Masala Chhas (Spiced Buttermilk)

Summer has surely set its mark here in Northern California, and the temperatures are slowly rising to higher 80's! Its getting so hot all I want to do is sit back and lounge on my rocking chair, sipping gingerly from an array of cool summer drinks:) Juices, smoothies, ice-cream shakes are all preferred choices, but sometimes, the tongue craves for something "chatpata & masaledaar", and that's when this cooling and refreshing Masala Chaas, or Spicy Buttermilk comes to your rescue! Lots of people don't like buttermilk, but believe me, when you make it fresh at home, with regular curd, and jazz it up with a few Indian spices, you will be amazed at how something so simple can uplift your mood so much!

Ingredients
2 cups fresh curd (not too sour)
3 cup water
1/2 tsp salt - or adjust to your taste
a bunch of cilantro - chopped
8-10 fresh mint leaves
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 green chillies - chopped
1/2 tsp mango powder (aamchur) - optional

Method
Add the chopped cilantro, mint leaves, cumin, green chillies and amchur powder to a blender. Add 1/2 cup water and blend to form a smooth paste.

Now add the curd, salt and remaining water, and again blend to make a thick and smooth buttermilk. Add more water if needed to get desired consistency.

Pour into serving glasses, garnish the cool, green Spicy Buttermilk with some mint leaves, and sit back and relax as you allow it to cool and refresh your mind and senses!

Related Recipes
Orange Creme Soda
Refreshing Beetroot Juice
Tropical Fruit Punch Lemonade

Raspberry Lassi (Smoothie)

Last week we witnessed temperatures peaking at 90, and my gym is suddenly so full of people trying to get into shape for the beach that there's no doubt in my mind that summer is definitely here! And that means more sun, more barbecues and more cool and refreshing drinks. We celebrated the onset of summer with the luscious Rasperry Lassi, which is a fancy name for a smoothie or yoghurt cooler. Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt drink which originated from the state of Punjab. Its more like a thick-shake, but with yoghurt and milk. Over time, the basic recipe underwent a makeover with addition of fruits and other flavors. Everyone is familiar with the Mango Lassi, which you must have seen on several restaurant menus. But this Raspberry Lassi is a class apart, because the tartness of the raspberry works perfect blended with the yoghurt, and it looks so pretty you can serve it as a light dessert too!

I used fresh raspberries and pureed them in a blender, then passed it through a colander/sieve to remove the seeds. You can use fresh fruits or ready-made raspberry sauce. Other interesting and tasty variations would be mangoes or strawberries. For now, this raspberry delight is on its way to Dee who's hosting this month's AFAM-Raspberries event!

Ingredients
2 cups plain or vanilla yoghurt
1 cup milk
6-8 ice cubes
3/4 cup raspberry puree
3 tbsp sugar(or more if needed)

Method
Make sure the raspberry puree does not have seeds in it. Strain it through a sieve to remove seeds as much as possible. A few tiny seeds here and there are fine.

Add the ice cubes to a blender cup and crush to form powder.

Now mix all the remaining ingredients in a blender with the ice and power on the blend or puree setting till everything is uniformly combined.

Pour in tall glasses and garnish with more fresh raspberries. Serve the Raspberry Lassi chilled and fresh, and raise a toast to the beginning of summer!

Similar Recipes:
Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie
Tropical Fruit Punch Lemonade
Almond-Mocha Frappucino

Strawberry Margarita with an Orange Twist

"Margarita", the classic cocktail drink happens to be one of the cherished favorites for a lot of us. It is basically a combination of three main ingredients - tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice - and as fruity flavors go well with mixed drinks, you can add whichever fruit you like the best. The punch in this drink lies in the tequila, so make sure you use a good one:) And of course, the most crucial step is creating an ice and salt or ice and sugar rim around your serving glasses to induce that extra flavor! I had a handful of large california oranges at hand, and also some leftover strawberry syrup from my valentine cake, so I put them to good use by making this Strawberry Margarita, which has an intoxicating citrus flavor blended with the sweet strawberries and the salted glass rim! Of course, you can easily make this a Virgin Margarita by omitting the liquor, but believe me, it tastes way more better with it!

