Strawberry Yogurt - A Healthy Summer Dessert

Strawberry yogurt with strawberry and yogurt as main ingredients is a healthy dessert in summers. Yogurt being an excellent source of protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin B 12 and strawberry being rich in folic acid and numerous other minerals. Hence, both form an excellent healthy combination.


Ingredients

2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup strawberry chopped
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp custard powder (vanilla or strawberry)
3 tbsp sugar/sweetener
1 tbsp honey
few fresh strawberries

Method

* Take 2 tbsp of milk and dissolve custard powder in it
* In a pan add remaining milk, sugar and the already made custard powder
* On a low flame cook while stirring continuously till the custard thickens and becomes creamy
* Let it cool for 10 minutes
* In a blender blend chopped strawberries, then add yogurt, honey and custard and again blend for a minute
* Pour in chilled bowls and let it cool in a refrigerator for half an hour
* Serve chilled, garnishing with fresh strawberries

French Toasts With Cream And Syrup

This is an excellent dessert with the toasts being moist, soft, and rich in flavor, a perfect ending to summer dinners. Along with cream they just taste delicious. The source of this recipe is my mother. For every girl, her mother is her source of inspiration in most of the things in life be it food, life or marriage. Food is one thing which we learn from our mothers, by doing initially small tasks then making great meals.

She usually made french toasts with left over sugar syrup from other desserts in an effort to finish off the syrup. When breads are properly soaked in syrup they are moist and soft. A single slice is enough for a dessert after meals for a person. So, depending upon the number of guests slices can be taken. Sugar syrup can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator.

Ingredients

* 4-5 slices of bread
* Oil to fry
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 cup water
* fresh whipped cream

Method

* Remove the sides of the bread slices
* Deep fry them in a wok till they turn brown
* Take a skillet and mix water and sugar in it
* Boil on medium heat till the sugar dissolves and forms a thick syrup
* Let the bread slices and sugar cool
* Soak the slices in the syrup for half an hour and place it in the refrigerator until
cold
* Serve with freshly whipped cream and chopped nuts

Black Pepper Iced Tea - Summer Cool Way

For those tea lovers who just can't live without thier daily dose of tea, iced tea is a cool way to steal the heat. Not only iced tea is refreshing but adding spices or lemon juice reduces the negative effect of tannins in iron absorption. I just love lemon tea or iced tea. It is an excellent coolant which will give you instant relief from heat.

Its not necessary to add any sweetner in it. People who are diabetic can drink it without any sweetner. For other people who are health concious, honey will do too. Sweetner, lemon and pepper give iced tea a sweet and salty flavor which is very soothing in summers.


Ingredients

* 2 tbsp tea/ tea bags
* 1 tsp black pepper powder
* 2 tbsp sugar/sweetner
* juice of 1 lemon
* 2 cup water
* ice cubes


Method
* Boil tea in water or boil water and steep the tea bags in it.
* Add black pepper and sugar and stir well
* Remove from heat and strain.
* Leave it for hal an hour so that it comes to room temperature.
* Pour in chilled glasses with lots of ice.
* Add lemon juice, stir and serve.

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Yogurt Fruit Salad - Secret For Good Health

Low in calories, rich in nutrients that is what are Fruits. Hence, are a pillar in our diet which ensures good health and natural nutrition to all individuals. Whenever possible fruits should be eaten with the skin to gain maximum nutrients and preferably 2 hours before meals rather than after meals. This recipe is an excellent way to have lots of seasonal fruits. Salad dressing remains the same, but fruits can change according to your taste and availability.

Ingredients

1 cup yogurt (water removed)
1/3 cup cream
1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin powder

2 teaspoon honey/sugar

salt to taste

1 apple chopped

5-6 strawberries chopped

1 cup black grapes

1 cup papaya chopped

1 cup green grapes

Method

* In a large bowl mix all the fruits together.

* For dressing, take another bowl and mix yogurt, cumin powder, black pepper, honey or sugar and salt to taste together.

* Pour this paste on the fruits and mix well.

* Refrigerate for 3o minutes

* Serve chilled

Toffee Date Pudding - A Summer Dessert

I know my readers must be thinking that I have a sweet tooth. But that is true. I just love to have desserts after a sumptuous dinner. This is almost a craving. If someone invites me for dinner then a sweet dish is a must. I just love chilled sweets in summers. First of all they help in digesting and then make the meal complete. This is a recipe which is easy to make although takes a little time. Go gooey with this dessert. In summers you can serve it chilled and in winters you can serve it hot.




