Easy Mango Ice Cream - With just 3 ingredients / Summer special

    Today is the final day of Blogging marathon week #3.I wanted to end with a happy note.Prepared these mango ice cream after checking "Show me the curry" site.It was so easy and quick.We thoroughly enjoyed this ice cream.We can either use fresh magoes or mango puree ,which comes in can.Select mangoes that are ripe and sweet.If not ice cream will not be too good.Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#27

 

Ingredients:
1.Mango Pulp                          – 30 oz can or pulp of 2 mangoes
2.Sweetened Condensed Milk – 14 oz can
3.Whipped Cream                    – 8 oz container
4.Fresh Mango                          – cubed

Method:
   When we are using mango puree,just add it to the mixing bowl.If you are going tp use fresh mangoes,slice the mango pieces and puree them in a blender.At last add it to the bowl.
* In a big bowl pour in the Mango Pulp, Condensed Milk and the Whipped Topping.
*  Fold them in very well but very gently.

* Pour into a dish with a tight fitting lid.
* Cover and place in the freezer for 2 hours.
* After 2 hours, mix in the cubed Mango pieces and return dish to the freezer.
*  Allow it to freeze for another 3 hours or so.
Notes:
* Fresh Mango plup can be substituted for the can.
* Add in Tutti-fruiti, nuts, saffron or cubes of cake for a variation

Strawberry Lassi

Strawberry season is at its peak now.Though it is available throught the year,its harvested a lot in summer.So prepared this lassi .We can alter the amount of sugar and strawberries according to our taste. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#27

 

Ingredients:

1.Strawberries         -      4 to 5

2.Yogurt    -           1/2 cup

3.Sugar  -       2 tbsp

4.Strawberries  -  for garnishing

 

Method:

* Take a blender,add strawberries,yogurt and sugar.

* Blend it well.

* If we want some chilled effect,add some ice cubes.

* Garnish with some sliced strawberries.

* Enjoy summer.

 

 

Blueberry Muffin

       Blueberries are available throughout the year ,here is US.But very sweet,ripen blueberries are available from April.The hot sun enhances the produce of blueberries.We went for blueberry picking last year.When we are allowed to pick our own blueberries in a basket.I already prepared jam out of the first batch of blueberries.I also preapred these blueberry muffins .This was in my draft for so long.So posting this for this week's theme"Seasonal" recipes.

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Ingredients:

1.All purpose flour                   -         2 cups
2.Sugar                                     -          1/3 cup
3.Eggs                                       -          2
4.Salt                                         -          1/4 tsp
5.Baking pwdr                           -          2 tsp
6.Milk                                        -           3/4 cup
7.Blueberries                              -           2 cups
8.Lemon zest                              -           1 tsp
9.Vanilla essence                        -           1 tsp
10.Butter                                     -            4 tbsp (1/2 stick)

Method:
Pre heat oven at 350 degree farenhiet for 10 to 15 mins.Line muffin tray with liners.
* Wash the blueberries and pat dry them.Take a muslin cloth and add a little flour in it.Now dump the blueberries and roll them with the flour.This step is very essential.This will make the blueberries to spread throughout the batter.If not the berries will go directly down to the batter and the cupcake will not rise properly.

* Take a mixing bowl,add sieved flour,baking powder,salt .Mix them well.In another bowl,add butter and sugar.Cream them well with a hand mixer.Now add eggs one by one.Whisk it with vanilla essence.
* Now slowly,add the milk and flour mixture alternatively.Start with flour and end with flour.At last add the blueberries and lemon zest.Mix them well with the whisk.Fill the muffin tray with the prepared mixture.Let the muffin liners be 3/4 full.

* Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or untill toothpick comes out clean.I have baked them in 2 batches.Cool the muffins on a wire rack.When cooled completely brush them with some butter for a shiny glaze.When we break the muffins,we can see the blueberries melting from heat.Its divine to have blueberries in muffins.

Pink Lemonade

    Making lemonade for summer was usual in our homes.This time wanted to prepare different variety of lemonade.Had some strawberries in my pantry.So pureed them and made into ice cubes.Then added it to the lemonade.They were so colourfull and catchy.We can prepare these lemonades for our kitty party.Sure kids will love these.

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 Ingredients:
1.Strawberries                   -             5 to 6
2.Lemon juice                   -              1 cup
3.Sugar                              -              2 tbsp
4.Mint leaves                    -               few
5.Water                             -               as required

 Method:
* Wash the strawberries and puree them ,with a tsp of sugar .There should not be any chunks.If we want,we can add some water to the puree.
* Take ice cube tray and fill it with the strawberry pureed.We will get around 6 cubes of strawberry ice.Freeze it for 3 to 4 hours.I left it in the freezer for a day.
* Run the ice tray in water and take the strawberry cubes out of it.
* Meanwhile,take two tall glasses.Add lemon juice half cup in each glass .Mix required amount of water and sugar in each glass.When you are about to serve,just add the strawberry ice cubes to the lemonade glass.This will give wonderful colour to the lemonade.
* Strawberry ice cubes will start to dissolve quickly.So add it when you are about to serve.Adjust sugar according to your taste.

