Badam Ragi Malt - Healthy teatime drink | Healthy Diet Plan #5

The healthy diet series is back!! You can check out the previous posts here. We use ragi in our weekly diet either in the form of dosas or kozhukattais or this porridge. This is my favourite as its easy to make and is healthy too. My tummy never kicks for the 6pm snacks when I have this for 4PM teatime :)

Badam Ragi Malt Recipe Ingredients :

• Ragi flour - 4 tbsp
• Milk - 2 cups
• Water - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 2 tsp
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Badam powdered / chopped finely - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Dry roast ragi flour till nice aroma comes, it may take 3-5 mins. Set aside.
2. Take 1/2 cup milk add a tbsp of ragi flour to it and make it to a smooth paste. Set aside.
3. Heat boiled milk then add the ragi milk paste, sugar to it. Stir continuously making sure no lumps are formed. Add 1/2 cup water and mix well.
4. Keep stirring till it becomes slightly thick like porridge but still in pouring consistency. Add cardamom powder, give a quick stir and then switch off. Garnish with powdered almonds and serve hot or warm.

My Notes :

• Stir continuously as after adding the ragi paste, the mixture starts thickening faster so take care to avoid lumps.
• If you are making in advance before serving, then add little milk while serving to make it to drinking consistency.
• You can also add a tsp of MTR badam mix for extra flavour.

This tastes best when served hot and is very healthy too. If you have it for teatime, you will feel full till dinner time as its very filling.

Pineapple Cooler

I love pineapple juice very much, so instantly fell in love with this drink when I saw it in Tarladalal site. I made it during summer and it totally satisfied my thirsty craving of my favourite fruit juice.

Pineapple Cooler Recipe

Recipe Reference : Tarladalal



Ingredients:

• Pineapple chopped roughly - 1/2 cup
• Icecubes - 2
• Salt - as required
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp (optional)
• Milk(preferably cold) - 25 ml
• Sugar - 3 tsp
• Soda water - 3 tbsp

Method:

• Pressure cook pineapple pieces for 1 whistle until soft or Stem them until slightly soft.
• Blend all the other ingredients together with cooked pineapple until frothy in a mixer or blender.
• Pour into individual glasses and serve chilled.

I am always scared by the thorny look of pineapple so I always prefer buying them in fresh cut pieces instead of the full fruit. Pineapple with a hint of salt and chilli powder is a yum combo, do try and see.

My Notes:

• I was skeptical about adding lemon juice with milk(as I doubted milk will curdle) but went ahead as given in the orginal recipe and the drink was yummy and didnt disappoint me. But still if you are not comfortable adding lemon juice just skip it and proceed.
• You can skip the steaming/pressure cooking step and make the cooler with raw pineapple itself.
• You can add honey instead of sugar.
• As the orginal recipe says, you can also add a pinch of pepper.

The creamy frothy pineapple cooler is ready to be served. This can be served as a party welcoming drink too.

I always complain that the froth always doesnt cooperate well till I click but this time I was satisfied :)

Chikku Milkshake (Sapota Milkshake)

Milkshakes are always my favorite either fruit or flavoured ones and this chikku milkshake is my recent favorite since the day I tried it.

Chikku Milkshake Ingredients:

Makes 2 cups

• Cold milk - 2 cups
• Ripe chikko (skin peeled, deseeded and chopped finely) - 1 cup
• Honey - 2 tsp (asdjust as per taste)

Method:

1. Blend the chikko with 1/2 cup milk in amixer for 30seconds till the chikko becomes pastey .
2. Add the remaining milk, honey and blend for 10 more seconds.
3. Garnish with honey if preferred and server chilled

My Notes :

• Adding sugar or honey is purely your choice but I like the honey flavour in this.
• You can also add a small scoop of vanilla icecream and blend it along with the milkshake for a richer taste.
• Choose ripe sapotas for milkshake

This is sure a healthy and tasty alternative to the store bought tinned drinks. Its not only tasty but sure a healthy drink too.