Ingredients
For the pudding base
1 cup seedless dates
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon soda bicarbonate
1/2 cup flour
5 eggs
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tbsp vanilla essence
For Toffee Sauce
3 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp glucose
1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup milk

Method
* Boil the dates in water. Then add soda bicarbonate
* Keep this mixture in refrigerator for few hours before making the pudding
* In a bowl mix butter and brown sugar foolowed by eggs.
* Add one fourth of the flour. Pour the soak dates and water in it and mix properly.
* Cream in the remaining flour and add baking powder followed by vanilla essence.
* Butter the baking mould and pour the mixture in it.
* Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 160 degrees.
* For toffee sauce cook sugar, water and glucose till it turns into caramel color.
* Add butter and remove from heat.
* Add milk and cream together to the caramel. Mix it properly.
* Whisk till the mixture is smooth.
* In a plate place the pudding base first, then pour toffe sauce on it.
* Garnish with few nuts befor serving.

Soy Choco Milk - Nutritive Summer Drink

Soy milk is very nutritive and contains same amount of protiens as cows milk. Hence can be used as an option for milk for those people who either do not like milk or are allergic to it. Kids will love it as much as the adults.





Ingredients

2 cup soya milk

2 tbsp sugar/any sweetner

2 tbsp choclate powder

1 tbsp choclate chips

few ice cubes (crushed)



Method

* Mix all the ingredients in a blender jar except choclate chips

* Blend for few seconds till smooth

* Pour into chilled glasses

* Garnish with choclate chips and serve

Date Cake - For Someone You Love

A special cake recipe and when you will have its first bite you will fell in love with its delicious taste. Date Cake is a delight to eat. If you had a fight with your husband or want to win over some new love, do try to make this. I am sure anyone will fell in love with its distinct flavor and softness. Also its so easy to make unlike all the cakes. Maybe the first time you don't get it right but there is no trick in it.


Ingredients

18-20 dates (seedless)
3-4 cup milk
3-4 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
nuts chopped


Method

* Blend the dates in a blender along with sugar. ( Although I first boil the dates in
milk and then blend )
* Add milk and blend again till a smooth paste is formed.
* Take out in a bowl and add oil, mix.
* In a separate bowl mix baking soda and flour together.
* Then add flour slowly, mixing with a spoon at the same time. So that no lumps are
formed.
* If you want then you can add nuts and cherries.
* Preheat the oven at 350F
* Take a baking dish grease it with oil.
* Pour the paste in the baking dish.
* On a frying pan roast some sugar, till a brown liquid is formed.
* Pour the liquid sugar on the paste.
* Bake for 40 minutes. (Before taking out, do check by inserting a knife in the
cake.)

Strawberry Smoothie - A Low Calorie Summer Cooler

You know being rich in antioxidants and low in calories, Strawberry is considered as the best antidote for aging and that is the reason why there are many creams, moisturizers and skin care products have it as one of the important ingredients. I never knew this until today. So women, who want to be young forever start having strawberries more and more. And this the season from April to July to have abundant of fresh strawberries.

Do not wait, try out this easy smoothie recipe, one of the ways to have strawberries. If you are using frozen strawberries, then prefer adding sugar or honey or any other sweetener. To enjoy the taste of strawberry, don't blend them too much. When I am telling you about strawberries, then I will give one more tip. While buying, take only the reddest ones ie those which are fully ripe. And for storing for a few days, place them in a bowl with a plastic covering on top.

Ingredients

6-7 large strawberries
1-2 cup of milk or yogurt
2 scoops of vanilla or strawberry ice cream
sugar (optional)

Method

* Blend strawberries in a blender till they form a smooth paste. If you want, then you can add sugar to sweeten your smoothie.
* Add milk or yogurt. Again blend or shake a little, until everything mixes.
* Serve in chilled glasses.
* If you want, you can add vanilla or strawberry ice cream on top.

Strawberries are rich in various nutrients, with vitamin C heading. They also contain significant levels of phyto nutrients and antioxidants,vitamin K and manganese, as well as folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Coconut Pineapple Pancake - For Kids Breakfast

Pancakes are easy to make and kids love them.To get your kids to eat sensibly and obtain the nutrition they need, you just have to experiment with the ingredients ofthe pancake. A few changes and you can give your child daily a different meal and all the necessary nutrients they need in their proper growth.

Instead of using flour you can try making pancakes using wheat or mix both in certain amount. For filling you can use coconut, choclate, cheese, banana, strawberry or raspberry and for toppings any jam, maple syrup, peanut butter or fruits. Here I have used pineapple and coconut as the main ingredients. Those who love pinapples will love this recipe.

