Masala Tea in Instant Pot

My husband loves tea, strong tea, especially Masala Chai. I dislike tea and have never taken an interest in making strong tea. My husband makes his own cuppa every morning and evening. Unfortunately, some times he forgets he has the pot on the stove and leaves the kitchen. Many a time he has had to spent time cleaning up the mess. When I heard chai can be made in the instant pot my immediate reaction was "No hovering around the kitchen stove!".

This is my attempt to make two cups of tea using the instant pot. My husband liked it. My opinion does not matter as I am not a fan. If you had guests or had a lot of cups of tea to prepare in a hurry then this would be a really good option.

You will need
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp. tea powder
2-3 peppercorns
1/4 in cinnamon
2-3 pods cardamom, shelled

Add all the ingredients to a small stainless steel pan. Insert the trivet in the instant pot and add 1 cup of water. Place the pan with the ingredients for tea on the trivet. Turn on the instant pot and cook on manual mode for 2 minutes. NPR (Naturally release pressure) from the instant pot for 2 minutes. Then slowly turn the venting knob to vent the steam. If you release the steam all at once the tea leaves and tea will make a mess in the pot.



When the pressure pin drops open the pot and enjoy the tea!

Bubble Tea/ Boba Tea

When my daughter went to high school she used to go out for lunch with friends occasionally. Their favorite haunt sold Bubble tea. My daughter insisted it was something I would like and so the two of use went out to get some. Bubble tea is very interesting, the large tapioca pearls add a nice texture to an otherwise boring drink. As you can tell I am not a fan of tea but I like to try new things.

A few days back my daughter and I were in the Asian store looking to stock up on sauces when we walked through the tea aisle. We were looking at the large selection of green tea and wondering why I had never thought to bring my father here to pick green tea; when I spotted the tapioca pearls. I had to buy a packet and try making bubble tea at home.

I used a basic bag of tea to brew the tea, added milk and sugar and the tapioca pearls. I was happy with the results. There are so many variations of the tea available now, I think I will try the pearls with fruit juice sometime. For now here is the recipe for the pearls with milk tea

You will need
2 tbsp. tapioca pearls (cooked as per package instructions)
1 bag tea
~ 3/4 cup water
~ 1/4 cup milk
sugar as needed (the tapioca pearls are stored in sugar or honey so adjust according to taste)

Prepare tea as you normally would. In my case the last 4 ingredients go in a cup and are heated in the microwave for 1:20 secs. In a cup place the tapioca pearls. Pour the tea over the top.

Enjoy!


Note:
In summer you can add ice cubes to the tea before pouring it over the tapioca pearls.


Enjoy!

Lime Sorbet Punch

This recipe was very popular about a decade ago. I had not made it for a very long time. I remember the last time I made it. It was my daughter's birthday and she had invited a few friends over. They were the age were they still ran around and played in the yard but were independent enough to do things on their own. I remember I made a big batch of this punch and put it on the table. I turned my back for about 20 minutes. I came back to find the girls on a sugar high, the punch almost all gone. They were standing around the table talking excitedly, drinking and refilling their glasses. I remember shooing them out of the house and away from the punch bowl. Yes, it is that good!

I made it again last week and it tasted just as good. There is no recipe. You can eye ball the proportions.

You will need (for 8 servings)
2 liter bottle Sprite
1 tub Lime Sorbet

Just before serving, place half the tub of sorbet in a punch bowl. Add the sprite and let the sorbet melt. Taste. Add more sorbet if needed.

Enjoy!

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

Raspberries are in season and make a nice sweet and tart smoothie. I love a brightly colored smoothie but raspberries do not make the most colorful smoothie unless paired with another berry. If you enjoy a certain amount of tartness to the smoothie you will like this. If you like your smoothies very sweet then try adding a mango or similar sweet fruit.

Over the years movie theaters have gotten very creative. The regular movie snack counters have expanded from the usual soda and popcorn to a variety of sweet and savory snacks. But it is the innovative theaters that serve food at your seat, anything from smoothies and snacks to a full meal. Berry and banana smoothies are very popular on this menu especially in summer. Now reclining seats with food trays attached may not be your kind of movie experience. But there is a huge clientele for it and these theaters are showing up everywhere. Personally I prefer the regular theaters with bucket seat that recline but not too much.

But I do enjoy a smoothie any day and this raspberry smoothie was no exception.

You will need
1 cup raspberries
1 banana
1/2 cup yogurt
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp. sugar (optional)

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!

Kesar Lassi

Lassi works wonders on a hot summer day. As a yogurt drink it is also very filling. I made this lassi on an unusually hot winter day. I don't make lassi often as my daughter does not like it at all. My husband prefers his cup of tea. I am not fond of tea or coffee so I am always looking for alternatives. Though single serving blender cups make it easy to make drinks for just one person I usually do not go out of the way to make something just for me.

