Tropical Delight - Ice Apple Hibiscus Cooler / Nungu Chembaruthi Sherbet

And the summer is here, which brings in the delicious and naturally cooling Ice Apples for us to relish. I have already shared various Ice Apple Recipes last summer and adding few more to the list this year too. Got some fresh and tender Ice Apples directly harvested from trees on demand on the way back home after a short trip to Auroville this week. We got one full bunch of the fruits carefully scooped out without breaking the delicate skin, as the juice inside the Ice apples are the excellent hydrating agent and has lot of medicinal properties. The juice when applied on prickly heat,rashes or sun burns will reduce irritation and burning sensation, cures them fast. The peels can be used for this purpose as it will have some juice and flesh. Just by rubbing the inner portion of the peels on the affected areas will give soothing effect.

Sharing another interesting blend of Ice Apple with Hibiscus which is a delightful cooler to enjoy this summer to harness the benefits of both.

Hibiscus is rich in Vitamin C and Flavanoids. It displays Anti Bacterial and anti Cancerous Properties. It is known to reduce Blood Pressure Level and Cholesterol levels in body. It is also proven to calm down the hot flashes that women faces during hormonal period of menopause. It is not recommended for Pregnant and Lactating women or those who are taking fertility treatments.It boosts up immunity and maintain body temperature.

Check out for an array of Ice Apple Recipes and its Benefits Here.

Happy and Healthy Week to all :) 

Sweet and Spicy Mango Pachadi

Yet another Pachadi to celebrate this Ugadi, with season fresh Raw Mangoes and Neem Flowers, sweetened with Jaggery. This is even made on Tamil New Year Day at our home (very similar to Ugadi Pachadi to mark the mix of all flavours). I have made this pachadi in OPOS way this time to make it even more easier. If you have bottled tadka ready you can add along with fresh neem flowers on opening else you can add freshly made tadka.

Happy Ugadi :) 

Ugadi Pachadi / 6 Taste Pachadi

Ugadi Subakankshalu!!! May this festival usher in prosperity and lot of new beginnings. Ugadi is the Telugu New Year which is celebrated by Hindus in Andhra. Yugadi/Ugadi in sanskrit means the beginning of new age. On this day, a very special and traditional dish is made called Ugadi Pachadi/6 Taste Pachadi  with Raw Mango, Coconut, Tamarind, Jaggery, Chillies and Neem Flowers. This marks that all these flavors will be balanced in our life and is a very easy to make dish.

Jaggery- Sweet- Which represents the happiness of life
Tamarind - Sour- That signifies the sour moments of life which makes our life worth living
Salt- Which represents the fear
Neem Flowers - Bitter- That means sadness
Mango - Tangy- Which represents disgust
Chillies - Spice- That signifies anger

Happy Ugadi dear all :) 

Lemon Mint Cooler

The Summer hasn't kicked off officially but we started feeling the aggression of Sun Rays already. Wont it be a cool idea to start making our own native coolers with natural home grown ingredients to beat the heat? Yes, starting this year's cooler series with this greeny green and refreshing Lemon Mint Cooler made with Home Grown Mint and Lemon.

Have enhanced this regular Lemon Mint Cooler with Himalayan Pink Salt which will recharge our system with essential minerals and this is an excellent re-hydrating drink.

The Benefits 

The Recipe

Have a Refreshing Week :) 

Turkey Berry Rice Mix / Sundakkai Vathal Kalathu Podi

Turkey Berry (Sundakkai in Tamil) is used both fresh and dried forms as it has many medicinal properties. It is rich in Vitamin A, Calcium, Iron and Fiber.It has bitter taste and is used in Sambar, Kootu as fresh berries. It is also sun dried by soaking it in curd and salt and stored for using later. The dried ones can be fried in oil and had as is with Curd Rice or it is made into Sundakkai Vathal Kuzhambu which is a tastiest version.

It is used in Ayurveda to cure Liver and Kidney disorders. It kills the intestinal worms and is used in controlling Blood Sugar Level. It is also to strengthen the bones due to the Calcium content.