Its already Valentine's Day in some parts of the world, and I wish all my friends and readers a wonderful day full of love and friendship! And now let's get on to the Margarita Recipe!

Ingredients
3 parts of tequila
2 parts freshly-squeezed orange juice
1 part of fresh lime juice
1 part strawberry syrup
Coarse kosher salt or sugar (for the rim)
Lime or Orange Wedges - for garnish
Ice cubes

Method
First moisten the rim of the glass with lime juice. Then sprinkle salt on the the rim of the glass. You can even use powdered sugar for a sweeter drink.

Now fill the glass with ice cubes. Add the tequila, strawberry syrup, orange juice and lime juice, preferably in an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and pour the contents into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a slice of lime or oranges and serve!

Tip: If you want a darker pink shade in your drink, add one drop of POM to the glass. Combined with strawberry syrup, it gives a beautiful deep red color to the drink!

Serve this Strawberry Margarita at a Cocktail Party and dazzle your guests!

Related Recipes:
Chocolate-Coffee Martini
Cuban Mojito with Lime & Mint
The Blue Hawaiian

Tropical Fruit Punch Lemonade

Some things in life are just too complicated, and decision-making can drain you of all your energy!! But luckily for us, there are some things in life which are extremely simple and beautiful, and they compell us to enjoy that most-coveted moment of simplicity. Here' a simple Tropical Fruit Punch for your game nights and parties, or for a silent and relaxing afternoon. Ingrained with the goodness of oranges, pineapples and papaya, this drink is full of Vitamin-C, and can do a lot of good to your immune system. The vibrant yet refreshing color soothes your eyes, just as the tropical flavors liven up your spirits and tingle your tastebuds. Add in some champagne for a cocktail recipe, or enjoy the classic virgin fruit punch. Any way you choose it, you are bound to be lucky! Let's celebrate simplicity with a stress-free energizer punch!

Ingredients
1 cup orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup papaya juice
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
sugar (optional, adjust to taste)
a dash of champagne (optional)
2 strawberries - slit for garnish
ice cubes

Method
Take 3-4 ice cubes in a blender. Add all the 3 juices and the sugar and blend to crush the ice and mix the flavors. Pour in serving glasses, add the lime juice and garnish with freshly cut strawberries!

Now find a silent corner in your house and release yourself of all tensions as you sip this refreshing Tropical Summer Cocktail!

Cranberry-Soy Milk and Green Tea Smoothie

It is a well-known fact that breakfast is by far, the most important meal of the day. Consume a healthy and filling breakfast and it'll keep you on your toes for a significant part of the day. It not only kickstarts your body processes, but also fuels your nerve cells to prepare you for an action-packed morning! So it's imperative to include as many nutrients as you can in your early morning meal. The importance of cranberries for its anti-oxidant properties is known to most of us. Same is the case with green tea, but some of us find it hard to take in the herb tea by itself. So I decided to combine it in a smoothie. I love my smoothies to be milk-based or creamy, and given a choice I would happily add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to my concoctions:) but as we are trying to target a healthy meal, I opted for the soy-milk, which is way more easier to digest, is full of calcium and protein, and less in calorie content. Add a bit of honey and banana and you are all set for a hearty and healthy breakfast smoothie!

Ingredients
1/2 cup frozen cranberries
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup brewed green tea
1/4 cup plain soy milk
2 tbsp light brown sugar or honey

Method
Brew the green tea using fresh leaves or tea-bags. Let it cool down a bit. Then blend all ingredients together until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy for a detoxifying, healthy and filling breakfast!

