked by S, I have to force fully make her eat .So I usually end up making banana shake,so that she enjoys it .On the other hand Lil Z is crazy about bananas  but not much in favour of a banana shake.Coffee is always welcome by the kids,so for an evening snack I decided to add a little coffee to the regular banana shake to make both the kids happy ,and it worked . both of them devoured it till the last sip.Its fast to make and more over gives the taste of a cold coffee.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bananas
• 3 1/2 glass chilled milk
• 2 tbsp sugar
•  1 tsp instant coffee

METHOD

1. Mix 1 tsp instant coffee in  2 tbsp warm water  and keep aside.
2. In a blender add all the ingredients and coffee and blitz  it till smooth . 
3. Serve it chilled in 4 glasses.

Beetroot smoothie

BEETROOT.....I think it wouldn't be wrong to call it the" king of root vegetables".As a child I never liked the taste of it , and not to go on its colour  which scared me,because of which may be I hated the vegetable.

In the recent years I have developed an unusual liking towards this subtle, earthy ,fibrous root veggie.After coming across so many articles regarding the health benefits of it ,I have repented so much for not including it in my diet .And hence to compensate the loss (I know its very huge)decided to include it in my diet at least 2 times a week

It lowers blood pressure,a great detox for liver and blood,besides having anti inflammatory,anti cancer properties.At times we really neglect mother natures bounties and run after the man made solutions  (tablets) loaded with side effects.Smoothies are generally drinks made with yoghurt with a combination of fruits or chocolate .I had it after a walk and trust me... that was really refreshing and energising.You can call it "health in a glass".

INGREDIENTS

• 1 beetroot chopped
• 2 cups yoghurt
• mint a hand full
• coriander a hand full
• 1 cucumber chopped

METHOD

1. place all the ingredients in a blender and blend it to a smoothie.

NOTES

1. U can blanch  or steam the beet root and use it,I have used it raw .
2.  I have not added any sugar to avoid the unwanted calories,If u desire u can add honey or brown sugar to it