Apple Crab - Food Art

Any crab lover's here ?

All we need is one apple & a knife :) For eyes, use either cake sprinkles or apple seeds. 

Coffee Filters Bouquet

Isn’t this bouquet, simply adorable :) And yes, it's homemade. Being a valentine day I referred it to be pink shade, but you can go with any color of your choice. It can also be made during spring time, to invite those beautiful spring colors indoors. 

What we need to make it (for 6 flowers)

• 30-35 Coffee filters 
• Red Poster paint 
• water
• 1 medium size paint brush
• 1 bowl
• 6 barbeque skewers 
• Tread 
• 1 flower vase
• Color beads (optional to fill vase – I used crystals & heart shape beads from dollar store)

Fill bowl around 1 inch & add red poster paint 

Divide coffee filters in a batch of around 10 each & dip it in colored water

Paint boarders with red color, while its still wet & let it dry overnight or 5-6 hrs

hold  one coffee filter at time and give a twist from center to make a flower shape

take a wooden skewer & roll around 5-6 petals to it

once flowers are ready make a bouquet & place it your  favorite vase

Sunrise By The Lake

Sunrise By The Lake!

This drink and name are inspired by the view we are blessed to get up every morning with. Yes, we live right by the lake & can see the beautiful sunrise from our window. There is also a small but cozy backyard by the beach, to enjoy the scenic view :)     

This summer cooler is complete Desi Fusion, and my pet drink to welcome guests. Hope you all will like it too. And ya, did I mention, it just looks fancy, but super easy to assemble ;) 

Let's get started

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen concentrated orange juice (I used minute maid)
• 6 cups Ginger ale 
• 1 tsp black salt
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp roasted cumin seeds powder
• 1 tsp roasted coriander seeds powder
• 10 fresh mint leaves + for garnishing
• Orange food color, optional
• Ice cubes

Method

• Crush mint leaves in a mortar pestle 
• Now in a cup, add frozen orange juice, salt, black salt, cumin + coriander powder & mint. Mix everything together.  
• Take a serving glass, add a drop of orange food color & juice mixture. Fill the glass with ice & top it up with ginger ale, serve chilled. Refreshing :) 

Pictorial

Now in a cup, add frozen orange juice, salt, black salt, cumin + coriander powder & mint. Mix everything together

Sorry, by mistake I have deleted 1-2 pics, hence there is no pic of juice mixture :(

And just in case you are curious about the view, here is a teaser ;)

Sol Kadhi or Kokum Curry

Sol Kadhi!

Or I would say soulmate for summer. It just doesn't refresh your senses, but also your soul. A MUST TRY!

This beautiful pink color drink, comes from Kokan region of  India. Usually it had with rice or drink as a digestion drink after a satisfying meal. But I like to enjoy it on hot summer days to smooth my senses ;) It's made with Kokum & coconut milk. And it's vegan too :) 

Now let's get started

Ingredients

• 9 kokum petals
• 13 Oz appx 400 ml coconut milk (I used store bought, fresh can be used too)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Salt to taste
• Half green chilli + for garnishing
• Cilantro 
• 1 inch ginger 

Method

• Sock kokum in 1/2 cup warm water for 3-4 hours. After 4 hours squeeze out the water from kokum petals, reserve water for Sol Kadhi
• In blender, add cilantro + green chili + ginger & 1-2 tbsp of coconut milk or water to blend everything together.
• Now In a mixing bowl, add coconut milk, 1 cup water, ginger-chili paste, salt & kokum water. Mix everything together. If required adjust to taste. Strain through strainer.  
• To serve, garnish with cilantro & slit green chilli

Pictorial 

Refreshing Melon Cooler

Refreshing Melon Cooler!

Growing up, watermelon has been one of my favorite fruits of summer. Chilled, Juicy, beautiful red color refreshing watermelon. Refreshment also has a strong bond with mint & combining these goodnesses gives you refreshing healthy treat to enjoy :) 

Preparation time - 5 min
Cooking time -  1 min
Total time - 6 min

Ingredients

• 4 cups watermelon pieces, i.e. Approx half a melon
• Juice of half lemon
• 8-9 fresh mint leaves + few for garnish
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp black salt
• 1/2 tsp roasted cumin seeds powder

Method

• Deseed the watermelon & cut into pieces 
• Add salt / black salt / mint leaves / roasted cumin seeds powder / half lemon juice 
• Blend everything together, I used the food processor with dough attachment. Love that chunky texture & coarse mint leaves. 
• Garnish with watermelon wedge & mint leaves, serve chilled 

Pictorial

Honey Basil Buttermilk

HBB - in every sense a true summer cooler with abundant health benefits, and such an easy job to put it together. No added sugar, no chemicals just pure homemade drink to enjoy :)  

Listing down some of the health benefits:  

Honey has a history of at least 4000 years in Ayurvedic medicine in India and has been used for and is considered to affect all three of the body’s primitive material imbalances positively. It is also said to be useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and nausea. 

Basil is native to India and Asia as well as parts of Africa. It helps and is considered to reduce inflammation and swelling. It also has Anti-aging properties & Rich in antioxidants. Basil is rich in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium. 

Buttermilk helps to calm the stomach after a spicy or heavy meal, Washes down fats, Aids in digestion, A great tool against dehydration. 

Ingredients 

List A

• 1 1/2 cup yogurt (fresh and not sour)
• 4 cups chilled water
• 5-6 ice cubes
• 1 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped 
• 1 tbsp basil leaves, finely chopped  few for garnishing 
• 3 tbsp honey (or to taste)
• Salt to taste
• Black salt 2 tsp
• 1 tsp cumin powder

List B - For Tempering / Tadka

• 1 tbsp oil
• 4-5 curry leaves
• 3 whole red chili 
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds

Method

• In a jar mix all ingredients from 'list A' to make a buttermilk and keep it aside. 
• For tempering, heat the oil in a small pan, add cumin seeds, mustard seed and let it splutter. Now add curry leaves & whole red chili, take off the flame & add this tadka to buttermilk. Mix well. 
• Garnish it with basil leaves & serve chill.      

Tips

• The whole red chili adds up the prefect crisp flavor to buttermilk not spice
• Honey gives a very creamy texture while basil has its unique flavor. 
• Make sure that the yogurt is fresh & not sour.  
• Health benefits reference from google 

Sev Tamatar :)

This spicy treat is hubby's love.....Sev Tamatar!

And for me it's the easiest thing to cook, almost no preparation time and within 10 min from kitchen to table. Can it get any better than this? Who doesn't love these kind of time saving options for a day when we are in no cooking mood  ;) YES happens to me as well!!!

Ingredients

• 2 cups lasuni sev (garlic flavored)
• 1 cup chopped tomato
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder (As the sev I used was very spicy / hot so adjust accordingly)
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 spoon hing
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• hand full of chopped cilantro
• Salt to taste (carefully add it as sev already has salt)

Method

• Blend garlic and all dry masale/spices together, I like to use mortar pestle though 
• In a pan, heat 2 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds & saute
• Add ready garlic masala/ spices to oil and saute for a minute 
• Add tomato and cook it till mashed 
• Add water & cilantro, and bring it to boil
• Add lasuni sev , just before serving
• Switch off the flame, garnish with cilantro...its ready to serve.  

Pictorial

Blend garlic and all dry masale/spices together, I like to use mortar pestle though 

In a pan, heat 2 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds & saute

Add ready garlic masala/ spices to oil and saute for a minute

Add tomato and cook it till mashed 

Add water & cilantro, and bring it to boil

Add lasuni sev, just before serving 

Switch off the flame, garnish with cilantro...its ready to serve