Similar Recipes:
Strawberry Colada Smoothie
Protein-packed Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie

Old-fashioned Cuban Mojito with Lime and Mint

A mojito (pronounced mo-hee-to), is the same drink that we saw James Bond (i.e. the handsome Pierce Brosnan) sipping in Cuba, for the movie Die Another Day. This is one of Cuba’s oldest cocktails, and comes from the African word mojo, which means "to place a little spell".

Legend traces its roots to 1586, when Francis Drake and his pirates tried to sack Havana for its gold. While the invasion was unsuccessful, Drake’s associate, Richard Drake, was said to have invented a mojito-like cocktail known as El Draque made with aguardiente (similar to rum), sugar, lime and mint. Early on, it was consumed for medicinal purposes. But somewhere around the mid-1800s, the recipe was altered and gained in popularity as the original Bacardi Company was established. The new version became famous as the Mojito we all know. So here's the traditional cocktail recipe. This is a very sparkling and refreshing drink, perfect for cocktail parties or dinner events. In fact, due to the presence of lime and mint, this is one cocktail that has a lot of cleansing ability!

Ingredients
8-10 fresh mint sprigs
1 tbsp sugar dissolved in 1 tbsp water
3-4 tbsp fresh lime juice (use lime, not lemon)
1 oz light rum
club soda
mint sprigs and lime wedges - for garnish

Method
In a tall glass, crush part of the mint with a fork. Add the sugar syrup and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Fill with 3-4 ice cubes. Add rum and shake a bit. Top off with chilled club soda. Garnish with a lime slice and some mint leaves, and serve immediately.

Similar Recipes:
The Blue Hawaiin
Lychee Martini

Gingerbread Latte - A Christmas Tradition

People say that there's always a first time to everything, and though you pretty much govern whether you want to do something or not, there are times when you just get carried away by the flow and end up trying something you might have had some reservations about. One such thing that happened to me after coming to US was tasting different coffee flavors, and I must say, it was the best thing ever! I love flavored lattes, hazelnut and tiramisu being my all-time favorites. But this holiday season, my friend at work made me taste the traditional gingerbread latte. She took me to Starbucks and paid for my coffee just so I would get to know and taste the wild and spicy flavor that is zipped up in this one amazing drink! This seasonal favorite will surely make you feel warm and cozy, and ignite fond memories of the gingerbread man and the spirit of christmas!

Gingerbread has its roots in Europe, mainly Germany. In Medieval England gingerbread simply meant "preserved ginger", and was traditionally used as a soft, delicately spiced cake, a crisp, flat cookie, or as warm, thick and dark squares of "bread"; but it was almost always cut into shapes such as men, women, stars or animals, and colorfully decorated or dusted with white sugar. During the 19th century, gingerbread was modernized. The German fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, two children who, abandoned in the woods by penniless parents, discovered a house made of bread, cake and candies - gave a whole new and fancy look to an age-old tradition and lead to the birth of beautiful Gingerbread Houses, which are now baked in almost every North American household.

Whether you believe in traditions or just want to indulge in a sweet and spicy flavor, gingerbread latte is one thing that you should definitely try. Here's an easy way to make one, and this is one drink that shouts "Merry Christmas!!"

Ingredients
2 ounces espresso coffee powder
2 tbsp gingerbread flavored syrup (available in all coffee stores or supermarkets)(recipe to make syrup yourself is given below)
1/2 cup milk - boiled or steamed
some whipped cream - for the topping
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1/2 tspn vanilla powder
1/2 tsp chocolate/cocoa powder

Method
In a coffee mug, combine espresso coffee with flavored syrup. Pour in steamed milk. Microwave again for 2-3 mins, stirring well in between. Top this with whipped cream. Sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa and vanilla powder and serve hot!! This is a nice drink to enjoy on cool winter evenings or simply with friends while exchanging christmas stories!

