Three weeks ago one fine day, yes, I mean it! I know you are wondering fine and English weather not a good combination, but a big YES! just like today :).  It was a  beautiful sunny day for almost a week and I was so thrilled to think that finally the spring is here, my tulips have all blossomed beautifully and my little cherry blossom tree is full of pink flowers and all the perennial shrubs are springing back to life.   I was literally dancing with joy! Ahem.., don't laugh if you are in this part of the world you would too!  I am a fanatic gardener, mean to say I am not an expert but love gardening I try my best to keep all my plants alive (most of the time).

Remember my post when  I told you about the wind which took off with my greenhouse and all the pots in it.   It destroyed few of my plants and pots, my garden was looking like somebody ransacked my garden with a vengence. Every day I used to stand in my conservatory and cry myself in my heart thinking when is all this going to be set right?  Sigh.

All these days I hadn't stepped out to clean up my garden, I hate to go out when it is cold and your hands go freezing. When the sun came up it was like a gold lining on every cloud visible.  My conservatory gets too hot when the sun is bright.  Anyways I was so excited at last I could clean up my garden did a lot of jobs cleaned out the whole garden got rid of all the weeds and made space for the sprouting plants.  Had to bin few pots and sorted out all compose and I have dumped them in a big bin so I can sort it out later, when doing all this I got really thirsty that was when I made this lemonade,  I make this  often because I love it!, If you taste it you would too.

It brings back memories, it's always going back to our memory lane! something to chew on when you are getting old. The good old memories bring joy, happiness, tenderness and all the sparkle in your eyes right? Just like spring.  Amma(mum) used to make this lemonade often made this for us to keep us hydrated.  Summer in India is unbearable we get our school holidays just for the kids to stay at home.  That's when we need lots and lots to drink, my parents never bought any aerated drinks for us it was always homemade and super healthy with  herbs and an Ayurvedic touch to it.  This is one such drink which we used to enjoy.

I don't make this lemonade just during summer, but whenever I feel I need some refreshing drink, As I don't drink any aerated drinks very rarely I take a sip or two of coco-cola or a fanta, I always love to drink fresh fruit juices.  This reminds me of Banglaore my home town, during summer we have all these shops spring up where they sell fresh fruit juices.  So,  when I went out I used to go looking for these kinds of shops where we would get fresh fruit juices. I don't get this  kind of happiness here, it's always bottled juices in our supermarkets!

Coming back to this recipe, it has a touch of Indian panakam (juice) recipe it's so delicious you will love it,  It has also turmeric and ginger which has anti-inflammatory properties, helps you in many ways good for joint pains, osteoporosis, digestion and has many health benefits.

LEMONADE WITH INDIAN SPICES

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Prep time: 10minutes
Time: 20 minutes
Shelf life: 1 month
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
3'' turmeric stick
2'' Ginger
3 cloves
3 to 4 cardamom pods
3 and 1/2 cups of water

Method:

Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom  and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them).  In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame.  Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.

Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

NOTES:

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

C you soon with a cold soup stay tuned and enjoy the weather.

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Lemonade with a Indian Spices

A very refreshing drink which is not only delicious but is loaded with aniti-inflammatory properties and keeps fresh and hydrate in summer

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
• 1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
• 3 '' turmeric stick
• 2 '' Ginger
• 3 cloves
• 3 to 4 cardamom pods
• 3 and 1/2 cups of water

Instructions

• Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them). In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame. Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.
• Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

Notes

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

The post Lemonade with Indian Spices appeared first on My Veg Fare.

It's December first! Already! Wonder how the whole year has just gone by without me noticing it.  Even though it’s the end of the year it’s the season of celebration.  Christmas is around the corner you can see the festivity everywhere.  You can see lights up in Malls, shops, street makes you happy even the cold doesn’t seem to bother people here.  Everybody would be shopping till they drop out.

