Homemade Rose Syrup

I came across this recipe in Divya's blog and was so mesmerized by the idea of making homemade rose syrup. I bookmarked the recipe at once. Rose milk has always been my son's favorite. And hence, rose milk syrup or Roohafza has always been in my regular grocery list. After trying this recipe, I'm so happy to have my homemade syrup which I don't need to buy anymore and will also be very helful during the next Ramadan. Home made syrups are ten times better than the store bought ones. This is one of the simplest and easiest syrup recipe that I have come across.We can use them to sweeten drinks, drizzled on pancakes for breakfast, for milkshakes, lassis and even in some desserts like cakes and frosting's. The color was very intense pink and beautiful. Not only is the aroma and the color attractive, but you will love the flavor too. I highly recommend this recipe to everyone. Make for yourself and enjoy this exotic and aromatic drink

Ingredients:-

• ½ heaping cup red rose petals (4 big roses)
• 2 cups (500 ml) water
• 1½ cups sugar
• 1 clove

Method:-

• Clean rose petals with water. Arrange it on a cookie tray. 
• Heat the oven to the minimum temperature. Keep the tray on the top rack and let it dry for 30 mins.
• Remember not to switch on the timer, we need only the heat to dry 
• Boil the water. Place these petals in a jar and pour the boiled water, stir for 5 seconds. 
• Let it cool down to room temperature, then refrigerate for 12 to 15 hours. 
• Strain the water to a pan. 
• Place the pan on medium flame and add sugar, clove to the pan. 
• Keep stirring to dissolve the sugar. 
• After the foam starts clearing, water starts to boil. 
• Let it simmer for 10 minutes, switch off.
• Cool completely as it achieves syrup consistency after cooling down.
• Store (along with the clove) in a clean bottle.

Notes:- 

• Just make sure the flowers you use haven't been sprayed with pesticides.
• You may use ½ heaping cup store brought dried roses instead of fresh ones.
• Instead of heating it in the oven you can also sun dry the roses for ½ an hour everyday for 2 days.
• Skip the heating and drying process if you're using dried store brought rose petals.
• Sugar can be increased/decreased according to your requirement or thickness of syrup. 
• Cardamon, Cinnamon, Star anise are other ingredients that can be added but remember it might make the syrup stronger in flavor and smell. I avoided them intentionally to let the actual rose flavor remain.
• Shelf like is more than a month but refrigeration is also accepted.

Happy Cooking!! 

Sending this to :- Cutchi Kitchen'sGiveaway and Hetal's 1st Anniversary Celebration Giveaway and Pramitha love cooking celebrating 1st blog anniversary page andFoodabulous Fest Event organised by SimplyTADKA & Rafeeda's Announcement Page and Srivalli's Kid's Delight Potluck Party and  Amrita's Party Event 

Mint Lemonade

This recipe was lying in my drafts for quite some time. I love this simple combination of ground mint and freshly squeezed lemons as it is tangy, refreshing and a great thirst quencher too. This slushy drink contains lots of lemonade as well as lots of mint which gives it a strong flavor and a bright colour. It is a perfect drink to have on a hot and humid afternoons.

Ingredients:-

• handful of mint leaves
• 1 cup sprite
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp black salt
• lots of ice cubes

Method:-

• Combine all the ingredients in a blender. 
• Blend it well.
• Pour into glasses.
• Serve chilled. 

Notes:-

• You may also substitute black salt for ¼ tsp salt
• You may use any white drink (7 up, mountain dew, or even soda) instead of sprite.

Happy Cooking!! 

 

Sending this entry to :- Lets cook with Citrus Fruits and Guru's Summer ’13 Drinks & Desserts 

 

Mango Milkshake

Summer time in other words means mango time. Being an ardent fan of mangoes, I used to be so delighted as a kid to come home and find Mom always ready with aamras, mango lassi and mango milkshake during summer seasons. This is a delicious, refreshing and healthy drink and can also be considered as an energetic drink for kids. My son loves this drink a lot.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup chopped mangoes
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp sugar

Method:-

• Combine all the ingredients in a blender. 
• Blend it well till smooth.
• Pour into glasses.
• Top with a few mango cubes.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:-

• If you want a more rich and creamy texture, add 4 tbsp condensed milk instead of sugar to the milkshake.
• You may add 2 tbsp fresh cream or mango ice-cream also while blending.
• This yields two glasses of milkshake.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- Kauser's - Mango Delights and Easy to Prepare in 15 minutes and Love For Mum & Jagrutis Celebrate Love For Mum and Foodabulous Fest Event organised by Simply Tadka & hosted by Daily Chores and Only Dessert @ Foodelicious and WTML–Walk Through Memory Lane & Gayathri's Announcement page and SUMMER SPECIAL Event and Healthy Food for Healthy Kids - Mango & Host line up page and Kid’s Delight–Sweet Treats &  Valli's Announcement page and  Guru's Summer ’13 Drinks & Desserts and Foodelicious Cook Like Mom Event

Indian Espresso Coffee

I am not a tea or coffee person at all. My Mom was very strict with kids drinking tea and coffee. In fact, my 'Nani' (grandmother) used to feel it will affect our complexion. I have applied the same theory with my son. But when I make coffee for myself or my hubby, it has to be The Indian Espresso Coffee. Nothing else works for me. The best part is you can make espresso coffee at home and that too without a coffee maker. 

