What’s so special about today’s summer drink?

Come summer and our place sure turns pretty warm for comfort. We sometimes have to take to water like a fish, drink plenty of water or other cool drinks. Go absolutely natural minus cravings for that extra cuppa coffee or tea. The warm soups and kanji will become a thing of the past and the ready made drinks like bournvita horlicks are already a no no as we have our own healthy brand of kanji at home.

It is important to get a juice cabinet ready with necessary items. Creative slurpers can go in for cute stained glasses painted with care either with flowers fruits or cartoon characters.  A tray or two to display those cute glasses with juice. Straws that bend at the right places. This is often a hit with little kids who will drink anything from a glass with this kind of straw. These are available in different light colours and an assorted pack will be good. Go in for natural sugars like jaggery which is better off than the white sugar and is a good source of iron too. palm candy is another option this can be powdered to a fine texture in a mixie. There is another palm candy which looks all brown and slightly slimy. This has to be heated with a little water to remove sand particles and can be kept for a week. Honey is another sweetener which can be used for some drinks. Salt (powdered) pepper powder (just enough quantity for a week as it looses its splendid aroma if kept powdered for longer) and jeera (powder) if you like. You can also get a packet of jaljeera for that tangy taste.

Fruits in season is best. Oranges, grapes, melon, narthangai, etc etc. and vegetables like carrot, radish, cucumber tomato etc.

Fruits and vegetables if you like the taste of mixed fruits /veg.

A mixie is a must as some juices needs grinding the veg/fruits. A good sieve and knife too.

A creative mind to mix two or more veg/fruits toppings with mint, slices of fruits. Filling up the tray with full fruits or salads will be a feast to the eyes.

Today’s special

Orange juice. I peeled a couple of oranges squeezed out the juice. To the pulp I added more water and squeezed out more juice. Strained this with a sieve removed the seeds manually from the sieve and put back the pulp into the juice. To this I added a pinch of salt. Two teaspoons of palm candy powder, a pinch of  pepper, a pinch of jaljeera and a squeeze of just two mint leaves from the garden. Poured it into glasses for a quiet drink in the shade. great…you should try it too.

w.m. the seeds I threw in the garden. Who knows maybe we will get some orange blossoms a few years from now..ahah

the rind I made thokku with tamarind paste, hing, methi powder, salt, chilli powder, make small pieces of the rind. Make a paste of tamarind add all the ingredients. Heat oil add a little mustard,  add paste cook on low fire for about five minutes. Tastes great with dosa or chappathi.

vijaysathya