Christmas means Red and Christmas means Celebration. Let’s raise a glass to the festivities and happy holidays and also festive for a new year’s eve.   I don’t do cocktails so why not mocktail then! Here’s a toast for happy Christmas.

Ingredients:
1 lb (445grm) Strawberries
2 Limes
2’’ Fresh Ginger
1 small stick of Cinnamon
1/3 cup Sugar*
6 Cups water**

 Method:

In a bowl take 2 cups of water to this add crushed Ginger, Cinnamon stick and  strawberries let it simmer for around 10 minutes.
In the mean time, slice the limes into 2 halves squeeze the juice out of them and keep aside.  Don’t throw away the skin cut them into two more halves each and dunk them in the strawberry syrup once the stove is switched off and close the lid, leave it to marinate for 10 more minutes,
Remove the Cinnamon stick and the skin of the limes.  Take the syrup and blend it in a blender add some water if required to a very smooth consistency.
Using a sieve filter it to this add lime juice from the two limes and the remaining water with crushed ice cubes and some mint leaves, adjust sugar  and serve it chilled or at room temperature.

NOTE:
*Sugar – Use sugar as required per your taste or any other sweetener, like Honey, maple syrup etc.
**Water – I have used plain water you can use sparkling water or soda water for a bubbly touch.

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Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri Punch - A spicy punch with a twist for the festive Season

A sweet and spicy punch for the festive season

Course Juice/Drink/Mocktail

Cuisine International

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 1 lb 445grm Strawberries
• 2 Limes
• 2 ’’ Fresh Ginger
• 1 small stick of Cinnamon
• 1/3 cup Sugar*
• 6 Cups water**

Instructions

• Method:
• In a bowl take 2 cups of water to this add crushed Ginger, Cinnamon stick and strawberries let it simmer for around 10 minutes.
• In the <g class="gr_ gr_89 gr-alert gr_spell undefined ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="89" data-gr-id="89">mean time</g>, slice the limes into 2 halves squeeze the juice out of them and keep aside. Don’t throw away the skin cut them into two more halves each and dunk them in the strawberry syrup once the stove is switched off and close the lid, leave it to marinate for 10 more minutes,
• Remove the Cinnamon stick and the skin of the limes. Take the syrup and blend it in a blender add some water if required to a very smooth consistency.
• Using a sieve filter it to this add lime juice from the two limes and the remaining water with crushed ice cubes and some mint leaves, adjust sugar and serve it chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

NOTE:
*Sugar – Use sugar as required per your taste or any other sweetener, like Honey, maple syrup etc.
**Water – I have used plain water you can use sparkling water or soda water for a bubbly touch.