Even during the days when I was not fond of most of the fruits, this sapota was one among my favorites. But I'm trying the milkshake idea only for the first time now and sure to make it often hereafter :)

Papaya Milkshake

The city looks like naturally air conditioned and am loving every bit of the cool breeze which is the typical CBE climate. The summer is slowly creeping away and am happy to welcome the chill weather but the only thing I hate about this gloomy weather is that it makes me lazy. Now blame it on the weather though I am lazy even in hot summers ;)

I am very bad at eating fruits and was keeping my fingers crossed that my daughter shoudnt take after me and thank god she is liking most of the fruits, hope her eating habit continues the same.

Papaya Milkshake:

Makes 2 small cups

Ingredients:

• Papaya - 1 cup cubed
• Milk - 3/4 cup
• Sugar - 1 tbsp(adjust according to the sweetness of papaya and to ur taste)
• Elachi powder - 1 tsp

Method:

1. Add little milk and the cubed papaya in a blender/mixer and blend it to a very smooth paste.Do not blend it for a longer time it will make the milkshake bitter
2. Then add sugar and remaining milk and blend until smooth.
3. Add elachi powder , give a stir and serve chilled.

My Notes:

• Do not blend it for a longer time it will make the milkshake bitter. And also dont refrigerate for longer time(5-10mins is ok) have the milkshake fresh...else it will give a bitter taste. But if you want it to be chilled then add crushed ice while blending itself.
• The raw smell of the papaya will be reduced by the flavour of elachi powder so dont skip it.
• You can add 2 cubes of crushed ice and blend it along with papaya and milk.
• Adding honey will give a nice taste too so you can replace sugar with honey.
• For the above mentioned quantity I got 2 small cups of milkshake.

Papaya has lot of health benefits and read it gives a nice glow to the skin and can be used as a nice bleaching agent to the face......It also helps in reducing weight. So girls have I tempted you enough to eat papaya?! Having said all these now I can say the truth that I am a avid hater of papaya ;) he he as I can have papaya only in the form of jams as it hides the papaya taste completely.

I made this milkshake especially for amma as she is fond of papaya. Amma loves this fruit so she was very happy to have this milkshake :) This milkshake is so tasty that was the statement that came from amma. Make sure to choose a papaya that is ripe enough to enjoy a yummy milkshake.

Apple Cinnamon Milkshake / Apple Milkshake

Guess the blogger issue has not resolved fully yet and few of my comments for the last post has been lost hope they are back soon. Okay coming to todays post : This hot weather makes me crave for some chilled drinks and if its with milk its double bonus for me as I like milk in any form. Tried this milkshake from tarladalal site the other day and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Ingredients:

Recipe Source : Tarladalal

Makes 2 cups

• Apples chopped roughly(with skin peeled) - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 tbsp
• Almonds - 4
• Chilled milk - 2 cups
• Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp

Method:

1. First blend chopped apple pieces, almonds, sugar in a blender to a smooth paste with little milk say 1/4 cup.
2. Then add the cinnamon powder, remaining milk and blend again.
3. Add icecubes if preferred and Serve chilled. I topped the milkshake with demerara sugar

I know this cannot be called in for a recipe as its so easy but just posted to let you all know that the combination is so flavorful and yummy...And ofcourse for the pics that I clicked :)

The recipe from the site also adds on this : An apple a day keeps the doctor away also proves true for acidity when whipped up as a milkshake, as chilled milk is known to overcome acidity for some people.

My Notes:

• Adding almonds is optional but it thickens up the shake with a nice taste
• Adding chilled milk delays the milkshake from changing its color
• You can make the same with curd too. Just replace milk with curd and follow the same procedure.
• You can skip cinnamon powder and make this as a simple apple milkshake and enjoy.

Mango Milkshake

I have been waiting for the mango season....No no not that I am crazy after mangoes but I wanted to fill in Sharmis Passions with mango recipes :) I do like mangoes but I m very choosy as I like only banganapalli variety and have restrictions like the mango shouldnt very ripe and the color should be lemon yellow only.... yeah yeah too much right?! thats what my mother says too :)

As I have said earlier, if I am not comfortable with any fruit then I have it in the form of shakes, juices or smoothies. Mango milkshakes are always my favourite so wanted to give a try at home. My mother loves mangoes be it any variety she can have it night and day even skipping lunch and dinner :) So this is for 'amma', the word has added more meaning after me becoming a mother :) Happy Mothers day!!