I opted for the easy way, and just got store-bought gingerbread syrup. But for all those truly enthusiastic folks out there, here's a recipe for the syrup if you want to make this yourself at home. You can actually store it refrigerated for quite a few days too. The syrup recipe has been taken from here

Gingerbread Syrup Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup spring water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp Clover or other mild honey
Sliced gingerroot piece
1 cinnamon stick, broken into large pieces
8 whole cloves
1/2 tspn whole allspice berries
1/2 tspn whole black or pink peppercorns
1/2 tspn ground nutmeg

Method
Combine water, sugar and honey in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Stir in the ginger and cinnamon pieces plus the cloves, allspice, peppercorns, and nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. The liquid will thicken into a syrupy consistency. Allow to cool, at least a half hour, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Pour into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and set aside for your gingerbread latte craving! You can also use this syrup to drizzle over a gingerbread cake!!

Here's wishing you and all your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannukah!!

Similar Recipes:
Butterd Rum and Vanilla Spiced Drink
Chocolate and Coffee Martini

Hot and Spiced Vanilla Rum Drink

A hot cup of Spiced Vanilla drink with Buttered Rum is the perfect companion to winter evening, don't you think?! Thanksgiving is around the corner, and this is one drink your guests would love at the table. Rich and creamy, yet flavored with rum, vanilla and spices to soothe your entire body, this drink is way better than a Starbucks coffee!! The cinnamon and nutmeg are also beneficial to your body. And the best part, you can make the spice mixture and store it for the entire winter so that you can appease to your cravings during anytime of the season.

Ingredients
1/2 cup boiling water
1 ounce dark rum (optional)
1 large tbsp hot buttered rum mixture (recipe below)

Vanilla Spice Mixture
2 cups brown sugar
2 sticks butter, room temperature
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg

Method

Hot Buttered Rum Mixture
Place the sugar, butter, ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg in your food processor and blend until smooth.

You can preserve this in a container and freeze it. It will not hard freeze, and can be easily accessed when preparing the drink.

When you are ready to serve it, combine the rum, boiling water and the frozen hot buttered rum mixture in a heat-resistant glass. Stir well. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon and serve immediately. (pic courtesy barbara adams)

This is so comforting! My one hand holds this drink, while the other is wrapped around my favorite book (Harry Potter!) and I'm tucked comfortably in my rocking chair, with a view of the sky as twilight slowly blends into dusk, and the sky changes hues from blue to lavendar, to pink and finally violet!

Try this Spiced Hot Vanilla-Rum Drink for yourself and feel the difference! Its a perfect Thanksgiving cocktail, by the way!

Related Recipes:
Vanilla Panna-Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries
Peppermint & Vanilla Butter Cookies
Pecan Pie with Bourbon Whipped Cream

The Healthy Red Juice (Beetroot-Cucumber-Pineapple Juice)

The first time I tasted beetroot juice was at a juice center in Tahoe, and frankly, I wasn't too impressed. But I knew that not all things are meant just for your taste buds, and beet is something that is really a boon for your body. It cleanses your system and increases haemoglobin, alongwith purifying your blood. So the challenge was to keep trying some combinations with beet till I found a concoction that was healthy and comparably tasty. Also, my diet plan had taught me that cucumber and apple are 2 other things that work well for the body, and also go well together. So I experimented with these flavors and came up with the following drink recipe which I am sure will appeal to your body system and your tongue! Due to lack of imagination, I just named it "The Healthy Red Drink"

Ingredients
1 small grated cucumber
1 grated beetroot
1/2 cup grated pineapple
4 apples - cut in 4
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp grated ginger (optional)

Method
Blend the beetroot, ginger, pineapple and cucumber along with water. Boil the apple cubes and grind along with the sugar. Then mix with the other juice and again ouree everything together to form an even juice. Strain the mixture, then pour it into glasses. Garnish with ice cubes and mint leaves and serve chilled.

This juice is not only tasty, it serves as a toxin-remover for the entire body. So drink this at least once a week; your body will surely thank you for this!