The post Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri Punch - A spicy punch with a twist for the festive Season appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi Everybody, Hope you are all doing well, It's been about a month or so I posted anything in my blog!, I had completely deserted my blog, poor thing :(, my kids kept asking me, mom won't you post anything at all..., So here I am again..., I would have still postponed my coming back, If it wasn't for SRC.  Yup  it's SRC time again, and I am sitting and typing this late in the night, as I did not want to orphan a blog, whenever I read a blog was orphaned because of some reason, I always keep reminding myself I will not let down our team, it's team spirit you see hahaha :).
Moving, cleaning, organizing, setting up Oh! yes been a hectic schedule from past one month...Yes I moved into a new home the beginning of December and I had no net connection and my house was not a home with things lying around everywhere and It's been so hectic, kids having their exams so help from their side was almost nil, so H and me had more share of work to do, Of course kids would bring in stuff when I packed everything, with this I had to sort out my kitchen so I could stir out something and eat, I did a bit of baking, I had a Electric cooker, I was scared to bake in it, but felt good when I baked, I thought baking much quicker than the Gas cooker, but my stove top cooking took long so last week I changed the cooker back to Gas. well, I am getting there.., sorting out everything.., tired long hours of hard work.
Oops let me stop here, I think you all know about SRC - The Secret Recipe Club by this time, started by Amanda now co-hosted by Jane, Tina, Angela and Tami.
I have been a good girl and promptly participating every month without missing..., I am in Group C and Angela of Big Bears wife being our hostess had assigned me to  Josie's Kitchen, A very lovely blog, Josie - I liked the way she writes, so homely I thought, she writes and blogs about all the things about her family, food and the way she enjoys cooking, baking and even her mishaps which makes it more nice, I being a vegetarian had very few options in her kitchen, so I looked into her baking section (well I think you know by now I love baking, can't help it) the first thing which caught my attention was her Pumpkin flan, as I always If I am going to try anything from anybodies blog, I like to try their family recipe or their original recipes, and this she says is her family recipe, but the thing missing was the flan tin which I couldn't find it anywhere here (I only searched nearby my place! around 10 miles), then I loved her Rainbow cake it's beautiful with so many colours, hats of to her patience, she says she uses her Dominican Recipe for this cake, well, I never dared to venture that as I was short of time and above all patience.., So as you can see I made these Orange and  Ginger cookies -  funny thing, I seem to get stuck to orange all the time, I have to post a few of them which are in my draft, and did I regret nope, I baked them enjoyed every bit of it, so delicious they were, My kids first holiday cookies....Only I did make a few changes to the recipe not much but a tiny twist.
As it said Orange and I saw all these oranges lying around in my kitchen basket I just decided why not use the oranges so here is my recipe..., Please do not laugh at my photographs as it is very late in the night and I couldn't do anything better in my mobile phone camera, If you want to know the truth  JUST BAKE IT....ORANGE AND GINGER COOKIES - EGGLESS

Recipe Source: Josie's Kitchen adapted with minimal changes

INGREDIENTS:
4 oz butter
1 3/4th Cup Self Raising flour
2/3rd cup Sugar
1 tbsp Dried Ginger
Pinch of Salt
1/2 Cup Golden Syrup
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 Egg (which I omitted)
Orange Rind from One Orange
1 Orange
9 slices of Terry's Orange chocolate

ORANGE SYRUP
I made a Orange syrup Kind of I really don't know what to call this, I took one orange grated the rind then sliced of the white skin from the orange then sliced them into thin rounds. Took a thick vessel added one cup of sugar and one cup of water then added these Orange circles into it and boiled them for around 1/2 an hour in a low flame, and kept aside to cool.

METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 325 degree F/Gas mark 3
In a large bowl I took the grated rind of orange, sugar, Golden syrup, Dried Ginger,  melted Butter, salt and  Baking soda  mixed them well together.
Then from the Orange syrup I took out the Orange segments added them into the bowl and mixed them thoroughly kind of mashed them not too much though.
Then chopped Terry's Orange chocolate added them to the bowl with the self raising flour, mixed them thoroughly
Lay a butter paper/Baking parchment on a Baking sheet and put a spoonful of the batter with giving 2 and 1/2'' apart as this spreads!
(The first time I baked I hadn't given not too much space and even spread them a bit, was a little mess, they spread so big)
Keep an eye on them bake around 8 to 10 minutes and take it out to cool down
Not to worry they peel out nicely., may be a little bit sticky, might be because of the fresh fruit in it, and the cookies were quite a bit on the softer side.
Next time I want to bake with whole wheat flour may be a bit extra flour and may be they might turn out harder, but nonetheless the cookies were damn good and with a Gorgeous smell.

I was careful the next time,  just a dollop of the batter and baked them.... they came out cute.., but none was left when I came back to take photos!.
The biggest culprit was H, as it was more on the sweeter side, he couldn't resist, I know all of them would be gone by morning as they holidays and they are sitting and watching a movie..

Thanks Josie your Holiday cookies were enjoyed by family and friends hoping to make these soon and take it to my sis for christmas party.....

Here are a few of my favourite things baked my lovely blogging buddies from our team of SRC... check out...
c you soon with an other recipe soon.....

 

The post Orange and Ginger Cookies with Terry's Orange chocolate - Eggless appeared first on My Veg Fare.