Ingredients:

• Mango - 1 cup
• Milk - 2 cups
• Sugar - 3 tsp
• Elachi powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
• Ice crushed - 2 small cubes

Method:

1. Peel of the skin of mangoes and chop the mangoes roughly.
2. Add 1/2 cup milk with mango cubes, sugar and crushed ice and blend it in a mixer until smooth for 10 seconds then add remaining milk and blend again until smooth.
3. Add elachi powder, mix well. Your mango milkshake is ready in minutes.

My Notes:

• I like my milkshake to be thick, if you want it to be little runny then add 1/2 cup of milk more.
• Adding elachi powder gives a good flavour , but its purely optional.
• Adjust sugar according to the sweetness of the mango variety.

Green Tea | How to make Green Tea

Green tea was first introduced to me by my project manager in the company I worked previously. She insisted to have it atleast twice a day and she did it too. The first look of it didnt impress me but later once when I was browsing and knowing the health benefits of it, I wanted to give a try and got Tetley brand from Nilgiris and now started making it regular.

It is slightly bitter but if bitterness is healthy and it can do good to our heart, can we not make a practise of taking green tea atleast twice a week..?! I do, atleast try to....! :)

Ingredients:

• Green tea powder -1.5 tsp
• Water - 1 cup
• Honey/Sugar - 1 tsp
• Elachi powder - a pinch [optional] - I add it occasionally

Method:

1. Boil water in a tea pot or pan. Once it starts boiling switch off and add the green tea powder.
2. Allow it to get soaked for 3-4 mins. By now the color would be brown.
3. Now strain the tea powder and add sugar/honey . Add a pinch of cardomom powder and enjoy your cup of green tea.

The tea powder is not as fine as normal ones, the green tea powder shown below looks like dried tea leaves :

I can never forget the incident when I first tried green tea. I was over excited after reading all the benefits from google, that I went straight to the kitchen and prepared green tea with milk not knowing that it should be prepared with water ;) Then googled how to make green tea reducing the bitterness and now everytime it comes out good.

Green Tea Benefits & Goodness:

• Green tea has also been effective in lowering cholesterol levels
• New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters.
• With green tea, you get two in one. Its fat burning property helps you to burn fat and also to exercise longer - at the same time.
• Green tea anti-cancer prowess extends beyond its antioxidant activities.
• Green tea is anti-diabetic. Green tea helps to fight against heart diseases and is good for heat too.

My Notes:

• If you put the tea powder in boiling water as we do for normal tea, then it would become bitter. So add the tea powder once the water boils and switch off.
• There are many flavours available in super markets, so choose ur pick and enjoy.
• But believe me when made in the right way, bitterness can be avoided.

Oats, Dates and Almonds Milkshake

I am very much impressed with saffola oats advertisement and the additional attraction was the recipe book. Yes the main reason for me to get saffola oats is this free recipe book. The book has some basic recipes and few interesting recipes as well. This is one such quick filling and tasty drink I tried from that book.

Oats, Dates and Almonds Milkshake Recipe

Recipe Source : Saffola Oats Recipe Book

Makes 4 small glasses



Ingredients:

• Oats - 4 tbsp
• Dates - 10
• Almonds - 6
• Milk - 3 cups

Method:

1. Dry roast oats till a nice nutty aroma comes. Chop almonds and dates roughly.



2. Grind oats, almonds, dates with milk until a creamy consistency is reached,Refrigerate for 30mins and Serve chilled. Sugar is not needed as the sweetness of dates is just enough.



3. Garnish with dates and almonds and serve chilled.

This cannot be called for a recipe but just wanted to share about the combination that can be added with oats to get a tasty breakfast drink.

I searched for a specific brown color chart since the day I started blogging and finally found it in odyssey last month. I was waiting for a chance to use this chart and this was another reason for me to choose this drink for trying :)

This drink is very creamy and thick, when serve chilled its very tasty. You can have this drink after a mild breakfast. The pictures in the book are super tempting so more recipes will be coming up soon.

