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.

After coming back from holiday I have been so busy with guests and kids going back to university time just flew away without my knowledge.  Missed my garden so much as I was not here and thanks to my dear friends who watered and took care of them all through the summer.  I really miss Britain during summer as it look glorious with its beautiful gardens and scenic beauty everywhere.

These beauties are from my Garden, I get a load of strawberries all through summer!!

Some Pomegranate seeds which were very sweet and juicy.

And some delicious Figs which went into my Juice.

Tukmaria/Sabja/subja/subza all the names are nothing but Basil Seeds which is usually used in Indian desserts like Falooda etc., and according to  Ayurveda, it is a body coolant.  It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine.  These are called as Kamakasturi in Kannada.  It is said that they are not actual seeds of Holy Basil but sweet basil or Thai Basil plant (Ocimum Basilicum).

When I came back I was surprised to find I could still pluck a bowl full of peppers, chillies, Runner beans, Blueberries, strawberries, few raspberries and quite a lot of tomatoes.  I was really thrilled. Earlier when I went for my usual shopping I found these lovely pomegranates and figs got tempted and bought them as well, using all these I decided to make a drink as we had lovely sunshine still.  I did not know what to call this drink so the funny name.

Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants, my children are not a big fan of them and I want them to eat it almost daily which is like mission impossible that’s when I think of other ways to use them, one such thing was this juice I made.  They were not happy as it was not very sweet as I used less sugar and told them it’s good as it is. Hubby and I liked it as it was.  If something has to be good for your health it shouldn’t be sweet, salty or spicy right?

Well coming back to my drink I wanted to make it this month as this is #breastcancerawareness month paint pink everywhere its #PinkOctober #Pinkyourfood #Saladnation.  Inspired by Deeba I wanted to do something this year for the cause of Breast cancer awareness

Ingredients:

1 Large Pomegranate
2 Figs
15 Strawberries
½ and inch Ginger
1/8^th tsp of salt
½ Lemon / Lime
1 tbsp Tukhamaria seeds
3 to 4 cups of water
Sugar as per your liking

Method:
Remove the seeds of pomegranate and peel the skins of Figs and ginger.
Wash strawberries and remove the stalk.
Blend all this in a juicer / blender thoroughly.
Add water as required per your taste if you like it thinner or thinner.
Add sugar when you are blending if you need otherwise just drink it as it is.
Filter the blended juice through a good strainer add a tbsp of Tukhamaria seeds and leave it for some time to soak, chill it and serve it.

The post Pom Plus 2 (Pomegranate-Strawberry-Figs-Tukmaria) Juice appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Making a dessert is time-consuming don't you think? but after it's made and  if you have a sweet tooth you are bowled out to both the virtual and real treat.  I am not a dessert person, I love pineapple pastry though, I go weak in my legs I have a special love for them and all milk based Indian sweets.  I don't like sweets which are too sweet and surprisingly this pannacotta is not too sweet, well of course you can make it sweet if you add more sugar but, panna cotta aren't too sweet but wickedly delicious.  Panna cotta is an Italian delicacy, panna cotta is an  Italian dessert made with thickened cream and moulded with gelatin, as I don't use gelatine I have subbed it with Agar Agar.  These days panna cotta can be made skinny, dairy free and whatever way you want to enjoy it!

It's that time of the year your palette changes from warm food and soups to something refreshing and cool, Fresh salads either with veggies or fruits or a combo of both and something thandi (cool) to drink.  Spring is slowly settling to Summer,  brings your senses to a galore of tastes tingling your taste buds craving for something fresh and juicy.

Strawberries and summer come hand in hand, you can see loads of strawberries in the market a punnet would cost you a pound, not all strawberries are sweet, talking to local people here I found out strawberries from Hertfordshire are very sweet, and when I find them in the market I never miss to buy them my daughter loves them, both us wander a lot she is a foodie friend to me.  Last time when we went to Gym we found these British strawberries I forgot from where it came, they weren't too sweet, we were a bit disappointed so we decided on munching some cherry tomatoes instead walking back home, Ahh.., I didn't  tell you did I? there is a little farmer's market we often go to whenever we go to Gym pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, Cherries are my favourite, I just can't stop eating with one  by the time we come back home I would finished the whole lot.