Ingredients

For Pancake

2 cup flour
1 cup coconut milk

2 eggs

1 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

For Filling

1 tbsp butter

1 cup grated pineapple

1 cup grated coconut

sugar/brown sugar to taste

Method

* In a bowl mix flour, coconut milk, eggs, water and salt. Make a smooth paste.
* For making filling, mix the mashed or grated pineapple and coconut with sugar and butter

* On a hot, greased frying pan pour around 3 spoons of the batter.
* Place some filling on it. Then roll it or pour some more batter on the filling.
* Flip and brown the second side too, if you don't want to make a pancake roll and just want to have stuffed pancakes.

* For topping, add butter and pineapple or maple syrup.

Bael Fruit Squash - A Healthy Summer Drink

Bael, Bengal Quince or Wood Apple is a fruit found in the dry forests of India and the regions around in summers. Rich in riboflavin, it is used to prepare numerous drinks, squashes and candies. Pulp of the ripe bael when eaten acts as a superb laxative. Pregnant women can have in the morning to avoid nausea. With butter and sugar, bael fruit is good for improving memory power for growing children.

I still remember, when I was young my mother used to almost force me to eat ripe bael. But I used to hate it at that time. Actually children in that age have a tendency to dislike everything that their parents ask them to do. Still to make me have such a nutritional fruit, she used to make me the delicious bael squash which I used to gulp down, as soon as I reached back home after school or play. Now when I am grown and fully aware of the qualities of bael and love its refreshing flavor in summers (consists of 61% moisture), I want every mother or wife should make this summer drink and give to their children and husband.

For older and diabetic people, I would advice to avoid sugar. If they want a flavor then they can replace sugar with salt to taste and pinch of blacksalt. Even lime juice is good as it gives the drink a sweet & salty taste.



Ingredients

1 bael
2 tsp sugar (optional)
2 glass water (chilled)

Method

- Extract the pulp of the bael fruit with help of spoon or knife
- Pass through a sieve For removing seeds, pass the pulp through a sieve
- Add sugar and water. Shake well
- Serve in chilled glasses

Cottage Cheese Salad - For That Lean Look

Salads come with a lot of health benefits.


Ingredients

1 cup cottage cheese (paneer), cut into small slices
1 tomato chopped
1 cucumber chopped
1 onion chopped
1-2 chillies
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper powder
1 tsp lime juice
Salt to taste
chopped coriander leaves

Method

* On a frying pan roast the sliced cottage cheese pieces till light brown (around 2-3
minutes)
* Take a bowl, mix tomatoes, cucumber, green chillies and cottage cheese
* Add lime juice, black pepper and salt according to taste
* Before serving, garnish with chopped coriander leaves

Potato Chutney - Spicy Recipe

Some dishes are never complete without freshly home made chutney. They add to the flavor of the food and are a talk of the table. Dry chili chicken, chili paneer or roasted dishes that are made without curry, require a chutney to go along with them.

Although potato chutney is not my own recipe, but i learned from a colleague of mine at work. While working women have a habit of talking anything and everything from work to home which includes the world in it. In between these talks only we shared our recipes. The special thing about it is that, its so easy to make and can be made in any season. But my advice is to eat it fresh to enhance the flavor of your snacks or appetizers.


Ingredients

2-3 potatoes
2-3 green chillies
bunch of coriander leaves
2-3 garlic
1 cup curd
1/2 teaspoon black salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt to taste

Method

* Boil potatoes in salted water till properly cooked
* Peel the potatoes
* Wash the coriander leaves properly
* In a blender mix boiled potatoes, curd, salt, black salt, green chillies, lemon
juice, garlic and salt according to taste
* Blend for few minutes, till it becomes a smooth paste

Black Forest Cake - A Very Happy Birthday

"I’m wishing you another year
Of laughter, joy and fun,
Surprises, love and happiness,
And when your birthday’s done,I hope you feel deep in your heart,
As your birthdays come and go,
How very much you mean to me,
More than you can know."

Birthdays are always special and if of someone close to our heart then we want to make them feel special on this special day. This post is dedicated to that someone special. If it would have been possible then I would have prepared a special kind of treat which would include Candle Light Dinner with a Birthday Cake.



