Carrot & Badam Drink

Its hot summer and you need to cool your body and mind too. One needs to drink lots of water to take care of them from dehydration. Some don't feel like drinking water and do not have that habit of drinking water since it has no taste. I know many are of this attitude. Instead of water you can have some cool drinks and enjoy. This is the way you intake water.

I have tried this Carrots, almonds drink and kept it in the fridge to be cool then served. It is nice. You can too prepare this and enjoy.
I have used carrots, some almonds and jaggery to give a sweet taste.
Lets see some benefits of having jaggery in our diet.
It is always better that you use jaggery instead of sugar to sweeten your food. Jaggery helps to cleanse our body. It acts as a digestive agent. It also sweeten our food in a healthy manner and they provide good amounts of minerals. It helps to prevent the constipation. They are good source of iron and helps to prevent iron deficiency/ anemia. Eating jaggery helps to cleanse our liver. It helps to detoxify and push out the harmful toxin from our body.
"Carrot & Badam Drink " can be prepared for Kids party, kitty party, or any ladies party and on hot summer Day. It can be prepared during feast or festival.
Lets see the recipe now.

Things Needed : 

Carrots : 2
Almonds : 10
Jaggery : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Coconut Milk : 1/2 Coconut milk.
Fresh Milk : 1 Litre
Cardamom : 5 to 6 pods
Dates : 4 to 5

Method :

1.Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots. Wash again and cook with very little water.
2. Soak almonds in hot water and remove the outer skin after 2 minutes.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and add 1 cup of water. Put jaggery and let it melt completely.
4. Sieve the jaggery water and remove the dirt particles if any. Grate coconut, grind with little water and squeeze out the milk from coconut. Cut dates and and keep it aside.
5. Grind cooked carrots, cut dates, almonds and cardamom with little water. Grind it into paste consistency.
6. Keep jaggery water and let it boil for 2 minutes. Add ground carrot and almond mixture.
7. Let it boil nicely for 2 to 3 minutes. Put off the fire. Add fresh coconut milk. Let it cool.
8. Add fresh milk which is already boiled and cooled. Mix it well and serve.
9. Make sure that carrot almond kheer should be cooled before adding fresh milk or it might curdle.

10. You can just keep it in a fridge before serving. Cool carrot and badam drink taste better.

Note : 

Remember to clean the jaggery before using. (It is always better to boil and then sieve or filter the jaggery before using). Adding more almonds is optional. You can add cashews instead of badam/almonds. (Almonds are healthy option). You can use sugar instead of jaggery. Adding more jaggery is also optional. You can add tender coconut pieces while serving this drink. Use of coconut milk is optional. (It adds to the taste and aroma).
Coconut milk preparation : Grate 1/2 fresh coconut. Grind it 1/2 cup of water and remove the mxture and squeeze out the milk. Grind the coconut again with 1/4 cup of water for 2 minutes and remove from the mixi jar. Squeeze out the milk. (Use the coconut milk to the drink.).
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 5 to 6.

Baadam ( Almond) Milk.

Badam/Almonds are always nuts and it helps to keep our skin healthy and take care of our health too.
Badam (Almond ) Milk is a refreshing drink and it helps you to be strong and energetic whole day.
I have used Almonds, cardamom, Saffron, Sugar and Milk.

Let us see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

Almonds : 10 to 15 
Cadamom : 4 to 6 pods.
Milk: 1/2 Litre.
Kesar ( Saffron ) : 2 to 3 rakes.
Sugar : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Soak Almonds in hot water for 10 minutes and remove its outer skin. Keep it aside.

2. Remove the skin of cardamom and add with almonds and grind it together with little water.

3. Keep milk for boiling. Cool the milk once it is boiled.
4. Soak 3 to 4 rakes of saffron in 2 tablespoons of hot milk. (Dissolve it after 2 minutes).
5. Now Put ground almonds in a bowl and boil for 2 minutes.
6. Add sugar to boiling almond mixture. Let it cool.

7. Now mix almond - saffron mixture with cooled milk and mix it well.

8. Serve cool " Badam Milk " in a hot summer day.

9. Keeping this Badam Milk in a refrigerator is optional. (Adding ice cube also optional).

Note: 

You can Dry grind cardamom and almonds (without removing the skin) and store it in a dry place and use it whenever you want. But you will not get the fresh aroma. (optional). Adding rock sugar (kallu sakkare) instead of sugar is a healthy habit. Use of sugar in hot summer helps you to get energy. You can use more milk but taste differ.
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 glasses.

