Water Melon Straw berry Delight

 Today my summer special recipe is Water Melon Strawberry Delight. Both fruits are very juicy and providing great refreshment in summer days. Daily i am trying different fruit juices with different combination of fruits. One day i  had only these two fruits so i tried with them. Water melon has sweet taste and straw berry has some what sweet & sour taste, so it was very tasty with nice flavor.

Watermelon is not only delicious, but extremely healthy,as well. Melons are also abundant in vitamin C and are rich in carotenoids. Carotenoids have antioxidant activity, free-radical scavenging property. Watermelon seeds are excellent sources of protein.Watermelon seed is rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, zinc etc. In the Arab world, salted and roasted watermelon seeds are also consumed as a snack. Researchers believe that beta-carotene and vitamin C are capable of preventing heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions. Any how water melons are very tasteful snack item in summer.

Strawberries have higher levels of vitamin C,fiber,folate and potassium than most other fruits like bananas,apples and even oranges. Strawberries are found to reduce risk of cancer, enhance memory function and rheumatoid arthritis. High in Antioxidants,Low in Sugar. Even though they're so sweet, strawberries are naturally low in sugar.This makes them a perfect snack or dessert. Indulge without feeling guilty.

 Ingredients:

Water Melon (small size)- 1

Straw berry -6 0r 8

Low fat milk - 1/2 cup

Honey - 2 tsp

Method of preparation:

1.  Remove the watermelon skin and chop the melon into small pieces and discard the seeds.
2. Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. you can reduce the honey depending on taste. If the water melon is already sweet, you can make do without the honey too if you wish.
3. In case it gets too thick you can add more milk or water.
4. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate them for some time.
5. Now yummy and cool Water melon Strawberry Delight is ready to drink.

Poha(rice flakes) Dosa

Today my recipe is poha (rice flakes/atukulu) dosa.This is very smooth and spongy dosa.This dosa is ideal tiffin for breakfast/snack time.This is made up of rice,poha and curd. It is an easy-to-make and nutritious snack.This is  a combination of carbohydrates,vitamins and minerals including iron. You can add vegetables like carrot ,capsicum, tomatoes, paneer and onions for topping. I made it plain only. Usual dosa is very thin and crispy but this is some what thick and spongy. You can use either fresh or sour curd. Some people like to eat dosa with sour taste but I made it with fresh curd I don't like sour curd. I made it with parboiled rice.You should use brown rice /parboiled rice. Don't use white polished rice, it doesn't have any nutritional values. I hope you like it too.....

Happy  cooking..............

Ingredients:

Poha (rice flakes/atukulu) - 1 cup

Par-boiled rice -  2 cups

Curd (plain yoghourt) - 1 cup

Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

Salt to taste 

Cooking oil  - 2 tsp

Method of preparation:

1. Wash and soak the par-boiled rice and fenugreek seeds together for about 4 hours. 
2. Whisk the curd (yoghurt ) with a little water to make it a little thin. Add the rice flakes to it and soak for 1 hour.
3.  Add sufficient water and blend the rice, fenugreek seeds and soaked poha (rice flakes) in a food processor/wet grinder into a smooth batter. The consistency should be like that of ordinary dosa batter. Finally add salt and mix well. Allow to ferment overnight or for about 6 hours. 
4. Heat the dosa pan, apply oil on pan properly and  pour out a ladleful of the batter on pan in round form and Cover with a lid and simmer cook till done.
5. Roast the dosa on both sides well.
6. Yummy and healthy dosa is ready to eat with coconut chutney and sambar.

Pink Punch

Today my summer thirst recipe is pink punch.This is made by pink fruits such as water melon, pomegranate and straw berry. This is very refreshing summer drink. In summer we want to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, but it is not possible when we are outside so we should drink  some liquids like fruits /fruit juices /coconut water /buttermilk before going to outside. Till now I posted many refreshing summer beverages, but now I made some colorful and healthy drink with pink color fruits. I am giving some health benefits about these pink color fruits (from:Google)

 Health benefits:

1.Pomegranate fruit is Packed with antioxidants equal to those in green tea and red wine, and especially loaded with Vitamin C and Potassium. Pomegranate health benefits are 

Lower Risk of Heart Disease ,Lower Risk of Cancer, Especially Prostate & Breast ,Lessen Symptoms of Diarrhea ,Reduce Cholesterol,Control Your Weight  and Fight Cell Damage.