Watermelon Juice - A summer delight

Watermelon season is everywhere.Just enjoy this drink like any other.I am just cleaning my draft.This post was sitting in my folder for more than a year. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#27



Ingredients:

1.Watermelon        -       1 cup

2.Sugar    -             2 tbsp

3.Honey      -     1 tbsp

4.Lime juice          -    1/2 tsp

 

Method:

* Blend everything well in a blender and enjoy this healthy drink.

* Sieve it,if you don't like the pulp.But I prefer to drink that way.

* Have a wonderful summer.

 

Strawberry Banana smoothie

     Today is day 2 of  week 3 of BM#27.Under the theme "Seasonal", I am giving recipes for summer.This is yet another easy breezy recipe to cool off the summer heat.Just add everything in the blender and make it a smoothie.When we come home from school in the hot sun,my mom will keep something like this smoothie ready.We always enjoy fruits ,other than anything.

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Ingredients:
1.Banana                           -                1
2.Strawberries                   -                4 to 5
3.Milk                               -                 1/2 cup
4.Sugar                             -                  2 tbsp
5.Ice cream                       -                  1 dallop



Method:
* Take a mixie jar,add banana cubes,strawberry pieces and give it a pulse.
* Now add ice cubes ,sugar,milk and blend it well.
* At last add a dallop of ice cream and serve it.

Kezhvaragu Koozh with kothamalli thuvayal / Finger millet porridge with cilantro chutney

 Today Day 1 of week 3 of BM#27.Throughout this week,I will be posting recipes under the theme " Seasonal".Today I chose "Kezhvaragu koozh or Ragi porridge for the "Summer".There are so many natural coolers ,to be drunk instead of Sodas.My mom is very strict in this and will cook natural foods on a regular basis.When I got ragi flour,prepare this ,with my mom's directions.This koozh can be prepared ahead of time and consumed regularly.When we need to make these,just take a small amount,mix it with buttermilk and salt.Have it with any spicy curry or chutney.Today I have given the recipe for cilantro chutney.
 I still remember the road side shops at Erode Bus stand,which sells these porridges in glasses.There will always be a crowd,wanting to drink it instead of sodas.The price is less ,but the health benefits are more.So avoid drinking sodas,choose these kind of health drinks.

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Ingredients:

1.Ragi flour /Finger millet flour         -              1 cup

2.Raw rice                                           -              1/4 cup

3.Buttermilk                                        -               1 cup

4.Salt                                                   -                1/2 tsp

5.Water                                                -                as required

6.Small onions                                     -                hand full

 

 

 

Method: 

 * Take the ragi flour in a mixing bowl,add little salt and mix it with water to form a batter.This batter can be like our idli/dosa batter.Just ferment it overnight in a warm place.I kept it in my oven with just  the light on.When we open the bowl in the morning,the batter would have risen and will have a ferment smell.This step is very necessary.If not our koozh will not be that tasty.Below you can see my fermented batter.

 

* Take a blender or mixie,run the washed rice coarsely,untill it is broken well.Keep this aside,we need this,when we cook koozh.Take a pan or heavy bottomed wok.Add water and bring it to boil.Now add the broken rice and cook ,till the rice collapses ,when we press it slightly.Now pour the fermented batter into the pan.Mix it wel and cook it in medium flame.

* The porridge,will start thickening and reduce in its volume.Mix the koozh with a stick.Yes , you read it correctly.Usually my mom uses a round stick to mix the koozh.This way,it is easy to mix than using a laddle.

* We can check the porridge,whether it is cooked or not,by checking it by our wet fingures.If the koozh is sticky,then it is not done.When the koozh is cooked well,it will not stick to our wet fingures.

* Cool the koozh completely .When we need it,just take a small amount of this cooked koozh ,mix it with buttermilk ,salt and crushed small onions.We can serve this koozh with Mochakottai karuvattu kuzhambu or simply green chillies or any spicy curry.

 

Kothamalli thuvayal / Cilantro chutney:
Ingredients:
1.Cilantro                             -        2 bunches
2.Red chillies                       -        5 to 6
3.Tamarind                           -        small gooseberry size
4.Urad dal                             -        1 tsp
5.salt                                      -        to taste
6.Oil                                      -         1 tsp

Method:
* Wash and clean the cilantro.Don't remove the stem from the leaves.Take a pan,add oil saute urad dal,red chillies till golden brown.Keep it aside.Now add the cilantro and saute it till it changes colour.
* When we are about to take it from the flame,add the tamarind and saute it well.Cool everything completely.Now grind it in the blender ,till they turn into smooth paste.Add salt to the thuvayal.Serve with koozh We can also temper some mustard seeds,urad dal and add it to the thuvayal for added taste.