Sharjah Shake- An Authentic Kerala Smoothie...

Sharjah shake is not a drink from Sharjah but it is one of the favorite drinks of my native state Kerala, India. It is a drink loved by almost all Keralites. Sharjah shake is originated from Calicut in Kerala. Whenever I visit my home town, I make sure I don't miss this shake and will have frequently. We love this shake a lot. In Kerala, almost every juice shop,  this is available. Now more new flavors and ingredients are added to this shake but I like the simple, original one which has a malt flavor. A perfect drink among guests and family.

For a simple Sharjah shake the key ingredients are ripe bananas, horlicks/boost, nuts that is combined to a perfect, delicious, tasty Sharjah shake. This just takes less than 10 minutes and will be a super hit. As bananas are the base of this drink, this will be thick and sweet. It is quite filling. If we want we can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, here I didn't as I wanted it plain. I am warning you this is very ADDICTIVE!!!! As Ramadan fasting is going on, we like to drink different juices while breaking the fast and so this is one among and will always love this.

To get the authentic milk shake parlor version, freeze the milk and break into chunks and blend with other ingredients. There are countless variations in the making of this shake, but this is mine and very flexible. Please try this and let me know.
Ingredients:

1. Frozen Milk- 2 Cups
2. Ripe Bananas- 1 large/ 2 small
3. Horlicks/ Boost- 2 tbsp
4. Sugar- 1 tbsp(optional)
5. Cashew nuts- 4 nos

Method:

• Blend together all the ingredients and pour in a tall glass top it with roasted cashew nuts and vanilla ice cream.

Whipped Coffee/ Dalgona Coffee

Today morning I got a whatsapp message from my brother, regarding this coffee. He sent me asking to make it today as it is very easy and simple and also it won't take much time. As soon as I saw the video, I realized that I have seen many videos of this recipes.a we can make frothy coffee in our house.

A very simple frothy coffee that can be made at the comfort of your house. This is called a Dalgona coffee. Mix together the coffee powder, sugar and hot water. Blend well using a blender or a frother for the milk and ta da it's ready Scoop and add in a cup of hot/ cold milk. I added the froth in hot milk and enjoyed a nice warm coffee.

Dalgona Coffee is a cold latte drink with a velvety coffee foam. It's a perfect drink for those who miss the coffee shops especially during this time.
I am seeing a lot of instagramers posting this whipped coffee recipe. This has gone viral as most of the people are trying and flooding the internet with the pictures of this coffee. As this is an easy recipe to prepare this doesn't take much time to prepare. Instead of your evening tea/ coffee you can have this one day. Hope you all try this out and let me know how it turned....

Ingredients:

1. Instant Coffee Powder- 2 tbsp
2. Sugar- 2 tbsp
3. Hot Water- 2 tbsp
4. Milk- 1 Cup

Method:

1. In a glass bowl add the instant coffee, sugar and hot water. Blend using a electric/ hand blender for about 5- 10 minutes. You can also whisk with hand, but it will take little bit more time than the electric blender.
2. I made stiff peaks. Pour milk in two glasses and top it with the foamy coffee mixture and enjoy sipping hot/ cold.

Mango Lassi and Rose Lassi- to beat the heat!!!!

Lassi refers to any yogurt based drink. The traditional ones are the sweet lassi and the spicy lassi. Now a days people are getting creative and varieties of lassi are introduced using different fruits. Today I am here with two lassi ideas which I am sure you all will like and try.

We can see the mango lassi in almost all the Indian restaurants. Kids to elders, everyone likes this a lot. The perfect combination of mango slices along with curd and milk with required amount of honey is what it makes an amazing thirst quencher which gives a cooling effect.

To make mango lassi , we can either use canned mangoes or mango pulp or frozen mangoes. During the fasting time this used to be a filler. These days as it is very hot, this is an amazing drink to make. Adding a dash of cardamom powder will take this lassi to another level. With the mango season and the soaring heat, this is the perfect time to make mango lassi.
Here I have used my Moscow mule mugs, which I used previously for dry ginger coffee post. Doesn't it look beautiful???