Italian Orange Creme Soda

Summers are known for the vast amount of tropical fruits that flood the markets and give soothing refuge from the sweltering heat. But some of these fruits are never out of season, or especially their juices, and one such versatile fruit is the Orange. A citrus fruit rich in Vitamin-C and anti-oxidants, oranges can be consumed in any season, any weather, and can be used for making salad dressings, adding flavors to baked goods and also for giving a tangy zest to some savoury dishes. One such simple yet refreshing concoction is the Orange Creme Soda. With as little as 3 ingredients, and in less than 5 mins, you can make this beautiful yet delicious cooler that is not only tasty, but replenishes the body with healthy nutrients too!

The traditional soda just has orange syrup, cream and soda, but I modify it here to give it a twist with the addition of strawberries, and for my husband's craving of whip cream:)

Ingredients
1 glass carbonated water (sparkling soda)
2 tbsp orange syrup (fresh or bottled)
1 tbsp strawberry syrup
1/2 glass half-and-half cream
A few ice cubes
Whipping cream and cherries - for garnish

Method
Drop 2 ice cubes in each of the 2 glasses. Add the orange and strawberry syrups, and fill to 2/3 with carbonated water. Now float the half-and-half cream on top. Serve chilled with a straw and stir only when ready to drink. For serving to guests, garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.

Tip: Use strawberries, raspberries or watermelon to create variations of this recipe! You can also add Vanilla Ice Cream instead of whipping cream to make Ice Cream Soda.

The Blue Hawaiian Cocktail

Though I love cocktail recipes as they are simple and look exotic, and I am always fascinated to know what gives these drinks such vibrant and beautiful colors. So here's what I found when I set to find what goes into a "Blue Drink". Its an ingredient called the "Blue Curacao", a sweet blue liqueur, distilled and flavored from the dried peel of bitter oranges. It can also contain distillates of lemons and curacao fruit, sugar and wine. This is used to induce color to several drinks, and one of the favourites for most people is the Blue Hawaiian! And if you can't find it, just add some blue food color; the drink is totally worth it even without the curacao!!

Ingredients
1/4 cup cream of coconut (thick sweetened coconut milk)
5 tbsp pineapple juice
2 tbsp Blue curacao (this gives the blue color to the drink)
1/6 cup light rum (optional)
orange or pineapple slices - to garnish

Method
Blend light rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut with one cup ice in an electric blender at high speed. Pour contents into a serving glass. Decorate with the slice of pineapple or orange and serve chilled. Cocktails are fun, and this one is a sure-shot winner with its taste and color!!

Chocolate and Coffee Martini

Having cocktails on special occasions has been traditional, but most of us refrain from making indulgent cocktails at home thinking it is just too much work. But there are some cocktail recipes which use simple ingredients, are easy to make and yet result into something right out of a lavish restaurant's menu card. We know that chocolates make any moment a special one, and to date it remains to be the favourite choice for special dates and events. So here's a simple recipe for a Chocolate Martini, another way to savour the chocolate and liquer, and make your moments memorable and sweet!

Ingredients
4 fl oz chocolate liqueur (any flavor you like by Godiva)
2 tbsp crème de cacao (optional)
3 fl oz vodka
1 oz semisweet chocolate - grated
2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp instant coffee (any flavor)
5-6 ice cubes

Method
Combine chocolate liqueur, coffee powder and vodka in a cocktail mixer full of ice. Chill glasses and then rim them with the cocoa powder (use egg white to make it stick to the glass edges). Shake the mixture vigorously and strain into the martini glasses. Top it with a layer of creme de cacao. Garnish with chocolate shavings. Let this Chocolate and Coffee Martini transform your evening into something romantic and special!

Tip: For the virgin version, replace vodka with skimmed milk and enjoy!