Ingredients

225 gms Maida (all purpose flour)
400 gms Sweetened condensed milk
2-3 tbsp Cocoa powder
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Cooking soda
125 gms Butter
200 ml Aerated cola drink
A pinch of salt
125gms Dairy Milk Chocolate
250 gms Fresh whipped cream
10 Cherries


Method


* Place a thick bottomed pan on very low flame and melt butter in it.
* Remove from the flame and let the butter cool.
* Add condensed milk and mix well.
* Sift maida, cocoa powder, baking powder, cooking soda and salt together.
* Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture.
* Grease a baking tray with little butter.
* Dust it with maida and keep it aside.
* Take a pan with little butter and put the maida mixture with the condensed milk-butter mixture.
* Now add aerated cola and mix it well.
* Pour the batter into the greased baking tray and bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 150 degrees C.
* When it is done, let it cool and then slit it horizontally into two.
* Whip the cream till light and fluffy.
* Sandwich the two layers of cake with whipped cream and designed cherries.
* Top with whipped cream and cherries.
* Grate dairy milk chocolate bar and sprinkle over the cake.
* Serve it chilled.

Summer Special - Lychee Shake

Summer is a time to rejoice and have lots of watery fruits. Lychee is one of such tropical fruit belonging to soapberry family. In China it is a symbol of love and romance. The taste is so tempting that once you start eating, you will want to eat more and more.




Ingredients

2 cup milk or low fat milk or yogurt
2 cup Lychee pulp
2 tbsp sugar/honey
Crushed ice

Method

* Lychee pulp is made by removing the cover and seeds of
7-8lychees, then blending them in a mixer
* Combine milk, lychee pulp, sugar or honey and crushed ice in
a mixer
* Blend till a smooth consistency is achieved ( takes only
20-30 seconds)
* Serve in chilled glasses

Egg Biryani - A Quick Meal

When you are a working woman, then life is not at all easy. Juggling between home and work makes you completely stressed out. And many a times after a hectic day of work, you don't have energy left for making dinner. At these times meals like Egg Biryani or Egg Rice work. Easy to make and not much of the ingredients are required.

Although people usually use boiled eggs for making egg biryani. I experimented a bit and changed it according to my preferences and taste. This way rice gets the taste and aroma of eggs making it delicious to eat. I have made this for many people and everyone liked it. Its light to eat in dinner and also less spicy.



Ingredients

3 eggs
1 cup rice
1 medium onion chopped
1/2 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp chicken masala
1/2 tsp red chili powder
2 tbsp cooking oil
fresh ground black pepper
salt to taste
fresh chopped coriander leaves

Method

* In a bowl beat 2 eggs together. Add a pich of salt & red
chili powder
* Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet and pour the beaten eggs
* Cook the beaten eggs till they set a little. Then break them
into small pieces
* In a pressure cooker, heat the remaining oil. Add onions and
fry till they are golden brown.
* Add rice. Fry them also a little on medium heat.
* Mix eggs made earlier. Add garam masala, salt, red chili,
black pepper and chicken masala powder.
* Finally add a cup of water and an egg (uncooked), stir well. Close the pressure
cooker. Cook till one whistle comes.
* Before serving garnish with chopped coriander leaves

Chilli Cheese Toast - A Healthy Snack For Kids

Making your kids eat food has been always a big task for mothers. As a kid my brother was also such a kid. He liked all the stuff which was unhealthy. So my mom had to think of lots of ways to make the food tasty as well as healthy so that he may have it. Cheese toast was one of her many creations although the idea came from my brother. He had cheese toast at one of his friends house and then wanted mom to make it. My mother improvised a little and came up with this Chilly Cheese toast which is very delicious when eaten hot with tomato ketchup.

Paneer, the basic ingredient of chilly cheese toast is a very nutritious cottage cheese extremely popular with kids and a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates and calcium. When served hot cheese toast just melts in mouth. If you want you can add other vegetables also like chopped tomatoes, shredded cabbage or carrot etc. Kids will love it in their breakfast or evening snacks along with a glass of milk or fresh juice. The key is making the food fun to eat.

Ingredients

6 slices of white/brown bread
2 capsicum chopped

100 grams paneer (cottage cheese)

1 onion chopped

coriander leaves chopped

2 green chillies chopped (not mandatory)

salt to taste

1 teaspoon black pepper

4 tbsp cheese spread
1 tbsp tomato ketchup

Method

* In a big bowl mix paneer, onion, coriander, chillies, capsicum, salt and pepper
together.
* Spread the mixture on bread slices.
* Apply cheese spread on the mixture or cheddar cheese
* Place the bread slices on the baking tray in a single layer
* Bake the bread slices in a preheated oven at 200C (400F) for about 10-15
minutes
* Serve them hot with tomato ketchup. If you want you can cut the bread slices
diagonally to make triangles.