Red Velvet Milkshake, Pistachio Milkshake and Blueberry Milkshake

Ramadan Mubarak to all the people of Maldives and all the Muslims around the globe. I wanted my first recipes for this Ramadan to be three delicious milkshakes. Milkshakes being such a popular drink, it’s hardly surprising that so many different flavors have sprung up over the years, so I came up with a red velvet milkshake, Pistachio milkshake and blueberry milkshake, my tasting judge was my daughter. She works as a cabin attendant at Fly Mega so she travels lot and has tasted many kinds of milk shakes. She loved all the milk shakes but her and mine favorite was Red Velvet Milk Shake. Nothing can beat Red Velvet right ……. Either it’s cake or a drink.

Red Velvet Milkshake

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

3 scoops vanilla ice cream

1 tbs cocoa powder

2 tbs sugar

1 red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting

1 to 2 drops red food coloring (optional)

For garnish: 1/2 cup Whipped cream + 2 tbs cream cheese frosting mixed well and extra cake crumbs

Method:

1_ Place the ice cream, milk, sugar, food color, cocoa powder and red velvet cupcake into a blender. Blend on low until mixture is red and creamy.

2_ Garnish with cream cheese frosting whipped cream, and crumbled red velvet bits.

Note: Makes 2 normal glass

Pistachio Milkshake

Ingredients

3 scoops vanilla ice cream

11/2 cups milk

2 tbs sugar

1/4 cup pistachio (ground to fine powder)

2-3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Whipped cream and 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios for garnish

Method:

1_Combine the ice cream, milk, pistachio powder, and food coloring (if using) in a blender and pulse on high until the mixture is smooth.

2_ Pour into a tall, clear glass. Garnish with chopped pistachios and whipped cream

Note: Makes 1 tall glass

Blueberry Milk Shake

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

3 scoops vanilla ice cream

1/3 cup fresh or frozen blue berries or 3 tbs blueberry pie filling or blueberry jam

2 tbs sugar (only if you are using fresh or frozen blueberries)

Whipped cream and blue berries for garnish

Method:

1_ In to a blender add milk, ice cream sugar if using and blueberries. Blend until frothy and smooth.

2_ Pour into a tall glass and garnish with whipped cream and blueberries.

Note: Makes 2 small glass

Fresh Kiwi & Cherry Spritzer

When I work with sugar I get very thirsty and crave for a cooling drink, most of these days I make some lemonade because its easy to make and as well refreshing. One of these days I ran out of lemon and was left with some kiwi and fresh cherries, so I made this delicious refreshing cooling drink, so thought of sharing this recipe on my blog. Just chill it before drinking, because it enhances the flavor and makes it more refreshing. Also, add ice to it before drinking.

Ingredients

1 kiwi (peeled & copped)

5 ripe cherries pitted

21/2 tbs sugar

13/4 cup sparkling water 

More cherries or kiwi for garnish

Ice cubes

Method:

1 _ Put kiwi 2 table spoon of sugar & 11/2 cup sparkling water in a blender & blend until smooth. Pour into a glass.

2 _ Put cherries, 1/2 table spoon of sugar & rest of sparkling water in a blender & blend smooth. Strain & pour in middle of kiwi juice glass.  Chill and Serve with ice....... enjoy! 

Atha fani (Custard apple juice)

Custard apple one of the common fruit of Maldives. I want to make some new dessert from this fruit because I had ten custard apples in the gift box which I got from the island friend. My kids love to eat this fruit so much that I let them eat the ripe custard apples each day so now I am left with only three custard apples. This sweet and fleshy fruit is used only to make a juice in our cuisine. I have written a new recipe but I need lot of custard apples so I will keep that recipe for later and write how I make this delicious refreshing juice.

Ingredients:

2big ripe custard apple(Atha)

1/2 to 1cup sugar

3cups of water

Method:

Scoop the flesh and seeds of custard apple using a melon scooper or a spoon in to a bowl.

Put 1/2 cup sugar on top of the flesh and seeds......time to get messy....using your hand rub the sugar on the seeds with some force...don't worry seeds are so hard it wont crush. 

The reason why sugar have to be rubbed on the seeds are custard apple seeds have a lot of sweet flesh attached, so the best way you can remove the flesh out of most of the seeds are by rubbing the sugar but still some seeds will be left with flesh. 

When you think you are done or tired ...hehehe..wash your hand and add water into the custard apple and sugar mixtures stir to combine, you can see some of the seeds almost all the flesh is gone, if you want you can remove the seeds now or you can leave the seeds. I love to leave the seeds as I like to suck the flesh out of the seeds while I drink this yummy juice (don't swallow the seeds it has to be thrown away). Taste and adjust the sweetness per your taste with the rest of sugar. Serve with some ice cubes or without......................................enjoy!                

Cinnamon Tea

 Last night around 10.30pm my youngest sister called me to come mum apartment they want discuss something with me, when I went she, my mum and my third youngest sister were watching some Hindi old songs , laughing and joking about the way the performers were acting and dancing. Not my mum but both the sisters.  My mum loves music especially Hindi old music, on her free times or while she is working she will always put some music on. Mostly she loves Hindi old songs, I also like most of the Hindi old songs no matter how they dance or act when great music hits you’re mind you forget everything and wants to listen over and over again. My sister did not call to discuss anything just they call me to make the crowed big to have more fun. Even they called my second youngest sister too she came after sometime but after she entered she realized her bracelet was missing from her hand so she went in search of that & did not come back. 

My youngest sister made this cinnamon tea while we were watching the songs. She told that in India this kind of tea is made. I did go India three to four times but never had this kind of spiced tea. When we all gather we always have great time together, one of the unforgettable moments of my life with my sisters and mom and my youngest sister makes the best cinnamon tea. I just love it hope who ever tries would love this tea. 

Ingredients:

1liter water

2tbs tea leafs

2cinnamon sticks (about 3inch fat sticks)

2tins sweetened condensed milk 

Method:

In a small sauce pan or kettle mix water, tea leaves and cinnamon sticks, cook for about fifteen minutes on medium flame.

When the cinnamon sticks releases its aromas take out from flame and strain the tea in to a tea pot. Add one tin condensed milk stir well, the other condensed milk tin pour little by little and adjust the sweetness for your taste. Serve with short eats or some biscuits. Great to drink on cold days & nights ……………..enjoy!!   

Healthy Breakfast seven

My target was to complete seven healthy breakfast recipes before I move to any other recipe, but that does not mean I am not going to post breakfast recipes, so cheer up. Those who are bored with having the same breakfast each day can have seven different healthy breakfasts each day of the week and even when your kids go to school in morning pack these breakfast in their lunch boxes. These breakfasts will keep them full and energetic until lunchtime.

Clinical evidence shows kid's and adolescents who consume a healthy breakfast have better academic performance and attentiveness, improved cognition skills, a reduced risk of becoming overweight or obese, and have more healthful diet habits and better diet quality. 

A good shake is a perfect way to start you and your kid's morning. When I write a shake some parents may think only a shake will not be enough for their kids. Well those who think like this, I want to say it is not the quantity of breakfast which provides fuel for the body, it is the proper nutritious breakfast which provides fuel for children's bodies. 

Here is a delicious, healthy and easy recipe to try tomorrow morning: 

Ingredients:

1cup low fat milk (For kid's normal milk)

1(120g) low fat yogurt of your choice (I used apple yogurt and for kids use normal yogurt) 

2tsp honey

1 apple (washed cored and cut in to cubes)

5 almonds (ground) 

Method:

In a juice blender blend everything ............................................TADAA morning shake is ready .....................................................enjoy!