I first thought I will make some lemonade then decided otherwise as I had just made it a few days back.  I had put my grey cells to work, I remembered that I had to do a dessert this month for #cookingwithfriends theme and had already planned on making Mango pannacotta  which I changed to strawberry instead and made Mango milkshake (Seekarne).   As the strawberries weren't that sweet I thought of making  this with a combination and decided upon vanilla and some chia seeds  to go with it.

We never had strawberries as kids.  I can only think of Melons and Mangoes when summer set in, in our part of the world, we loved eating loads of watermelons and mangoes and sometimes eat Ice cream when there used to be a man who used to bring in his cart all these Lollipops and sometime Kulfi's,  mother never made them at home looking after three kids and her full-time job was enough for her to manage.  My parents never liked us buying Ice creams from him, and was a rare treat. I still remember my first Ice cream I made was when I was in year 11, for a first timer it was a great success and as eggs were a no-no at home I made it eggless as well.

Time changes so many things in life, never thought  I would be here eating strawberries instead of Mangoes!, how we change our food habits and adapt to what we get.  Mango milk shake to a pannacotta, that's what has changed when you are blogger best of all, with all the love in the world you prepare it.

STRAWBERRY-VANILLA CHIA SEED PANNA COTTA (GELATINE FREE / VEGETARIAN)

Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Recipe source: Jayasri
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes (20 min each)
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS: 
For Strawberry pannacotta:
500 grms Strawberries
(2 Cups pureed strawberries)
1/4 cup very warm water
2 tbsp Agar Agar powder*
1/2 cup Brown sugar

For Vanilla Chia seed Pannacotta
2 Cups milk
1/2 cup double cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract / slit and scrape vanilla pod
1 tbsp Chia seed
2 tbsp Agar Agar powder
1/4  cup very warm water
1/3 cup Suagr

METHOD:
Wash and cut Strawberries into a container puree them in a blender  with little water into a smooth puree, pour the pureed strawberries into a container and allow it to cook add 1/2 cup sugar and cook until all the sugar dissolved.

In a container add 2 cups of milk and sugar and boil it in a low flame for 10 minutes to this add chia seeds and cook for 5 minutes,  Meanwhile in a different bowl, boil water add tbsp of Agar powder until it completely dissolves, pour this mixture immediately into the milk mixture, add double cream, Vanilla extract or slit and scrape a vanilla pod  and blend them all together.  Leave it cool for 1/2 an hour, mix now and then, check its not thickening, as you don't want it solidifying, they just need to get cooled down now pour this into the serveware in which you want to serve, I slanted my glasses and put them in the fridge to set. May take 3 to 4 hours.

Once the vanilla panna cotta sets, you can start the strawberry panna cotta, you get two cups of pureed strawberries from 500 grms of strawberries into a container with sugar and cook them together until sugar is completely dissolved switch off the stove and keep aside, In an other bowl warm water and add Agar powder mix well with no lumps add this immediately into the pureed strawberry mixture blend well and leave it to cool, keep checking now and then that it doesn't set, you need it just to cool down, when its cooling down and ready to poured into the glasses to set bring your vanilla panna cotta glasses out of  the fridge.  Pour strawberry panna cotta into the gap until they both balance or the way you like to design it put them back into the fridge to set. May take 2 to 3 hrs
Once both of them are set you can serve them when needed.

NOTES:
Agar - Agar is a sea weed algae, it was discovered in Japan and it is called Kanten, It is called china grass in India, this is  vegetarian/vegan substitute for gelatin.  It even sets in room temperature and is better than gelatine even when temperature rises.  It does not have any taste, odour and smell.  You can find them in health food stores as powder, flakes, threads etc.  1 tbsp of agar powder dissolve it in a 4 tbsp hot water, 10 minutes it will start setting. For one cup of liquid to set use around 10 grms of Agar powder, I used 1 tbsp(8grms) as I wanted it to set it bit softer (wobbly), if  you want it set properly use 10 grms.
Increase or decrease sugar as per your taste.  My strawberries were a bit tart so had to use more sugar to balance it.

