Musk Melon & Nendra Bale Fruit Juice/Milkshake

The hot summer is here and we need to take care of our health from the heat. The weather is so hot that you feel like drinking more and more water. Though the water is the best way to quench our thirst, it is always better to have some thing which helps to keep you cool. Fruits and vegetables are the best friends in summer. They not only keeps you full, they do helps to keep your mind and body cool.

Fruits, fresh juices and salads, smoothies and many varieties of drinks can be prepared at home. Home prepared drinks are most healthiest and the best.

I have used Musk Melon, Nendra bale ( Nendra banana/A type of banana variety, jaggery and milk.
Eating Nendra Bale in our diet and its benefits. 

Nendra bale / a type of  banana is mostly used in Dakshina Kannada and Kerala. This banana can be eaten when it is fully ripe, prepare so many dishes like curry, fried fritters, dosas, jamoons, etc etc. 

Nendra Bananas are having good amount of fiber and anti oxidants. It helps to digest the food easily.
Banana is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, Vitamin B 6 and Vitamin C. It is filled with carbohydrates. It is very good for people who are dieting, it keeps you full for a long time and filled with minerals and vitamins. It is very good for kids who wants to gain weight. It is good for pregnant women.

It is an easy and superb drink any time of the day. It provides not only energy it also helps to take care of your body because the fruits contain full of vitamins and minerals.

Things needed :

Nendra Bale/Nendra Banana : 2
Musk Melon : 1 Small size
Jaggery : 2 Teaspoons
Milk : Boiled and colled : 1 Glass
Water : 1 Glass

Method :

1. Wash and cut Musk Melon and remove the outer hard layer and the pulp. Cut the fruit into small pieces.

2. Remove the outer layer of Nendra bale and cut them into small circle shape.
3. Now Put Nendra bale, Musk Melon pieces, milk and jaggery to liquidizer.

4. Churn them in to fine juice. Add a glass of water and churn for a minute. Let all the ingredients mix it well.

5. Put this Musk Melon - Nendra Bale Fruit Juice to a bowl. Mix it well.
6. Pour it to serving glasses and serve.

7. You can chill it fridge and then serve.

8. Add ice cubes and then serve.

Note :

Adding more milk instead of water, is optional. It turns as smoothie and you can have them by eating.
It fills your stomach so that you can skip your meal. Adding honey instead of jaggery is optional.  Use of more /less jaggery is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes 
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Wild Mango Fruit Juice

You call as panaka/juice/drink whatever it is, the fruit drink is always good to haveto keep your mind and body.

In the hot summer you need to keep your body cool and quench your thirst. The amount of water we drink is not just enough to keep our selves healthy. The fresh fruit drink refresh our mind and body and helps to take care of our health.
I have prepared wild mango (more on sweet taste) juice and  used very little spices.
Wild Mango Fruit Juice is one of the best juice to quench your thirst in summer. It also helps in keeping you fit and provide the energy that is lost during the hot summer.
Wild mangoes are plenty during summer season and we do get many varieties of these mangoes. Use of sweet mangoes are always preferable for this type of juice or else you need to add more jaggery to the juice. Jaggery helps to bring back the energy you lost when you out during the summer. It helps to cool the body and boost our energy.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Wild Mango fruits : 3 to 4
Water : 2 to 3 Glasses
Jaggery : 1 to 2 Teaspoons (Optional).
Salt : Very little / A pinch

Method :

1 Wash and clean the mangoes and remove the outer skin. Squeeze out the pulp to a bowl.

2. Put the mango skin /outer layer to a bowl. Put 1 glass of water and squeeze out the pulp 

completely. Add this water mixed pulp to a main bowl. 

3 Add required water. Add jaggery. Mix it nicely. Sieve this mixture to a clean bowl.

4. Add a pinch of salt and put to the serving glasses.

5. Wild Mango Fruit Juice is ready to serve.

Note :

Use of sweet wild mangoes are preferable. Use of jaggery is optional. I have used Joni Bella.( Jaggery which is bit liquid type/Organic and healthy). If you are using normal jaggery, powder the jaggery and melt it with little water, sieve it and then used it. Use of salt helps to add the taste and the loss of water/sweat in our body. Use of more mangoes are optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Shanka Pushpa - Lemon Juice.

Shanka Pusha is a flower. I have used this flower and prepared lemon juice. This flower adds natural colour to water when it is slightly boiled.