Oats being regular in our breakfast menu atleast twice to thrice a week in the form of kanji/porridge I always look for alternatives to the usual oats porridge and this one is apt when there is less time.

Apart from the health benefits I am used and prefer to have such porridge for breakfast than idlis and dosas. I tell you dates oats combination is always a hit either in cakes, cookies or milkshakes and the addition of almonds makes it all the more creamier and tastier.

Attimes when the lunch menu is not my favourite , I sometimes have this drink after lunch to fill my tummy :)

Variations:

• You can add any fruit of your choice and blend it with oats.
• Add sugar only if needed as the fruit pulp is also sweet.

Apple Chocolate Smoothie

Whenever I visit Pazhamudir I used to read all the new combos of juices/smoothies on the menu board. Only reading dont have the guts to try it out.......;) One such try was this....and it was very tasty. Apple and chocolate will the combo go wrong?! Definitely no!!

I am not a fruits person.........but still knowing the goodness and health benefits of fruits I try to add it in my menu in the form of juices /smoothies. On the flip side, my little one loves apples.......I remember the incident when in a railway station she started crying seeing the apples in a petty shop.......we couldnt buy it as the apples were in the stage of rotting and flies were over it. It really was tough to make the 8 month old understand the reason for not getting her what she wanted :)

Ingredients: (For 2 cups)

• Apple -1 big size
• Milk - 1 cup (Preferably chilled)
• Sugar - 2 tsp
• Coco Powder - 1 tsp
• Chocolate chips - just to decorate [If you wish can use a few to blend too which I did]

Method:

1. Blend the apple, sugar, milk,coco powder and choco chips ina mixer or blender well till its frothy.


2. Pour it a glass, top it with few choc chips and serve chilled!

Hot Masala Tea / Garam Masala Chai

I am not much of a tea person....But this cold weather makes me crave for hot tea with some biscuits during evenings and I made this masala tea on one such saturday! And it was on a dull cloudy evening....Only when I was editing the pic my mother said the pic wud have been more appealing with the froth in the tea....not that patient to click it again so posting this itself.

Ingredients :

Tea powder - 2 tsp

Milk - 1 cup

Ginger grated - from 1/2 inch piece

Cardamom - powdered from 1

Cloves - 2

Sugar - to taste

Method:

1.Boil milk and add all the above except sugar to the milk.

2.Bring it to boil again.Simmer for 2 mins.

3.Filter and add sugar, ur masala tea is ready.Serve hot!

And did I tell u, finally I got my OTG(Oven Toaster Griller) so more baking experiments coming on my way.....stay tuned :) Happy weekend!!

Ragi is my favourite grain And I am sending my Ragi Kozhukatati and Ragi roti to JFI- Ragi

Dates Cornflakes Smoothie

I often find myself getting confused with a smoothie and a milk shake so tried googling today. Some facts about smoothie from wikipedia :

A smoothie is a blended, chilled, sweet beverage made from fresh fruit or vegetables.In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen/.dry fruit, honey or frozen yogurt. They have a milkshake-like consistency but much more thicker. Unlike milkshakes, they usually don't contain ice cream, but contain milk.

A smoothie is very refreshing for a morning breakfast. This dates smoothie is not only filling its healthy too! The flavour when cornflakes,dates and honey are blended tastes so gud!

Ingredients:

Milk - 1 cup

Yogurt - 1tbsp (optional)

Dates - 5 to 6

Cornflakes - 1tbsp

Honey - 2tsp

Crushed ice- from a cube

Method:

1.Blend everything together to form a smooth mixture

[No sugar needed]

2.Serve chilled

I am planning to post here every tues/wed so watch out this space every week!

Masala Paal / Masala Milk

I have had this masala paal/milk in many hotels and the one served in Vasantha bhavan is my fav! Hubby likes it so wanted to give a try at home and shud I mention abt the taste?!, simple n flavourful!