Ingredients:
For Mango Lassi:

1. Mango Pieces- 1 Cup
2. Curd- 1 Cup
3. Milk- 1/4 Cup
4. Honey- 3 tbsp
5. Cardamom Powder- 1 tsp (optional)

Method:

• Blend all  the ingredients in a blender and serve in tall glasses, garnish with slivered nuts and enjoy.

Rose Lassi is a another variety, that is made using rose syrup, which is homemade or store bought. I made this using a homemade rose syrup which I made for falooda. We can make the rose syrup and can be stored in air tight jars in refrigerator. This can be used later for making rose milkshakes, lassi and many other drinks. We can also use roohafza, which is easily available, instead of rose syrup. The nice aroma of the rose will enhance the flavors and makes you feel refreshing. Garnish with some fresh or dried rose petals.

For Rose Lassi:

1. Homemade Rose Syrup- 3 tbsp
2. Curd- 1 Cup
3. Milk- 2 tbsp
4. Honey- 2 tbsp (optional)

Method:

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender and enjoy on a hot summer day.

These drinks will be enjoyed by the guests and will be a super hit if served in a party. Just sprinkle some almonds and pistachios on top for the crunchiness, which makes it simply irresistible. Hope you all enjoyed today's post and please try this and let me know.

Very Berry Smoothie

Smoothies are a great choice for breakfast, midday snack or after a workout. This very berry smoothie is delicious, healthy, and nutritious smoothie which is filled with all your favorite berries. It takes hardly about 5 min to prepare this smoothie.

I make different varieties of smoothies and I like to have it after a nice workout. Sometimes if I am lazy to make breakfast, this will be my savior. My 4 yr old is crazy about the smoothie. Any smoothie you give him,  he will drink it without any fuss.
A  refreshing, delicious smoothie is a tasty way to drink your fruits. This is a basic smoothie recipe and a very healthy and nutritious one. You can add spinach, Greek yogurt, bananas or anything of your choice. Whatever you add, this smoothie will turn out amazingly delicious and healthy. I would always experiment with the ingredients. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, whatever it is, the outcome would be a healthy smoothie.

Ingredients:

1. Strawberries, Blueberries, raspberries- 1 Cup
2. Red Currants- a handful
3. Almond / Soy Milk- 1 Cup
4. Flax Seeds- 1 tbsp
5. Chia Seeds- 1/2 tbsp
6. Dates- 4-5 nos
7. Hemp seeds- 1 tsp

Method:

• Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth desired consistency. Enjoy.

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Healthy Banana and Mixed Berries smoothie

My dear friend introduced me to this smoothie, who herself is a big smoothie lover. She would always tell about different varieties of smoothies which she makes at home for her family. One day when I was in her house, I asked for the recipe and generously she made a big batch of this smoothie and whatever she told about the smoothie is completely true. It is a very filling, healthy, appetizing, flavorful and simply mind blowing. While adding the frozen berries, banana and spinach the smoothie will be thick, just add enough amount of water or milk.

There are lots of variations in making smoothies, like for kids we can add milk, for adults, who are health conscious can make this smoothie by adding water. Instead of regular milk, you can also add almond milk, by making the almond milk at home. I will share the recipe some other time.

This makes more healthy by adding dates instead of sugar. If you want your smoothie sweeter, you can increase the number of dates. This is so filling that you can have this instead of breakfast or lunch. I made this for lunch after my workout and it is very filling and healthy. There are much more different smoothie recipes which she gave and you can see all the recipes in my future posts. For now, enjoy an amazingly delicious healthy smoothie and stay fit...

