There was a time when I used to chug smoothies for breakfast but overtime, I had lost the appetite for smoothies & I somehow had completely stopped making them, except for summer when kids would demand for something cold to drink 

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year !! Though, 2021 isn't going to be very different from 2020, I am glad that 2020 is over & done :)

One thing I will always be grateful for 2020 was that, I got my blogging mojo back. I blogged consistently after many years & I realized that hitting the Publish button still brings me as much joy  

Here is an easy Kashaya Recipe that I've been wanting to share that you can make with some common spices available at home. 

This is a recipe I learnt from Shankar's Grandmother & this has been my go-to Kashaya recipe especially when someone at home is under the weather. 

You can also drink this in the morning instead of Tea/Coffee

There are 2 ways of making Kashaya. One is making a Kashaya Powder by roasting the spices & the other one is using unroasted spices

I mostly make the latter as I usually don't store Kashaya powder. I feel Kashaya Powder loses its freshness over a period of time, so no point in storing it especially if you don't consume Kashaya regularly

The main Spices used in Kashaya are Coriander Seeds, Cumin, Black Pepper & Dry Ginger .. If you dont have dry ginger, use  fresh Ginger (like I always do)

Adding Mint in Kashaya is not very common, but it tastes great 

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tablespoons Coriander Powder
• 2 teaspoons Cumin Seeds
• 6 Black Peppercorns
• A small Stick of Cinnamon
• 2 Cloves 
• A few Mint Leaves

To make Kashaya Powder

Hot Chocolate Season is upon us. December is all about snuggling under the duvet with a mug of Hot Chocolate for that warmth. We are so looking forward to the holidays. 

I just figured out that you can actually make amazing Hot Chocolate with just Chocolate Chips & some Milk on hand. 

I am not at all a fan of Store bought Hot Chocolate Packs. They lack flavor & not they don't taste chocolatey at all. Don't you agree?

So Let's make some delicious Hot Chocolate with some chocolate chips & Milk

What Kind of Milk to Use

Using Oat Milk

Recipe

• A 2 inch piece of Raw Turmeric Root
• A small piece of Ginger
• 1 tsp Honey  - I use Manuka Honey *
• Half a lime 
• 2 cups water

You Will Need:

• 1 large Banana
• 1.5  - 2 cups Milk
• 1 tsp Bournvita/Boost or another Hot Chocolate Malt
• 4-5 Raw Cashewnuts or Almonds (I used Almonds)
• 1 tsp Sugar - Optional

You Will Need

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp good quality Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• A small piece of cinnamon
• A few strands of saffron (Optional)
• Sugar as per taste

This post is a little late as the temprature in Bangalore has come down considerable thanks to the Pre Monsoon showers since a couple of days. But a tall glass of juice is always welcome isn't it?

Summer means Mangoes, Watermelons, Chilled Lassi & lots of sweat nevertheless fun


We mostly eat watermelon as it is. Straight out of the fridge chopped into cubes & sprinkled with chaat masala. Offlate I started making juicing watermelon for Baby K & he loves it. And this is this summery drink was born




Juice watermelon in a juicer/blender. Strain to remove pulp.
Combine the rest of the ingredients except mint in a blender along with watermelon juice.
Pour into tall glasses. Garnish with fresh mint & serve chilled

Looks lovely, Isn't it?? The idea is let the flavor of Orange peel rule .. So, I just added a hint of cinnamon, because the citrusy flavor of orange peel & cinnamon go very well together.

Here's How to Make a citrusy Masala Chai

• 1 Cup Full Fat Milk
• 20g Bittersweet Dark chocolate - chopped/grated
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamom
• 1/2 tsp sugar

• In a small pat, heat half the quantity of milk alongwith dark chocolate. Simmer on low flame until the chocolate melts completely.
• Add the remaining milk, sugar & cinnamon
• Heat on low flame until the hot chocolate is warm enough for you to enjoy
• Pour into your favorite mug & Enjoi !!!

• You can top with some whipped cream as well .. Since, I used full fat milk, I didn't use it
• Add a few marshmellows if you like .. I am not very fond of them,  so I chose not to
• You can even add grated ginger or orange zest for a different flavor

You Will Need:

• A handful of almonds - soaked in hot water for an hour & skin peeled
• 2 cups of Milk
• 2 tbsp Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
• A pinch of saffron dissolved in warm milk

How To:

• Boil milk & set aside to cool
• Grind almond into a smooth paste using a tbsp of milk
• Add this to boiled milk, Mix sugar & stir so that sugar dissolves.
• Add green cardamom powder, & Allow it to chiil in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
• Pour into glasses, Garnish with saffron strands

Enjoi your Kesar Badam Milk chilled ..

• 500 ml Milk
• 1 1/2 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Sugar - or more if you need
• A handful of Almonds
• 2 tsp poppy seeds
• 1 tsp saunf/fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp melon seeds - soaked
• 2-3 cardamom pods
• 5-6 peppercorns
• 2 tsp rose water
• A few strands of saffron - soaked in warm milk
• A few almond slivers for garnish
• A few mint leaves/Rose petals - for garnish

• Boil milk & set aside to cool
• Soak almonds & poppy seeds in water for a couple of hours.
• In a mixer, grind together almonds, melon seeds, poppy seeds, cardamom, fennel seeds, peppercorns with sugar with some milk into a smooth paste.
• Strain through a seive, Add mill, water, rose water & mix well.
• Check for sugar. Pour into individual glasses, garnish with saffron, almond slivers & mint leaves

• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp Green Tea leaves or 1 Green Tea Bag
• 1/2 tsp sugar or 1 tsp Honey (optional)

How To:

• In a tea pot, heat water. Just before it comes to a rolling boil, turn off the flame.
• Add Tea leaves or Tea Bag. Let it soak for 2 mins & NOT more than that
• Strain & Pour into a mug
• Add Sugar or Honey & give it a stir .. Enjoi !!!

You will not fall in love with Green Tea at the very first try, Its an accquired taste.  I drink atleast 2 cups of Green Tea everyday. One, right after I get back from the gym & another cup on the evening. They have plenty of flavours to choose from. Chamomile, Jasmine, Mint, Lemon & loads of others. I have about 3 flavours stored in my pantry right now ..

• 
  
  1 1/2 tsp of any instant coffee powder - I love Nescafe
• 
  
  1 1/2 - 2 tsp Sugar
• 
  
  1cup hot milk

• 
  
  In a coffee mug, add instant coffee powder & sugar. To this add 1 tbsp milk & beat well for about 3 - 4 mins with a spoon until frothy.
• 
  
  Pour hot milk into the mug & beat well for a minute until froth appears.
• 
  
  Add a pinch of instant coffee powder on top & make swirls with your finger tips.

Method:

1. Blend together Banana chunks, Mango cubes, sugar, yogurt & milk until smooth


2. Pour into tall glassed, Top with ice cubes, serve chilled
   

Enjoi !!!

I went a step ahead & made my smootie extra healthy by adding low-fat yogurt & skimmed milk. I could'nt afford to drink more of chocolate milkshakw with ice cream & ruin my workouts !! Whenever I go out, I always order a smoothie now.

Smoothie is the BEST :)

Off goes my smoothie to Sangeeth's Event, Eat Healthy - Calcium Rich

Thanks Sangeeth for hosting :)