Similar Recipes:
Hot-n-Spiced Vanilla Rum Drink
Lychee Martini

Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie

I worked in Smoothie King when I first came to US, and hence I have an old and cherished bond with Smoothies, especially with Banana and Peanut Butter smoothie! But I've been a smoothie-lover right from the beginning, irrespective of my affiliation with them. The concept is amazing, the choices are vast, and the health benefits that it brings alongwith the taste makes a glass of smoothie even more enriching! To pacify some of my readers and friends who voted for Smoothies in the last poll and were hoping for it to win (instead of Pizza), here's a Smoothie recipe with Vanilla, Bananas and Peanut Butter which is high in proteins and potassium, and this can easily become a part of your breakfast or mid-day snack for a wholesome meal!!

Ingredients
1 banana - cut into 3-4 pieces
1/2 scoop low-fat vanilla ice-cream (optional,you can use vanilla yoghurt too)
1 tsp vanilla extract or essence
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp whey protein powder(optional, I use EAS or Bulk Nutrition brand)
4-6 ice cubes
3 tbsp milk

Method
Add the ice cubes and all the above ingredients and blend until smooth and thick.

Pour in a tall glass and enjoy chilled! This smoothie is also an excellent source of calcium(milk), potassium(banana), and protein(peanut butter and whey protein). You can also substitute regular milk for skim milk or soy milk to make it more healthy!

Similar Recipes:
Raspberry Lassi
Cranberry and Green Tea Smoothie

Grape and Watermelon Soda

Summer has really kicked into California, and we have started experiencing the heat waves now!! So as we look forward to a glorious yet sunny weekend, there's no better way to relax than enjoy sipping a cool and refreshing drink on your hammock in your backyard or your favourite rocking chair. An interesting book in your hand would make the scene picture perfect, right??!! Here's a simple recipe using 2 summer favourite fruits- Watermelon and Grapes -combine them with soda and it turns into a nice mocktail!!

Ingredients
1/2 fresh watermelon
1 cup green or red grapes
2 ripe plums
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp salt
1 bottle soda water (sparkling soda)
6-7 icecubes
watermelon pieces - to garnish

Method
Crush the ice cubes, watermelon, grapes, plums in a blender. Mix in the sugar, lemon juice and salt. Leave a little watermelon pulp aside and cut into small pieces. Now take a serving glass and fill it 1/2 with the juice. Fill the remaining 1/2 with the sparkling soda. Add more icecubes if needed and add the cut watermelon pieces.

This Watermelon Soda is a beautiful and healthy Summer Drink. Refresh your senses with this cool soda on a summer afternoon or early evening!

Similar Recipes:
Orange Creme Soda
Tropical Fruit Punch Lemonade

Mango-Raspberry Thickshake

Drinks and Cocktails are the best for experimenting with your culinary skills!! They involve very little "actual" work though you might have to strain your gray cells to think of suitable ingredients and judge their compatibility!! But that's the fun part, at least for me. We all love fruits, and to try different interesting combinations is neither tiring nor time-consuming. And most of the times, you are bound to succeed in your experiments!! As a child, I used to love the Mango Dolly and Raspberry Dolly, so for me creating something colourful and delicious has never been so easy. I just had to juggle a bit with my childhood favourites and the trick worked! Try my Mango-Raspberry thickshake to invigorate your senses, scintillate your taste buds and relive your childhood!!!

Ingredients
Pulp of 1 fresh ripe mango (you can use the canned mango pulp too)
1/2 cup raspberries
1 scoop mango or vanilla ice-cream
2-3 tbsp crushed ice

2-3 tsp sugar (if needed)
sprig of mint (for garnish)

Method
Blend the mango pulp without adding water if you are using fresh mango and keep aside. Now take the raspberries and blend them with 2 tsp water till it forms into a pulp. Do not make it into a liquid. It should be as thick as the mango pulp. If the raspberries are sour (not sweet enough for a drink), add the sugar while blending.

Now take a tall serving glass, add crushed ice at the bottom and layer it with the mango and raspberry pulp alternately. As both are thick enough, they would easily layer upon each other without blending. Top it with a scoop of vanilla or mango ice-cream. Garnish the glass edge with a sprig of mint and enjoy the pleasantly surprised looks on the faces of your guests when you serve them this colorful and flavorful mango and raspberry thickshake!!

