Coconut Cane Juice Mocktail

This cool mocktail is just suited for hot summers as it is made from naturally available ingredients.It is not that expensive and is really refreshing. Children can be given this drink instead of the aerated drinks. Cane juice is easily available in India almost throughout the year and of course tender coconut water. If tender coconut water is not available, you can get coconut water from the grocery store or apple juice can be used instead.Try this natural energy drink.

This recipe makes five glasses of juice.

Ingredients	Quantity
Fresh Cane Juice	4 glasses
Tender Coconut Water	1 glass
Honey (Optional)	2 tsps
Fresh Mint Leaves	a few for garnishing

Method

1. Since we bring the cane juice from the vendor outside,it is better to strain the juice and use it.


2. Take a large container or jug and add this cane juice,tender coconut water and honey and mix it well.


3. Chill the juice in the refrigerator for half an hour.


4. Pour this mocktail in five glasses and place a sprig of mint leaf on the juice and serve them.

Read more »

Whole Green Channa Summer Salad

This cool summer salad is very nutritious as it contains green channa, vegetables and fruit. Fresh green channa which is available in winter can also be used. Children will love it as a snack too. Try it this Summer.

Serves four people.

Ingredients	Quantity
Soaked Green Channa	½ cup
Chopped Cucumber	½ cup
Chopped Apple	½ cup
Chopped Capsicum (different coloured ones)	½ cup
Chopped Onions	¼ cup
Chopped Tomatoes (de-seeded)	½ cup
Chopped Coriander Leaves	2 tbsps
Mint Leaves	a few
Lime Juice	1 tsp
Honey (Optional)	1 tbsp
Pepper Powder	1 tsp
Olive Oil	1 ½ tsp
Salt	to taste

Method

1. Boil the green channa till cooked. Do not over cook them.


2. Take a big mixing bowl and add all the ingredients one by one except for the lime juice, salt, pepper powder, honey and oil. They will bve used for the dressing. Mix all of the other ingredients together. Chill this salad in the refrigerator till required.


3. To make the salad dressing take a small bowl and add the oil, salt, pepper powder and lime juice and mix them well.


4. Add this dressing to the salad just before serving.


5. Serve this colourful salad in a bowl or in individual bowls.

Read more »

Chilled Spicy Green Grape Soup

Green Grpaes are another fruit which can be used in soups and also give the soup a pleasing colour and distinctive taste. This soup is also for summer. To give it the green colour and taste, roasted green bell pepper(capsicum), cucumber and green chilly have been used. Pictures of how to roast capsicum on open flame are shown here for those who do not have an oven or just don't know how to do it!

Serves two.

Ingredients	Quantity
Green Grapes	1 cup or more
Green Capsicum (Bell Pepper)	1 medium
Green Chilly	½ chilly
Chopped Garlic (Optional)	1 tsp
Chopped Cucumber	1 cup
Chopped Cilantro	1 tbsp
Black Pepper Powder	1 tsp
Salt	to taste
Water	2 cups or more

Method

1. Take a fork and pierce it into the capsicum which has been greased and put it over an open flame and roast it on all sides as shown in the video below. When done remove from the flame and cool it so that the skin peels off easily.


2. After it cools peel the skin and remove the seeds and chop it into big pieces.
   
3. Take a blender jar and add, grapes, garlic, green chilly, capsicum, cucumber, pepper powder, salt and water and blend it well into a smooth consistency.


4. Strain the soup and if more water is required it can be added. Chill this in the refrigerator for half an hour and serve it in a soup bowl garnished with chopped coriander leaves.

Read more »

Chilled Spicy Watermelon Soup

Watermelon juice can be incorporated into soups to give the rich red colour and the cool and refreshing feeling to one's mind and body. To make it spicy, roasted red bell pepper (red capsicum) and ripe red chilly have been used. These two will help retain the red colour of the soup. I think this summer, this cold watermelon soup would be ideal to beat the heat! In this recipe,the capsicum can be roasted either in the oven or on direct flame, after greasing it with oil.

Serves two.

Ingredients	Quantity
Watermelon Cubes	2 ½ cups or more
Ripe Red Cilly	½ or more
Roasted Red Bell Pepper (Red Capsicum)	½ capsicum
Vinegar	1 tsp
Pepper Powder	½ tsp
Garlic Cloves (Optional)	2
Water	½ cup if required
Salt	to taste
Chopped Coriander Leaves	1 tsp

Method

1. Roast the bell pepper with a little oil applied over it in an oven or over direct flame by holding the bell pepper with a fork. Cool it and remove the skin and keep it aside.


2. Take a blender jar and add the watermelon cubes,bell pepper,green chilly,garlic cloves,pepper powder,salt and vinegar and blend it to a smooth consistency.


3. Strain the soup and add water if required and mix well.


4. If needed immediately, then freeze it in the freezer or you can chill it in the fridge for a hour or so.


5. Serve it in a bowl and garnish it with chopped coriander leaves.

Read more »

Cool Mango Panna

Cool mango panna is a cool drink best for Summer especially to beat the heat in the afternoon.This drink can be made and stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

This recipe gives you two or more glasses.

Ingredients	Quantity
Raw Mango	1
Sugar	½ cup
Salt	½ tsp
Roasted Cumin Powder	1 tsp
Water	3 to 4 cups

Method

1. Cook the washed mangoes with a cup of water in the pressure cooker till soft.


2. Cool them and squeeze out the juice from the mango by adding water.


3. Add the sugar,salt and cumin powder and mix well till the sugar dissolves. If the mango is very sour,more water or sugar or both can be added.


4. Chill the juice in the refrigerator.


5. Serve this panna in glasses decorated with mint leaves.

Read more »