Kashaya/Kashayam | A Herbal/Ayurvedic drink

Good for cough, cold, body pain and headache and can be a substitute for coffee/tea. Its such a healthy drink made out of several indian spices. Having it daily would eases the running nose, sore throat and body pain! There are many versions of doing kashaya. Some add more cloves and others add ginger. You can adjust the spices according to your taste as well! So here is this recipe try it when you have cold n cough!

Ingredients:

For powder :

Coriander seed - 1tbsp

Cumin seeds - 2 tsp

Fennel seeds - 1/3 tsp

Black pepper - 4 or 5 or 1tsp

Cloves - 1 tsp

Cardamom - 2 pods

Dry ginger - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - pinch

For Kashaya:

Tulasi leaves 4 or 5 (if avai)

Honey/jaggery - 1 tsp

Mint leaves - 10

Betel leaf - 1 

Milk - 1/2 cup

Method:

Kashaya Powder:

1. Heat a pan and dry roast all spices(coriander, cumin,fennel,black pepper, cloves and cardmom) one by one for a 1 1/4 min in low flame and remove n allow it to cool

2. Grind to powder with ginger and turmeric powder

3. The powder is ready n can be stored in air tight container for further use

Kashaya:

1. Boil 1/4 cup of water on medium flame

2. Once it starts boiling put 2 tsp of powder, jaggery and mix 1/2 cup milk 

3. Add all mint leaves, betel leaf, tulasi leaves and boil for 2 to 3 mins and let it rest for a min

4. Switch off and strain the kashaya and drink while hot

Note:

1. Add more or less quantity of milk depending on your preference

2. Don’t rush the grinding process of the spices for long time as the essential oils in the spice powder will release moisture contents and this moisture content will reduce the shelf life of the spice powder. So you grind the powders for short intervals, something like for 12-15 seconds, mix them gently with a help of a spoon to aerate and then grind them again for couple of seconds.

Strawberry - Blueberry smoothie

Here is one drink for all berry lovers as I am ! I made it with fresh fruits and it tastes great. It is full of antioxidants. Super good!

Preparation Time - 10 to 15 min

Ingredients:
1. Strawberry - 8 to 10
2. Blueberry - 1/2 cup (if you want this to be more can take 3/4 cup)
3. Banana - 1
4. Yogurt - 1/2 cup
5. Milk - 1/2 cup
6. Ice cubes - 3 to 5
7. Sugar/Ice Cream (optional. I dint use it as I love the natural taste :) )

Method:
1. Wash and cut the strawberries into half. Cut bananas roughly and add all the fruits specified under ingredients in a blender
2. Add ice cubes and blend for 3 mins
3. Now add yogurt and milk and blend until its smooth (not too thin nor too thick, but I like it thick :) )
Enjoy your smoothie. 

Note:
1. Refrigerating for sometime and having it cool would also taste good 
2. If you want to add sugar or ice cream add it while adding milk and blend togteher

Strawberry Smoothie

This delicious blend gives you an added boost of nourishment while they delight your taste buds!
This is my personal favourite as I just love strawberries :) 
Here is the recipe which is simple yet tasty :)

Ingredients:

1. Strawberries: 8 to 10

2. Milk : 1/2 cup

3. Yogurt - 1/2 cup

4. Banana - 1 (optional, but enhances the taste and also healthy)

5. Ice Cream - 1/2 cup (optional)

6. Sugar - 1/3 cup (can keep it low or as per your taste)

7. Ice cubes - 2 to 3 (optional, but eases the blending)

Method:

1. Wash and cut the strawberries into 2 and put into blender

2. Add banana,  ice and yogurt to blender

3. Blend for 5 mins, stop and blend again

4. Add milk to the blender and blend for 5 sec, stop and blend again

5. Add Sugar, Ice cream and blend for 5 secs, stop and blend again

Enjoy the smoothieeee :)

Note:

1. If you want to make it healthy you can skip the last step (adding ice cream and sugar)

2. Or you can add sugar or ice cream for sweetness rather than using both

Raagi Amli / Finger Millet Malt

Raagi/Finger Millet is always common in my home. This recipe is from my mom's kitchen. Most frequent dish with Raagi is of course muddhe. Its so common in Karnataka.
Its healthy, tooo good for diabetic, kids and my personal favourite drink :)
This also cools your body which is why this was regular during summer at home and need not say its rich source of calcium!

Cooking Time : 10 mins

Ingredients:
1. Raagi Flour/Finger Millet Flour - 1/4 Cup
2. Salt as needed
3. Butter Milk - 1/2 cup
4. Water 1/2 cup

Method 1:
1. Add Raagi Flour and Water 1/4 cup and mix well so that there are no lumps in a pan
2. Add salt as required and remaining water and heat it and bring it to boil.
3. Add buttermilk and allow it to cool
Can have it once its cool or when its warm depending on your choice

Method 2:
Ingredients:
ingredient in point 2&3 is not required from above
Need: jaggery 1/4 cup and milk 1/4 cup

1. Add Raagi Flour and Water 1/4 cup and mix well so that there are no lumps in a pan
2. Add jaggery as required and remaining water and heat it and bring it to boil.
3. Slowly add milk and boil for 1 or 2 mins
Can have it warm/hot depending on you choice

Method 3:
Ingredients: (ingredients changes in this method, where flour is prepared)
1. Raagi - 1 cup
2. Milk - 1/2 cup
3. Jaggery - 1/4 cup

For sprouting and flour:
1. Soak raagi for a day (at least 8 to 9 hours)
2. Drain the grains and tie in a white muslin cloth and keep it over night. It will sprout overnight
3. Shade dry and powder it

Method: Follow the same method as in method 2

Note:
Easy methods are method 1 and 2
Method 2 can be used if required it sweet else Method 1
Where as method 3 requires time for sprouting and drying but its more beneficial as its sprouted