Poppy seeds - Cool Drink (hasi Gasa-gase)

Poppy Seeds  Drink helps to cool your body and refresh you and helps you to be fresh whole day.
It is good for hot summer day. I have used poppy seeds, almonds and honey with fresh boiled milk.

Lets see some benefits of having Poppy Seeds in our diet. 
Poppy seeds/Gasagase/Khus khus is rich source of anti oxidant properties. They do have fatty acids and it is good for our body. Poppy seeds are rich in mono unsaturated fatty acids that help in lowering bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol levels. They are rich in dietary fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation. They are rich in Vitamin B complex vitamins. Poppy seeds contain good amount of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and zinc.
Lets see the recipe now. Sugar is not added and it is an easy drink that anyone can prepare.

Things needed :

Poppy Seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Almonds : 10
Honey : 1 Cup (8 to 10 Tablespoons)
Fresh Boiled Milk : 1 Litre

Method :

1. Clean and soak poppy seeds and soak almonds in warm water.
2. Remove the outer skin of almonds and grind it with soaked poppy seeds.
3. Now remove the almond and poppy seeds paste and put it in a big bowl.

4. Add water and mix it well. Put it in a big bowl.
5. Add boiled and cooled fresh milk.
6. Mix ground poppy seeds, almonds with milk.

7. Add honey to it and mix it well. (You can use 5 to 6 tablespoons of Honey to 1 litre Milk). Adding more honey is optional. The drink should be mild sweet.

8. Poppy Seeds -almonds Cool milk is ready to serve.

Note : 
Do not roast poppy seeds. It is said that roasting poppy seeds might lose its healthy properties.
Grinding with almonds helps the poppy seeds turn as paste. Do not boil the mixture for a long time. Just one boil will do. Fresh milk can be boiled and cooled earlier. Do not mix Hot milk to poppy seeds mixture. It might curdle and milk may turn spoiled. Let it be cooled milk and cooled poppy seeds mixture. Adding more/less honey is optional. Adding jaggery instead of honey is also optional.
Serves : 8 to 10
Time : 20 Minutes.

Raagi - with Butter Milk - Drink .

Raagi - Butter Milk Drink is good for All age of people . Better drink in the morning .

Things Needed :

Raagi Powder  : 2 Table Spoon
Butter Milk : 2 cups.
Water : 1 Cup
Salt : according to your taste
Pepper : 2 to 3 seeds or just a pinch of  pepper powder.
Method :
Keep water for boiling  on fire in a big pan. When the water boils add  Raagi Powder slowly and stir thoroughly so that it does not get lumps. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes and put off the gas.
Replace this mixture in another bowl. Let it cool. Now add butter milk and pepper and mix well and serve. Can Add  fresh cut  coriander leaves or sprinkle Chat Masala on the top before serving .
Note :Cook Raagi on low flame so that it does not get burn. Add water if the consistency become thick.
Serves :3

FRESH BADAM MILK

Fresh Badam/Almond Milk is a healthy drink and gives energy to the body and good for the skin. Badam/Almond milk is delicious and energetic drink that helps to refresh and cool your body.
I have used Almonds, milk, saffron and honey to prepare this Badam Milk.

Lets see some benefits of having Almonds (Badam) in our diet.
Almonds do contain lots of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and Vitamin E. They help to lower the blood sugar levels, reduces blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. Almonds are rich source of many nutrients that help in the development and health of the human brain. It is said that consuming almonds regularly helps to a higher intellectual level and is good for growing children.  Almond is a rich source of a healthy mono-unsaturated fats, fiber, protein and other important nutrients. Almonds are loaded with antioxidant properties. Almonds can reduce hunger and promote weight loss.
Lets see the recipe. Sugar is not used in this "Fresh Badam Milk " and even diabetic people also can enjoy this drink. 

Ingredients :
Almonds : 20
Fresh boiled and cooled milk : 4 to 5 Cups
Saffron : 5 to 6 Rakes
Cardamom : 2 Pods (Optional)
Honey : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :
1. Soak almonds in hot water for 2 minutes and remove the skin.

2. Grind almonds, cardamom pods with required water and put it in a big bowl. (Dry grind and then grind it with water ).

3. Boil ground badam milk and allow it to cool. Add saffron rakes and let it dissolve.
4. Add boiled and cooled fresh milk.

5. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of honey when the Badam milk turns warm or cool. Mix it well.

6. Serve warm/cold Badam Milk.

Note :
You can add sugar instead of honey to badam milk. (Optional). Adding more honey is optional.
Adding more milk is also optional. Adding cool fresh milk helps the badam milk not to curdle. (Boiling milk may some time curdle and it spoils the badam milk taste. Do not add more water while grinding almonds/badam.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5 people.