Do you like panna cotta, which is your favourite and tell me why it is your favourite?

Disclaimer:
Cooking With Friends: This blog post is part of the monthly “Cooking With Friends” themed blog post challenge. This challenge was started by a bunch of virtual friends united by their love of food, with the aim of tackling a different food-related theme each month. If you want to try this month’s theme, please feel free to do so and link your recipe in the comments section. We’d love to check it out. Meanwhile, check out what the others in the group have come up with this month.
Anjana from At the Corner of Happy and Harried, Garima from CafeGarima,  Jyothi from Curry Tail, Madhuri from MADaboutkitchen, Subhasmita from The Flavors of Kitchen, Sujatha from Spice n Treats, Dolphia from Story of cooks

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Strawberry-Vanilla Chia seed Panna Cotta (Gelatine free/Vegetarian)

An Italian delicacy made with thickened cream and chia seeds with Agar-Agar and delicious strawberries.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• For Strawberry pannacotta:
• 500 grms Strawberries
• 2 Cups pureed strawberries
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• 2 tbsp Agar Agar powder*
• 1/2 cup Brown sugar
• For Vanilla Chia seed Pannacotta
• 2 Cups milk
• 1/2 cup double cream
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract / slit and scrape vanilla pod
• 1 tbsp Chia seed
• 2 tbsp Agar Agar powder
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• 1/3 cup Suagr

Instructions

• Wash and cut Strawberries into a container puree them in a blender with little water into a smooth puree, pour the pureed strawberries into a container and allow it to cook add 1/2 cup sugar and cook until all the sugar dissolved.
• In a container add 2 cups of milk and sugar and boil it in a low flame for 10 minutes to this add chia seeds and cook for 5 minutes, Meanwhile in a different bowl, boil water add tbsp of Agar powder until it completely dissolves, pour this mixture immediately into the milk mixture, add double cream, Vanilla extract or slit and scrape a vanilla pod and blend them all together. Leave it cool for 1/2 an hour, mix now and then, check its not thickening, as you don't want it solidifying, they just need to get cooled down now pour this into the serveware in which you want to serve, I slanted my glasses and put them in the fridge to set. May take 3 to 4 hours.
• Once the vanilla panna cotta sets, you can start the strawberry panna cotta, you get two cups of pureed strawberries from 500 grms of strawberries into a container with sugar and cook them together until sugar is completely dissolved switch off the stove and keep aside, In an other bowl warm water and add Agar powder mix well with no lumps add this immediately into the pureed strawberry mixture blend well and leave it to cool, keep checking now and then that it doesn't set, you need it just to cool down, when its cooling down and ready to poured into the glasses to set bring your vanilla panna cotta glasses out of the fridge. Pour strawberry panna cotta into the gap until they both balance or the way you like to design it put them back into the fridge to set. May take 2 to 3 hrs
• Once both of them are set you can serve them when needed.

Notes

Agar - Agar is a sea weed algae, it was discovered in Japan and it is called Kanten, It is called china grass in India, this is vegetarian/vegan substitute for gelatin. It even sets in room temperature and is better than gelatine even when temperature rises. It does not have any taste, odour and smell. You can find them in health food stores as powder, flakes, threads etc. 1 tbsp of agar powder dissolve it in a 4 tbsp hot water, 10 minutes it will start setting. For one cup of liquid to set use around 10 grms of Agar powder, I used 1 tbsp(8grms) as I wanted it to set it bit softer (wobbly), if you want it set properly use 10 grms.
Increase or decrease sugar as per your taste. My strawberries were a bit tart so had to use more sugar to balance it.

The post Strawberry-Vanilla Chia seed Panna Cotta (Gelatin free/ Vegetarian) appeared first on My Veg Fare.