I am trying all different types of lassi. That will give me a chance to make lassi more often. I loved this kesar lassi because of the mellow yellow color and fragrance from the saffron. Unlike a mango lassi this one is for the yogurt lover. All other flavors are subtle. I got this recipe from a magazine cut out my mother had saved for me years ago.

I garnished it with crushed pistachios.

You will need
5-6 strands saffron
3 tbsp. warm milk
3/4 cup yogurt
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp. sugar
4-6 cubes ice

Crushed pistachios to garnish

Soak the saffron strands in warm milk and keep aside for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile mix the other ingredients together except the ice cubes. Put the ice cubes in a blender. Pour in the blended yogurt mixture and the soaking saffron with the milk. Blend until smooth. Pour in a serving glass and garnish with crushed pistachios.

Enjoy!

Carrot Clementine Banana Smoothie

When you get home from work after a long commute and are so hungry you could eat a horse, what do you do? Do you reach for whatever is the closest to you in the pantry? If your answer is yes, then I suggest trying fruit and vegetable juice. Juice has come a long way with the ever improving quality of blenders and juicers available at a reasonable price. Long gone are the days when most of the fiber had to be thrown out. Now whatever you put in the blender / juicer is what you end up with in your glass. You can actually see the yummy goodness.

I was one of the late adopters to juice. But lately I have gotten pretty ambitious and like to try out new combinations. This one was a new one for me. The only change I would make when I make this smoothie again would be to use just half a banana.

You will need
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 clementines, peeled
1/2 banana, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 milk
1/4 cup ice cubes
a pinch cinnamon

Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!


This is my entry for week four, day one of BM #50 for the theme Pick 1 Category, do three - snacks (drinks). Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50.

Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate and winter go hand in hand. If you like chocolate chances are you will like hot chocolate too. I say 'chances are' because I know a few people who love chocolate but are not fans of the beverage. I like chocolate, period. So I enjoy my cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

It was dreary, cold and rainy the day I made the hot chocolate. My normally bright kitchen looked dark and gloomy even at 10 in the morning. It was the kind of day you want to spend snuggled in a blanket with a good book, a cup of hot chocolate and a warm cat curled on the lap. The cat on the lap is wistful thinking on my part. Mine does not spend more than 3 minutes on my lap, even a warm blanket on a cold day does not entice her. She would rather sleep curled up on the rug in the weak beam of sunlight streaming through the window. But I have only myself to blame. At the shelter I picked the almost unadoptable spitfire over the cuties hovering at my feet. As such the three minutes of love she showers on me is a blessing.

Well, even if I cannot get the cat to cooperate I can snuggle with a book and the hot chocolate. Though I make several different types of hot chocolate my favorite recipe comes from the King Arthur website.

You will need (for 1 cup)
1 cup milk
1/2 tbsp. dry milk powder
1/2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tbsp. 100% cocoa powder

Bring the milk to a boil in pan. Lower heat allow to simmer. Meanwhile combine the dry ingredients in a separate pan.

Add them to the simmering milk and whisk to dissolve. Turn off heat and pour out the hot chocolate.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte

It is fall and pumpkins are everywhere! Even in your chai latte! Pumpkin spice flavors are very popular in coffee and tea. If you are one of those people who love pumpkin spice latte then you should try this at home. I am not really a tea or coffee person but I like the occasional cup. And in fall I like to indulge in a pumpkin spice flavored tea.

I used a BPA free can of pumpkin puree but you could make your own if you like. Cinnamon and nutmeg are must haves for this recipe. They flavor the otherwise bland pumpkin brown sugar combination.

I am not going to call this the pumpkin spice chai tea latte because it would be saying pumpkin spice tea tea latte. Chai is Hindi for tea.

You will need
For the pumpkin spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. dried ginger powder
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cardamom powder
a pinch of salt

For the latte
3 tbsp. water
1 tsp. tea leaves or one bag of chai
2 tsp. pumpkin spice mixture
1/2 cup milk

For the topping
whipped cream (optional)
cinnamon or nutmeg powder

Combine all the ingredients for the pumpkin spice. You can keep this mixture refrigerated for up to two weeks.

To make the latte, boil the water and take it off heat. If using tea leaves, add the leaves to the water. Allow it to sit for a minute, longer if you like strong tea. Run the water through a strainer and discard the leaves. If using a tea bag drop the bag in the water and allow to seep to the desired strength.

Meanwhile combine the milk and the pumpkin spice mixture. Bring it to a boil. Turn off heat and add it to the tea water. If you like top with whipped cream. Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on the top.

Enjoy your hot cup of pumpkin spice chai latte!

Ice Cream Soda

Old style ice cream soda available at every street corner is now a thing of the past. There are a few old style restaurants around that serve up this delicious treat. But the home kitchen is always available to make this old style ice cream soda.

