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 .

Quick Avocado / Butter Fruit Mosaru Bajji (Curd Curry)

Avocado Mosaru bajji, this particular dish is dedicated to Rajarama - Suprabha Cukkemane and  Sadashiva - Bharathi Cukkemane. 

Ready to serve Avocado Mosaru Bajji/ Curd curry 

Mosaru bajji/Curd curry is an easy side dish and I tried today Avakadu / Butter Fruit / ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ಹಣ್ಣು.
I got some Avocado fruits from Usha Suresh's sister Bharathi's house.
 Usha and Suresh Cukkemane are our very good friends since long time. We used to have loads of fun together even in Dubai. ( When we were all together). It is nice to be bonded as one family. Even now whenever we get time we try to meet each other and enjoy being together. Going out, eating together so and so.
We love travelling and do visit places at times and enjoy the beauty of the place.
This time we planned to visit Usha - Suresh Cukkemane's sisters' house and thanks to Major   Venkatagiri Saya (Giri Anna) and his wife Vanajakshi Saya. (Vanajakka). We stayed in their beautiful home which is near to Virajpet.( Coorg). We visited some places like , Mrutyunjaya Temple at Shrimangala - Badageri, Irupu falls and Usha's another sister Bharathi's House at Cheyindane. Mruthynjaya temlple at Shrimangala is an old and beautiful temple. Lovely natural greenery surroundings and quiet place where you can really enjoy peaceful moments.
Then from there we went to Irupu falls at Irupu. Irupu is River Lakshmana Thirtha's Ugama Stana
(Birth place). There is a story about this river. When Rama - Seetha and Lakshmana were in this area ( Their's 14 years Vanavasa), they felt thirsty and Lakshmana shot an arrow to a big stone/bandekallu and from there the water started to flow. They quenched their thirst. The water flow formed the river and got its name as Lakshmana Thirtha. Rama dedicated Linga at this place and it is called Ramalingeshwara. The water falls is known as Irupu Falls and is about 50 KM from Virajpet. Lakshmana Thirtha flows down and it joins River Kaveri.
I got these Avocados from Usha's sister Bhartathi - Sadashiva's House. They stay in a place called Cheyindane near Virajpet. We did have some super good times with  Suprabha - Rajarama - Sanketh and Sadashiva - Bharathi Cukkemane. These people are very hard workers and very dedicated to Bhumitaayi. They believe in her and do work sincerely.
Coming back to Avocado mosaru bajji / curd curry /dip is a simple side dish which goes well with almost all main dishes. It is mild and not to add much spices to this curd curry.
I have used Avocado, curd and the seasoning.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Avocado : 2
Curd : 1 Cup
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/ Cumin seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Red chilly /Byadagi chilly : 2 To 3
Pepper pods : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut Avocado fruits into halves. Remove the big pod keep it aside.

2. Take a teaspoon and scoop out the pulp from the shell. Powder the pepper pods.

3. Put it in a bowl. Add salt, little ingh and a cup of curd.

4. Mix it well and put it in a serving bowl.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and red chilly. (Cut chilly into two to three pieces).
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add jeera and fry for 10 seconds. Add ingh, pepper pods and curry leaves.
7. Add this seasoning to the ready Avocado mosaru bajji. Add coriander leaves. Mix it well and serve.

Note :

Do not add much spices to mosaru bajji. Mosaru bajji means the curry made with curd. Mosaru means curd and bajji means smashed vegetable or fruit. Adding green chilly instead of red chilly is optional. Use of ghee to seasoning is optional. Do not add water. It is better to use curd. (Not much savoury).
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Quick Raagi Pulka (Finger Millet Chapati )

Raagi/finger millet Pulka is an easy and perfect dish for dinner. It is soft and fluffy and fits into all age group.

I have seen this pulka in my favourite cookery group " FOODIE ". The moto of the web page is share and care attracts most of us. The adminis are so helpful and caring. Sadashiva Rao Mailankody, Shri Kripa, Madhura Pradeep and others are doing a great work. You can learn many dishes and the information they provide is really helpful to all of us.
I have used Ragi flour/Finger millet flour and wheat flour to prepare this Pulka.

Let us see some benefits of having Ragi in our diet. 
Ragi is known as one of the best Millet in the millet family. Millets are known as Siri Dhanya means rich content of minerals and provide good health if eaten regularly.
Ragi/Finger Millet is an excellent source of calcium and helps in strengthening bones for kids and aging people. It has a good source of antioxidant property. It is good for controlling blood sugar level in diabetes. It is full of fiber and slow in digestion. It has higher level of nutrition and good for people who follow diet food. Ragi has good source of natural iron and eating ragi is good for who suffer from anemia.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

Ragi/Finger Milelt flour : 1 Cup
Wheat flour : 1/2 Cup
Boiling water : 1/2 Cup
Ghee/Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : A little

Method :

1. Keep water for boiling.
2. Put Ragi and wheat flour in a big bowl.

3. Add salt and pour water. (Boiling water).
4. Add a teaspoon of ghee. Leave it for 5 minutes.

5. Now mix all the ingredients and prepare dough. Add water if required.
6. Keep 1/2 cup of dry wheat flour in a small bowl.
7. Mix the dough nicely and divide them in to small ball quantity.

8. Take a small ball size of dough and dip in dry wheat flour.
9. Roll and make chapati.

10. Keep a tava/pan on the fire and heat. Put led ragi chapati on hot tava. It starts to bubble up.
11. Turn the other side and cook on low and medium flame.

12.Now Ragi pulka is ready to serve. Apply little ghee on both sides of  Ragi Pulka.

13.Repeat the same with remaining dough.

14.  Serve Ragi Pulka with the choice of your curry and cup of curd.

Note :

Ragi flour should be fresh to get good pulka.  If the dough turns too soft add little more flour. Take care while adding water. Do not add more water, which turns the dough very sticky. Adding oil instead of ghee is optional. Do not add any oil while cooking pulka. I have cooked pulka on tava. Cook on low and medium flame.
Time : 20 Minutes 
Serves : 2 to 3 . (According to size).

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.