Ingredients:

1. Banana- 1 no
2. Apple- ½ no
3. Frozen Mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries)- ½ Cup
4. Dates- 5 nos
5. Chia Seeds- 1 tbsp
6. Flax Seeds- 1 tbsp
7. Spinach- ½ Cup
8. Water- ¼ Cup

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients except chia seeds in a blender until smooth with the required amount of water.
2. Soak the chia seeds in little water for about 10 minutes.
3. Pour the smoothie into a serving glass and garnish with the soaked chia seeds and enjoy a healthy smoothie. (You can add the chia seeds in the smoothie and blend everything together).

Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar

                                            HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Sorry for my late wishes, as I was on a small vacation during this Christmas break. I hope everyone had a good time enjoying the festive time with friends and family.

I have noticed that during this vacations, most of the time I used to drink either hot coffee (my fav...) or hot chocolate milk, which is my daughter’s all-time cherished drink. As my daughter never finishes hot chocolate fully, I used to finish it off and lately I started liking this. Whenever I see a packet of hot chocolate mix, I usually make myself a cup. But nothing can beat a homemade hot chocolate as the store bought has many preservatives and hydrogenated oils added to this mix.

I thought why not make the cocoa mix ready and so whenever you want just mix the hot water and the cocoa mix and ta da, an amazingly delicious surprise is ready within no time.

I layered milk powder, cocoa powder, sugar and chocolate chips in a jar, which is also a great idea to gift to near and dear ones in this festive season, which I am sure will be loved by all. You can finish off by adding some marshmallows on top, which the kids will love.

You can layer this either in big containers or in little jars. On a cold day, nothing is finer than curling on a sofa with a hot cup of cocoa. You can make a big batch to last you all this winter. Just try this out and you will love it.

Ingredients:

1. Milk Powder/ Instant nonfat dry Milk- 1 Cup
2. Cocoa Powder- ½ cup
3. Sugar- 1 Cup
4. Chocolate Chips- ½ cup

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix about 3- 4  tbsp of this mix into a cup of boiling hot water and stir in order to get any lumps. Enjoy the delicious hot Chocolate milk in this cold weather.

Banana dates Milkshake

A perfect filling drink for iftar. Dates are good source of energy, have a rich source of protein, fiber and also rich in vitamins. Since they have natural sweetness, no need of adding sugar in the milkshake, which is good for health.

For iftar I have made this and just with a glass full of this amazing drink, you will feel energized, refresh and rejuvenate your body and no need of having anything else. Nowadays for iftar I am making fresh juices out of orange, apple and so on. Now this has become our favorite drink. Just try this out and let me know…..

Ingredients:

1. Banana- 1 no
2. Dates- 6-7 nos
3. Mixed Nuts( Cashew,Almonds and pistachios)- few
4. Bournvita- 1 tbsp
5. Milk- ½ Cup
6. Water- ½ Cup

Method:

1. In a blender, process the dates along with milk at high speed till it becomes smooth.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend it to a fine smooth puree.
3. Pour into serving glass and garnish with chopped dates and nuts.

Cucumber, Mint, Lemon Drink

In case you are wondering where I have been, its almost a month and I am getting pampered by my in- laws and my parents in my home at Kochi, doing nothing, simply sitting n eating.. atleast thats what my weighing machine says ..:-)

Now coming to the post, in this hot, sultry weather who doesn't like to have a big glass of iced juice and that too which is a good detox for your body.

This is a perfect refreshing drink as the main ingredients in this are cucumber, which helps our body to flush out toxins as it contains citrulline, which is an amino acid. This drink has mint leaves, which have a nice refreshing flavor and last but not the least lemon, which helps to stimulate and regulate the digestive tract.

 

Using these three ingredients we can make an amazing magical drink which is perfect for our body. Lets make it and enjoy in this hot weather.

Ingredients:

1. Cucumber- 1/2
2. Mint- a handful
3. Lemon- 1 no
4. Honey- 2-3 tbsps

Method:

1. Grind the cucumber, mint leaves and 1 lemon juice well in a blender.
2. Strain this in serving glasses and mix honey as required. Enjoy this amazing drink in a hot summer weather.