Shanka Pushpa is known as clitora tematee, commonly known as Asian Pigeonwings. It is also known as bluebell vine or blue pea, butterfly pea, condofan pea and Darwin pea. This plant species belongs to the fabaceae family. The latin name of this genus is " Clitoria ", from clitoris.
Since this flower gives out the natural colour and it is used in many dishes mainly in Asian Countries.
I first tasted the juice that prepared by my sister in Udyavar. She added lemon and was too good.
Then I saw Shri Kripa one of the FOODIE group admini putting up the pic of the juice.
I brought this plant seeds from Udyavar and planted it in a pot. It did not come up. One day I suddenly noticed a flower that grew by the side of the compound wall on the terrace. Saw the plant in a mud bag and removed the plant and replanted it in a pot. For my bad luck the plant died. I brought some more seeds in my next visit to sister's house and planted it in a pot. It has come out nicely and Here we go  :)  me a happy person to see the plant growing and flowering.

Let us see some benefits of Flower Shanka Pushpa.
Shanka Pushpa plant is known for years for their healthy properties in them. They are used in Ayurvedic medicines from ages. They are good for hypertension. They contain the properties that are good for control the production of body's stress hormones and helps in reducing anxiety and stress.
They are the good remedy for improving memory power. The plant has anti -ulcer properties and is very good for fighting against any type of ulcer which is formed in the body. It also helps to improve the nerve tissue. Shanka Pushpa herb helps and controls cholesterol level in our blood. They help in flushing out the fatty acids which are harmful to our body.

Note : One who is suffering from hypertension and low blood pressure must consult the doctor and get his advise. Since it has a quality of decreasing the blood pressure level it might cause problems.
I have used this flower for preparing the juice and added jaggery which turned its colour slightly golden and the other time I used salt and very little sugar. It was ok with  less sugar and good too
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Shanka Pushpa flowers : 5 to 6
Water : 2 Glasses
Jaggery /Sugar  : As your requirement.
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash Shanka Pushpa flowers nicely and separate the petals.

2. Keep water for boiling. Add Shanka Pushpa flower petals.
3. Let the water boil. The flowers start leaving their colours and the water turns colourful.

4. Put off the gas and sieve boiled water. Throw away the remained flower pieces.
5. Let the water turn cool.

6. Wash and squeeze out the lemon extract to the bowl. ( 1 to 1 1/2 lemon extract).

7. Add a pinch of salt and required sugar. Mix it well.

  8. The healthy drink is ready to serve. Serve the juices that you have prepared.

Note :

Let the water boil nicely. Clean the flower nicely so that no harmful worms go off.
Adding sugar /jaggery / or honey is your choice. I have used Kama Kastorri seeds which I collected from our home garden. Using these seeds helps to cool the body and mind safe and cool.
I have added some kamakasturi seeds/sabja seeds. Remove the husk nicely and clean it. Soak the seeds in little water. Add this water to the juice. Using Sabja seeds helps to cool the body.

Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3  (According to the requirement).
Shanka Pushpa Juice with Jaggery
Followed the same above mentioned method. The change is, used jaggery instead of sugar.

Cucumber - Kamakasturi Coolant ( Cucumber Juice)

Cucumber Juice helps to reduce the heat and takes care of you to be cool. Cucumber juice can be done easily and its available plenty in the market every where at any time of the year.

I have used Small size cucumber, Kamakasturi seeds and honey. 

Kamakasturi plant is also known as Thai Basil, Sweet basil. They are known as Sabja seeds. Sabja seeds are known as Kama Kasturi in Kannada, Vithai in Tamil, Sabja Ginjalu - Telugu. Baburi - Punjabi. The plants looks like Tulsi and it is also known as tulsi seeds. TulsiBija in Bengali.
Sabja/Kamakasturi seeds contain carbohydrates, very low in fat and rich with protein. It is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Kamakasturi seeds helps in good digestion, makes the body cool and helps the skin to glow. It is said that the leaves helps to keep away the tummy worms and reduces the menstrual cramps. It helps to control the inflammation and increases the appetite. Its oil is used for treating pains and aches
Lets see the recipe now:
Kamakasturi seeds from home garden. It grows very well in pots.
I have used honey instead of sugar. Jaggery can be used instead of honey /sugar. Adding little salt helps you get away the dehydration.

Things Needed :

Cucumber : 2 (Small size)
Lemon : 1/2 (Lemon extract)
Honey : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : A pinch
Kamakasturi seeds : 1 Teaspoon.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of cucumber. Cut them into small.

2. Soak kamakasturi seeds in water.

3. Grind cut cucumber with very little water. Cucumber is loaded with water. ( Very little water to grind).

4. Put it in a big bowl.
5. Add honey and a pinch of salt. Add lemon extract.

6. Add Kamakasturi seeds and mix it well.

7. Serve Cucumber Juice with Kamakasturi seeds.

Note :

Adding cold water is optional. Adding ice while serving is also optional. Adding sugar/jaggery is optional. Adding a pinch of salt helps you to get away with cold or cough.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2.

Kamakasturi Seeds.

Kamasturi Seeds just from the plant.