Before I go to the recipe want to thank Ambika for passing me this award :

Ingredients:

Milk - 1.5 cups

Sugar - as per taste

Turmeric powder - a pinch

Cloves -2

Cinnamon - 1/2 inch stick

Cardamom - powdered from 2

Almonds - powdered not too fine

Saffron - 2 to 3 strands

Method:

1.Bring milk to boil, add turmeric powder, cinnamon and cloves. Stir and leave it for 2mins till the aroma of spices are well mixed with the mik.

2.Filter the milk and add powdered almonds, cardamom and saffron strands.Serve hot!

Rosemilk - Pretty in Pink!

The first time I tasted Rosemilk was in Sree Annapoorna - Coimbatore. From the day I was a great fan of rosemilks. I wonder how the rosemilk they serve alone had the rose essence at the bottom and I used to stir it with the straw. As a kid I was very excited to see the pink color getting beautifully mixed with milk.

Its been so long since I drank rosemilk, should say I totally forgot it when I started drinking my fav chocolate milkshake. Last week when I went for monthly grocery shopping saw this rose essence in Foodworld. With no hestitation I took it and by now I have made it so many times :)

Should I have to give you the recipe for this?! ;)

Chilled Milk + Sugar + Rose Essence = Yummy Rosemilk!

My bday month seems to be too much fun and lucky even before my day has approached. Awards, tags and what not ! It added on when........Couple of days back, opened my inbox to see a new message from Nags with the subject "You won the book". I first cudnt believe it, as luck is very far from me :)

Anyways luck has breezed my way this time...... I m happy to tell you that I won the book in this giveaway. I have just started reading the book and I am really thankful to Nags for such a nice book. It surely has changed my perception about diets and you knw the lazy me has started exercising already!

Coming to the award, I feel very much excited and honoured in receiving the honest scrap award. Thank you so much Renu!

Requirements:

I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it.

I must list 10 honest things about myself.

I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.

I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links.

I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above three requirements also.

Here are my 10 honest confessions:

1.I feel each day is a little life n I luv it :)

2.I completely enjoy being a mother

3.I go crazy after mobiles and bags

4.If I like a movie, I prefer watching it many times instead of a new one

5.I love watching the rain

6.I am addicted to my system

7.I am a planned person and struggle to take things at the last minute

8.I adore friendship

9.I cook to click :)

10.I love longdrives in car with music turned on

And I am passing this to my honest scrappers:

Smitha , Nags , Lavi , Varsha , SJ , Mahima , Lubna

Only 7?! Hmm have to stop here then.....You all deserve the award too, Do pick it up! I am tired of writing a long post so let me have my rosemilk :)

Carrot Milkshake

Had a 3 days weekend.......I saw couple of movies : Mariyathai and Yaradi Nee Mohini(3rd time ofcourse:)) Mariyathai was a typical Vikraman movie....I wonder each time watching his movies.....How could all characters in his movie alone be sooo gud and kind hearted!? The movie was ok type only but guess this is far better than the violent and action movies coming up these days which is not my kind at all and tats the reason I dont want to watch Ayan! Yaradi Nee mohini was screened in SunTv on Friday for May day.....though the story line is not of logic I still luv the movie for its humour sense and songs! And wat else.....I am waiting for IPL to get over......everywhere this mania strikes, hubby is totally into it and sticks to the channel everytime.

Now coming to the carrot milkshake....Again the laziness in me has popped up, so I didnt enter kitchen for a week or so.....inspite of long weekends and holidays......:( Cudnt stand in the kitchen for more than 10mins its sooo hotttttt....wish I had an A/C there too :) And this one is right from the drafts which I made long back! Carrot milkshake is very creamy and tasty which can be done in a jiffy, here goes the recipe:

Ingredients : (Updated)

2 small fresh carrots grated

1 cup milk

4 badams

2 tsp sugar / as required

Method:

1. Saute the carrot for 5mins until raw smell goes.

2. Blend milk, sauted carrot, sugar,badams in a mixer well until creamy and thick

3. Refrigerate for 30mins and serve chilled!

And this goes to

Mahimas 15minute cooking and

Sangis Fall In Love with Carrots for Season 2