Lychee Martini - Cocktail or Virgin, You pick!

The one word that comes to your mind when you see or hear about a Lychee is "EXOTIC" !! And the second word would probably be Hawaai or Mauii or something of that kind, right? Well, a lychee is a rare sub-tropical fruit originating in South China where the lychee is very important in their culture and is famed as "the King of Fruits". It not only tastes divine, but is high in Vitamin C (antioxidant)and Potassium (mineral) too. It sure is one of my favourite fruits, and here's a drink that is a favourite for a lot of people. This recipe for a Lychee Martini is an inspiration from a similar one that I read about in the Gourmet magazine, and I modified it a little to suit my style. Presenting to you, the Lychee Martini (Cocktail or Virgin, your choice!!)

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cup drained canned lychees (15 to 20, from a 16- to 20-oz can)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 small cherries
2 tsp cranberry or grenaldine (artificial pomegranate) juice
Sprig of mint, lemon rind for garnish
6 oz (3/4 cup) vodka (optional)
1 1/2 oz (3 tablespoons) orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
For the Virgin drink, omit the vodka and liquer.

Method
Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, then allow it to cool by transferring it to a small bowl kept in a tray filled with ice cubes. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is cold and a little thick.

Now Purée lychees with sugar syrup and lemon juice in a blender until smooth, then filter the liquid from the fruit residu using a colander or a fine mesh. If you have a cocktail shaker, fill it half with ice cubes and add the lychee puree, vodka, and the orange liquer.

Now take a Martini glass, drop a cherry at the bottom, then add 1 tsp cranberry or Grenadine (artificial pomegranate juice) to create the dark red hue that you see in restaurant-served drinks, and fill the remaining glass with the prepared syrup. Garnish the glass rim with a split lemon rind or a mint leaf and drift into the exotic world of this divine fruit!!

Tropical Paradise

Summer is a time for drinks, and with a plethora of tropical fruits flooding the supermarket aisles, it is but natural to mix some of these to create a refreshing and cool summer drink. Here is one of my husband's concoctions, very easy to make, and fulfilling to the last sip!

Ingredients
1 cup orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
2 cups mango juice
half cup strawberries-semi crushed
2 tbsp honey
7-8 ice cubes
Orange or lemon rind and mint for garnish

Method
You can use fresh juices or the Kernes ones. We used the latter and they worked out just great. Blend the strawberries on Pulse for 2-3 times so that they are not entirely liquidised. Fill this in a tall glass. Mix all the remaining ingredients and blend with ice.

Fill the glass upto the brim. Garnish with an orange or lemon rind and a sprig of mint.

Enjoy with your spouse on a relaxing sunny day settled in your patio chairs (that's what we did), or serve this as a starter drink when you invite your friends.

Strawberry Colada Smoothie

Nutritionists say that its best to include berries in your breakfast, and with all the supporting evidence, they can't be wrong. And though strawberries are delicious by themselves, I'd like to point out that they can taste even better with bananas, coconuts and milk, right?? Strawberries have plenty of antioxidants and vitamins that are very useful to the body. Plus, starting your day with a strawberry smoothie helps detoxify your system in the morning. So here's a healthy and refreshing Strawberry Colada smoothie to kick-start your day with a bang!!

Ingredients
4-5 fresh strawberries-washed and cut into 2 pieces each
3 tbsp grated coconut
2 tbsp milk
2 scoops ice
2 tsp sugar

Method
Add all the above ingredients to a blender and blend to a frothy thick consistency. Serve immediately to refresh your senses. Pour in a tall glass and garnish with a split strawberry on the glass rim!! The strawberry-coconut smoothie is best consumed immediately.

Similar Recipes:
Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie
Cranberry-Soy Milk Smoothie