Mango Lassi

Sometimes you just need very simple things to make yourself happy. Well, I follow this basic principle always. For me that can be a cup of coffee, getting drenched in the rain showers, playing with kids, browsing my childhood pics and the list goes on. 

Having a glassful of Lassi during summer gives me exactly same feeling but when it's Mango Lassi then my excitement gets no limits.

It was a season of Mangoes this year and we really enjoyed some of the popular varieties like Alphonso, Himsagar, Langda, Amrapali, Dussehri etc. I had posted many mango based recipes in my blog which are very easy to make yet delicious to taste. 

• Mango Kulfi
• Mango Ice-cream
• Mango Mousse
• Skinny Mango Cheesecake  

There are many more in my bucket list, will soon try to give them a place in my blog.

Summer is very much over and monsoon has already arrived in India. So, before saying adios to the king of fruits I thought of making a very popular yet very simple recipe; yes it's nothing other than Mango Lassi. Lassi is a cooling and refreshing drink made from yogurt and when it's blended with the flavors of Mango, it takes this traditional drink to the next level. 

So, let's give our Mango love a pause and get into the recipe of Mango Lassi:

Pinacolada

Yes, I know my last few posts revolved around Beverages and why wouldn't they be as Summer was at its peak in India and there's nothing much satisfying than having a glass of cold drink after returning home from scorching and soaring outside temperature.

To wind up my series of "BeatTheHeat" , I thought of making Pina Colada finally. A single sip of this tropical drink gives you a feeling of relaxing at the beach and enjoying the sea view. 

My take on this recipe of Pina Colada calls for Non-alcoholic version. A good virgin Pina Colada recipe starts with the same basic ingredients as the Alcoholic version. But trust me the alcoholic flavor is so empowering that it's better to eliminate the alcohol part and just enjoy the actual flavor of this tropical drink.

I replaced alcohol with coconut milk as pineapple and coconut complement each other very well. If you want then you can add rum too but for me it's optional. Let's start with the recipe:

Mango Kulfi

Can we imagine Summers without Icecreams? Nah.....!!!!

In India Summers are synonyms to Ice-creams, Pickles and Papadam. As a child we all grew up eating Kulfis (Popsicles) which we used to enjoy during our long Summer holidays. My mother had a very hard time keeping me at home the moment I would hear a bell of Kulfiwallas.

Usually my mother used to make ice-creams at home but sometimes, we would get "Kulfi" from the local vendors. These Kulfis were carried out in a large earthen pots. Those days I just used to enjoy the taste of Kulfis without any thought of hygiene factor. Things have changed these days and Kulfi's have been replaced by Ice-creams and the so called Kulfiwala's got replaced by the Ice-cream parlors.

In the scorching heat of summer frozen treats and cool beverages give a sense of relaxation. I have already posted few recipes here, you can have a look:

• Aam Panna
• Virgin Watermelon Sangria
• Cucumber Lime Mojito
• Mango Icecream

Kulfi is nothing but a frozen creamy milk based dessert. As mangoes are in full swing this summer I thought of making Kulfis and giving it a mango flavor. So, this recipe has the creaminess of milk and bursting with mango flavors. After I had this Kulfi I was back in my childhood days that feeling can never be replaced by the modern icecreams and icecream parlors.

Hope with this recipe I can take you back to your childhood. So, here's the recipe:

Cucumber Lime Mojito

These days I'm addicted to the refreshing and rejuvenating cool summer beverages and fruit juices. After returning from a hectic day at work I find myself roaming around the refrigerator to take a bottle of these cool drinks and enjoy it sitting in front of my TV.

These drinks not only cool down your body temperature but have health benefits too. I always prefer homemade drinks and juices than buying it from the market. With summers approaching I like to stock up my refrigerator with these homemade beverages. It comes very handy when all of a sudden somebody arrives at your home.