Here am sharing an interesting Rice Mix using Turkey Berries and Peanuts.

Happy cooking :) 

Holi Recipe - Thandai - A healthy and refreshing Indian Drink

Holi is one of the major and colorful festival of India celebrated in grand manner in many parts of the country. It is known as the Festival of Love, signifies the victory of Good over the Evil.It also denotes the arrival of spring, end of winter. Its a day to meet our near and dear ones, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. It is celebrated on a Full Moon Day in the month of March. Its a colorful day with people pouring colour water and color powders on each other and have fun. Holi also brings in lot of goodies to be shared and cherished with our friends and relatives. Sharing here an delicious and traditional recipe to celebrate Holi.

Check out the other traditional recipe for Holi - Malpuas  and a healthy version of Millet Malpua 

Thandai 

A refreshing drink that is made during Holi and is very flavourful and rich. It is made with Nuts, Poppy Seeds, Fennel, Rose Petals and Milk.

The Thandai Masala can be made and stored in air tight container for a week in refrigerator. It can be mixed with boiled and cooled milk, with sugar when needed and serve chilled.

The Ingredients

The Recipe 

Happy Holi :) May the festival brings in lot of love and happiness :) 

Karupu Kavuni Arisi Inippu / Black Rice Sweet - A Delicacy of Chettinad

Black Rice / Karupu Kavuni Arisi is truly a Miracle Rice and an ancient Rice Variety, that is mostly used by Chettinad people to make sweets and desserts. It is loaded with health benefits and is rich in almost 18 Amino Acids that are essential for our body. It has good amount of Zinc, Copper and Iron. Also it is rich in Anthocyanins - "AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY HAS SHOWN, A SPOONFUL OF BLACK RICE CONTAINS MORE ANTHOCYANIN ANTIOXIDANTS THAN A SPOONFUL OF BLUEBERRIES"

Here is a simple and yet delicious, easy to make sweet using this rice. Am happy to get this rice from a known Organic farm directly along with other Heirloom Varieties of Rice and the Coconut is also from my native home garden. 

Happy Cooking :) 

Healthy Idly Dosa Podi Varieties - Green Gram / Black Gram / Horse Gram

Got bored with usual Idly Podi with Deskinned Urd Dhall ? Here are some healthy variations that I made using Horse Gram, Flax Seeds (Which I have posted here already), Whole Black Gram and Green Gram (??, Yes, you heard it right. Whole Green Gram which is a huge hit with my family and kids will sure love it).

Try these all healthy options and let me know your feed backs. Would love to hear.

Flax Seeds: 

Flax seeds are miraculous seeds with innumerable medicinal properties. They were originally used in Austrian Medicine and now it is slowly catching attention owing to the health benefits that it offers. It has lot of minerals and loaded with fibre. It has less Carbs and gluten free too. It promotes healthy Skin and Hair. It lowers Cholesterol and aids in Weight Loss. It has good amounts of antioxidants which acts as anti ageing and hormone balancing agent.

Green Gram: 

Green Gram is a high source of nutrients including: manganese, potassium, magnesium, folate, copper, zinc and various B vitamins.

They are high in protein, resistant starch and dietary fiber.Lowers Blood Pressure and helps with Weight control.

Black Gram:

Black gram has protein, fat, and carbohydrates which is required by our body. It is one of the richest sources of proteins and Vitamin B. It is also good for women as it has iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium which makes it a healthy pulse. It is rich in fibre which makes it easy to digest and benefits the health as it is good for the heart. Consumption of Black gram helps to reduce cholesterol and improves cardiovascular health.

Horse Gram: 

The health benefits of this Pulse is in numerous...It is proven to have anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti oxidant properties.It is rich in protein, iron and calcium. It aids in Weight Loss and a great cure for cough and cold. It has less Lipid and Sodium content which is ideal for Obesity and Diabetic patients. By including this in our diet we can keep us Young and Vibrant

 

Happy Cooking :)