 

2.In fact, most melons are rich in potassium, a nutrient that may help control blood pressure, regulate heart beat, and possibly prevent strokes.Melons are also abundant in vitamin C. Researchers believe that beta-carotene and vitamin C are capable of preventing heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.  

3.Strawberry is a wonder fruit. It is rich in antioxidants and helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases, cancer and also helps in delaying aging. Studies suggest that the high antioxidant levels in the strawberries can help neutralize the negative effects of free radicals in your system. Antioxidants also boost the immune system and help keep off diseases like cold and flu.Strawberries are also rich in vitamins and minerals and are low in calories.

 I hope you follow my recipe and happy cooking.......

Ingredients:

Pomegranate seeds - 1/2 cup
Water melon, cut into cubes - 1 cup
Strawberry fruits - 6 to 8 
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
Honey(optional) - 2 tsp

Method of preparation:

1. Take a mixer jar, add watermelon cubes, pomegranate seeds and strawberry and blend them.
2. Strain the juice and add honey and lemon juice and mix well.
3. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate them.
4. Now yummy and colorful pink punch is ready to drink. 

Basil Seed (Sabja) Drink

 Today my recipe is basil seed ( sabja) drink.This is very old recipe my mom used to make it daily in summer to avoid dehydration.This is very refreshing beverage in summer.The visual aspect of the drink is unusual and not very appealing and it is like gummy-textured sugar water but it tastes great to drink. You can use it directly with plain water and with different fruit flavors such as banana, mango juices and etc. It is also taken with green tea.This is very simple to make and When soaked in water, the seeds of several basil varieties become gelatinous, and are used in Asian drinks and some desserts also. They are used for their medicinal properties in Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system of India and Siddha medicine, a traditional Tamil system of medicine. They are also used as drinks in Southeast Asia. I came to know how it was very healthy after reading health benefits of basil seeds. We drink thrice a week in summer. I am giving some health benefits of basil seeds (from:Google).........

1. Increases movement in stomach/intestines so that you digest faster; more active
2. The basil seeds sucks toxins and fat then increases bowel movement
3. Bowel movement increases toxin/waste removal which promotes healthy, beautiful skin
4. Burns calories
5. Decreases consumption of sugar level and cholesterol
6. After meals, it decreases glucose level and control "blood sugars" from rising
7. If you consume sugar, it will cover the sugar content so your body won't absorb it which lowers sugar levels
8.  It prevents heart attacks, heart strokes and other heart diseases
9. Good for people with diabetes and controls weight
10.  so basically when you eat basil seeds, it's kind of sticky, so it tends to stick to the walls of your digestive system, and when you intake food, it reduces the chance of your digestive system absorbing cholesterol, fat, sugars, etc. because the basil seeds won't let the food touch the walls etc.                                                                                                                                              I hope you  follow my recipe and be healthy............... 

 Ingredients:

Basil seeds ( sabja) -2 tablespoons

Water -500 ml

Jaggery/honey - 2 tablespoons

Cardamom powder - 1/4 teaspoon

Black pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon

 Method of preparation:

1. Keep in mind that 2 tablespoons of seeds will make at least 500 ml of basil seed spheres. It’s a cheap drink: 
2.  Rinse the seeds under a tap to clean them by using tea strainer.
3.  Soak the seeds in 100ml water for 30 minutes.
4.  With the other 400ml of water, warm it with the jaggery and honey until the jaggery is fully dissolved. Add cardamom powder and black pepper powder and mix well. Remove from heat and leave to cool back to room temperature. 
5. Once the  jaggery water is at room temperature, and the basil seeds have swelled mix them all together well. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate for some time.
6. Now yummy and healthy basil seed drink is ready to drink and think well...........