I always like to experiment with my food. When it comes to juices I like to mix and match different flavors of fruits and juices. This time I tried to experiment to a very popular cocktail known as Cucumber Mojito. Traditionally Mojito is made with rum, sugar, lime juice, mint and sparkling water. As we both are non-alcoholic I tried to make this Mojito virgin.

This mocktail combines refreshing flavors of cucumbers, lime and mint together. You just can't go wrong with these flavors. So, don't let your summer go without a little celebration. This drink can be served in any lunch, brunch or a dinner party. Trust me your friends and family won't be satisfied with only a single glass. They will say: Give me more!!!

Here's the recipe:

Virgin Watermelon Sangria

As Summer in India at its peak, I was in a search of some cool ways to celebrate it. Being a food blogger what's better than celebrating it with a "Food"! I decided to post some chilling, cooling and at the same time drooling recipes to beat the summer heat. You may find couple of recipes in my blog as below mentioned, I am planning to add more very soon.

• Aam Panna
• Mango Ice-cream

This time I decided to do something different as always I do with my food. Well, at times I do end up with a complete flop show but most of the time it's a big hit amongst my family members.

As we all know Summers are synonyms to Watermelons. So, this time I decided to make Watermelon Sangria. The name Sangria is said to have its origin in Spain and Portugal. It is made up of chopped fruits, wine and small amount of sweetener. There was a little problem, I didn't want to add wine to it thus making my Watermelon Sangria completely virgin. 

After trying different combinations I came up with this recipe and trust me it not only looks great but tastes fantastic too. You just can't go wrong with the classic combination of Watermelon-Mint-Lime. Infact mint and lime is compatible with lots of different fruits. So, without any further ado let's jump straight into the recipe:

Aam Panna...Let's Beat the Heat In A Bong's Way

  

Indian Summers are back again and just a glassful of water is not enough to quench your thirst. Whether hungry or not I always find myself opening the refrigerator and looking for some cold and refreshing drinks. If you're a regular follower of my blog then you might be knowing that I always prefer homemade food and cold drinks are no different. 

I always find homemade fruit juices and drinks healthier and hygienic than the store bought or the ones that are readily available at the local juice stalls. In summers I always keep 2-3 different varieties of homemade fruit juices in my refrigerator. They not only refresh me but have great health benefits too.

Aam-Panna is a very popular summer drink which rejuvenates you immediately. It is prepared from raw green mangoes and it's sweet and tangy flavor is enjoyed by all. It not only helps in fighting the summer heat but also helps in digestion. A glass full of this chilled cooler makes you feel relaxed and gives you an instant energy. 

This is my take on Aam Panna. We Bengalis make this classic drink in a different way and have a different name too: "Aam Pora Shorbot". Try this nourishing cooler this summer and believe me your family will thank you for this refreshing drink.

Mango Ice Cream

Yes, you might be thinking that I have gone crazy. The season of Mangoes and Ice-creams has not been arrived yet or I must say we are just a few weeks away to indulge ourselves in the sweetness of mangoes and the rich, creamy goodness of Ice-creams.

To be very frank I am a die hard fan of Ice-creams and can enjoy it even in the subzero temperatures and when its Mango flavored I can't resist myself to have a scoop of it. Moreover who doesn't love mangoes after all it's the King of all fruits.

Recently, I found a can of mango puree in a departmental store and as usual I couldn't stop myself from buying it without a second thought. I was walking through the aisles and thinking what to do with this puree. Suddenly I turned and saw an aisle of ice-creams. Yippee!!! I got it. I decided to treat my family and of course myself with Mango Ice-cream.

Whenever we think of making ice-cream at home two thoughts comes in our mind successively:

• Will it be smooth, creamy, rich and soft like store bought?
• Is it possible to make ice-cream without an Ice-cream maker?

Well, the answer to all your questions is "Yes, Of course!" . It's just a pleasure when your ice-cream scooper glides through the ice-cream without encountering any ice crystals and yet you get a nice and perfect scoop. Moreover it requires very few ingredients and no cooking or churning. Just mix all the ingredients together and set it in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours. 

So let's dig into the divine flavors of Mango Ice-cream: