Lemonade

I loved love the nimbu pani / lemonade i used to have at my friend's place when we were kids. Finally, just last year i took the recipe from her mom and since then this magical potion is a keeper in my refrigerator forever. I make it every quarter to be stored and savoured the year round.  A very simple recipe, tastes and looks exactly like fresh lemonade !!

Strawberry Daiquiris

You get transported to the caribbeans with the citricy goodness of this drink.  All our friends love it and ask for more every time i make them. A hit for those laid back hot summer evenings or some grilling parties galore.

Ingredients :
1 pack of strawberries, cleaned and halfed
half a handful of mint leaves
zest of an orange
juice of a lemon
5tsp granulated sugar
1/2 cup clear vodka 
3 cups of ice cubes


Mix all in a blender  and serve chilled with a garnish of mint leaves or lemon wedges.
Redemption!!
Tip: Orange juice is a good substitute for vodka, especially when catering to kids.

Spicy Buttermilk ~ Chaach

It is 96 degrees in dallas today.  I had  this sudden urge to fly open the refrigerator and gulp down some boxed juice (read liquid sugar) an hour back when incidentally i remembered the good old buttermilk my dad used to make each day every summer at lunch for us, back in India. Here the recipe to that thirst quenching, cool and refreshing drink we savored every time

Serves : 4


 Stealing the show:
16 oz Plain Non- fat yogurt / Curd


Ingredients for tadka / flavoring :
1/2 tsp Canola oil
11/2 tsp Crushed dry mint
2 tsp Roasted cumin powder
1/2 tsp Whole cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Red chilli powder
1 Whole dried red chilli
2 Pinches asofetida
Salt to taste


Granish:
Fresh mint leaves


Take a deep vessel , pour the yogurt and add double the amount of water. Mix with the help of a hand mixer so that the two liquids become one completely. This makes plain buttermilk. Now add crushed mint, ground cumin powder and salt, stir.
Take a small pan , add oil - once heated add cumin seeds, whole red chilli, asofetida- let them splutter. Add red chilli powder -mix and sprinkle drops of water . Turn off the heat , pour the tadka / flavoring in the buttermilk , mix and cool in the refrigerator for 1-2 hrs
Serve with a garnish of fresh mint leaves and ice cubes.


Beat the heat, feel quenched!!