Ingredients:- 

• 1¼ tsp instant coffee pdr
• ½ tsp cardamom pdr 
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup milk pdr

Method:-

• In a pan, heat milk and water till it comes to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a blender, add cardamom pdr, sugar, milk pdr, coffee pdr and keep aside.
• Switch off the flame, as soon as the milk starts boiling.
• Add half of the milk to the blender and immediately blend well.
• Mix with the remaining half milk.
• Pour in coffee mugs.
• Sprinkle little coffee pdr and serve hot.

Notes:-

• You may omit cardamom pdr if you wish.
• You may sprinkle cocoa pdr instead of coffee pdr before serving.
• I kept half of the milk aside so that the coffee stays warm enough to drink when mixed with the remaining hot milk.
• This recipe makes two cups of coffee.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :-  Favorite Recipes Event: Drinks and WTML–Walk Through Memory Lane & Gayathri's Announcement page and Show Your Best Creation  and  Original Spotlight Announcement Page

Strawberry Slush

I love strawberries. Strawberries are full of vitamin C, and also a good source of folic acid, iron, potassium and magnesium. They are also one of  the highly concentrated antioxidant fruits which helps fight cancer and strengthen our immune system. Today, I made this simple yet amazing and refreshing strawberry slush. Slushes are drinks which have lots of ice in it. This drink is fresh, healthy, and perfect for a hot summer day.  

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup strawberries
• 1½ cup crushed ice
• 3 tbsp sugar
• ½ cup sprite
• a pinch of salt

Method:-

• Remove the green petals and pull the stalks of the strawberry. Wash them well.
• Blend the strawberries along with all the other ingredients.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:-

• You may also use blueberries, watermelon or kiwi instead of strawberries to make slush.
• You may also use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones.
• You may add honey instead of sugar.

Happy Cooking!! 

Sending this entry to :- Healthy Food for Healthy Kids-Juices and Sweets & Dessert Event @ MJ Delights and Dish Name Starts with S and Kid's Delight Event Announcement - 5 Ingredient Fix & Valli's Kid's Delight announcement and Foodabulous Fest Event organised by Simply Tadka & hosted by Daily Chores and Only Dessert @ Foodelicious and  Favorite Recipes Event: Drinks and Hearth and Soul Blog Hop  and SUMMER SPECIAL Event

 

Mango Lassi

Lassi is a yogurt-based delicious and refreshing drink. It is prepared in two ways - sweet and salty. On the other hand, mango is the King of all the fruits and the combo of mango and lassi is heavenly. When we were kids, my Mom used to make aamras, mango lassi or mango milkshake almost everyday for us in summer. After a long day at school, that smooth and rich drink felt divine. And thus began my love for mangoes. Do try this and I'm sure you will fall in love with this simple drink. 

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup mango (peeled & diced)
• 1 cup yogurt
• ½ cup milk
  
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 8 - 10 ice cubes

Method:-

• Combine all the ingredients in a blender. 
• Blend it well till smooth.
• Pour into glasses.
• Top with a few mango cubes.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:-

• You may substitute chopped mangoes with mango pulp or mango puree
• You fresh curd for best results, but if you find the yogurt is a bit sour, add some more milk and sugar to the lassi.
• You may substitute any fruit instead of mangoes as per your liking for ex. strawberries, oranges or pineapples.
• You may omit the fruit and make plain lassi or add 2 tbsp of rose syrup or roohafza or nutella to the lassi.

Happy Cooking!! 

Sending this entry to :-  Healthy Food for Healthy Kids-Juices and Sweets & Dessert Event @ MJ Delights and Kid's Delight Event Announcement - 5 Ingredient Fix & Valli's Kid's Delight announcement  and JCookingOdyssey's announcement page & Know Your Diary Event Announcement and Foodabulous Fest Event organised by Simply Tadka & hosted by Daily Chores and Only Dessert @ Foodelicious and Foodelicious Cook Like Mom Event and WTML–Walk Through Memory Lane & Gayathri's Announcement page and Favorite Recipes Event: Drinks

 

Cookies 'N' Cream

My son loves Oreo cookies. But getting him to drink milk along with it is a big task in itself. So, today I made this rich, creamy and chocolaty treat for him. This drink is very easy to make and refreshing as well. In other words, perfect for summer-time. So, make a glass today and enjoy this simple, delightful and delicious drink.

Ingredients :-

• 4 - 5 oreo cookies
• 4 - 5 scoops of  vanilla icecream
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp fresh cream
• 1 tsp icing sugar / sugar pdr (opt)
• crushed ice

Method:-

• Combine all the ingredients in a blender. 
• Blend it well till smooth.
• Pour into glasses
• Decorate with whipped cream and sprinkle crushed oreo on top.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:-

• You may avoid decoration with whipped cream instead sprinkle crushed oreo on top of  the drink and serve.
• This quantity makes two servings.

Happy Cooking!!
 Sending this entry to :- Favorite Recipes Event: Drinks  and  Only Dessert @ Foodelicious and Foodabulous Fest Event organised by Simply Tadka & hosted by Daily Chores and JCookingOdyssey's announcement page & Know Your Diary Event Announcement and Sweets & Dessert Event @ MJ Delights