To make the syrup cook a handful of berries with just a couple tablespoon of sugar. If the berries are sweet skip the sugar. In summer use fresh berries to make the syrup. I used blueberries. When the berries are cooked and mushy strain through a strainer. If you like clear syrup add a half cup of water and do not push the berries against the strainer while straining. If you like thick syrup and do not mind the seeds skip the water and the straining. Instead mash the berries with a masher. For ice cream soda we like the syrup thick so I use the whole berry and do not discard anything.

Either way chill before using.

You will need
1 tbsp. blueberry syrup
2 tbsp. cream or half cream + half whole milk (you can use lighter milk if you like)
1/4 cup chilled carbonated water or seltzer
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Place the blueberry syrup at the bottom of the glass. Add the milk and cream. Stir to combine.

Add the chilled carbonated water and combine. Add two scoops of ice cream and let it sit for a couple minutes. The melting ice cream thickens and sweetens the soda. We like to dig in when most of the ice cream is gone.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Smoothie

A few days back I froze a few blueberries for another recipe and had a few leftover. Perfect for this smoothie! Just throw in the frozen berries with a few slices of banana and unflavored yogurt.

You will need
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) (I used fresh berries that I froze for a day)
1/4 cup chopped banana (a little less than half)
1 cup unflavored yogurt
a pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)
5-6 ice cubes (use only if using unfrozen berries)

Mix everything together in a blender jar and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

Double Strawberry Smoothie

If you like your smoothies sweet then this smoothie is not for you. But if you really like fruits and berries then you will love it. Three ingredients and ice is all it takes.

The first time I made this smoothie I decided to make just one cup for myself. I loved the rich creamy texture and the taste of berries. The next day I made it for my breakfast but asked my daughter to take a sip. Expecting a sweet smoothie she crinkled her nose at the mildly tart taste. Without thinking I starting my mommy lecture 'the first strawberry never tastes sweet. Your tongue needs time to adjust to the tart taste. By the third strawberry you start enjoying it.' She took two more sips and the next thing I know she put down an empty cup. It is that good. Try it.

You will need
1/4 cup cranberry juice
8 oz. strawberry yogurt (any brand)
a handful of strawberries (preferably fresh but frozen will do)
a handful of ice cubes (leave them out if using frozen strawberries)

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth. If you have a problem with strawberry seeds run the smoothie through a sieve. No honestly, there is nothing you can do about the seeds other than use a different fruit.

Enjoy!

Root Beer Float

Nothing says summer like corn on the cob and root beer float. It is tradition in our house to start summer vacation with a root beer float. Chilled root beer with vanilla ice cream! Homemade vanilla ice cream makes it even better.

You will need
1 bottle root beer, chilled
1 scoop vanilla ice cream

For the vanilla ice cream
2 cups milk (any fat %)
1 cup fat free condensed milk
3 tbsp. milk powder
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. sugar (if needed)

For the non cook ice cream
Mix all the ingredients together and whisk for a couple minutes. Pour into an airtight container and freeze until set.

For the root beer float
Add a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream to a glass. Pour root beer slowly over the ice cream. Let the foam rise and subside before pouring more root beer over the top. Continue till the glass is full.

Mango Smoothie

The third mango recipe for the week is a mango smoothie. It is refreshing and filling at the same time. My daughter who loves her fruits and vegetables enjoys this smoothie after school on hot spring days.

Growing up I was very particular about eating only mankurad or alfonso. Now I am not so picky. I get whatever is available.

You will need
1/2 cup mango pulp
1/2 banana
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cinnamon powder
a pinch nutmeg powder
1/2 cup milk
a handful ice cubes

Put all the ingredients together with half a cup of ice in a blender cup.

Blend together until smooth.

Serve chilled.

Mango Lassi

Today I am posting a recipe from Delhi, the national capital of India. Everyday this month I will post a recipe from a different state in India.

Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world. It is not one of the oldest cities but has been in existence for a few hundred years. For most of those years Delhi has enjoyed a status of prominence as a capital. A few years back Delhi was awarded statehood.

On our last trip to Delhi we were walking through the neighborhood market when we noticed these people on the sidewalk with mehendi cones. Apparently it was a local festival the day after and they were offering to paint one of the oldest art forms known to us - mehendi (henna). It is amazing how intricate designs are painted in under 5 minutes. The picture shows my daughter getting her hand painted and the final result.

Before I move on to the recipe for the day I have to go back to my visit to Delhi on our first trip back to India. My husband took me to a few of his favorite college day eateries. One of them was a burger joint near his IIT campus. Another was chaat in Karol Bagh. We ordered chat and then he ordered lassi. Now I was not a lassi kind of girl. Give me a shake any day but I did not care for lassi. The place was very crowded and everything had to be ordered so quickly, before I could say anything he had placed the order. It didn't help that a couple came and stood by our table to lay their claim to it.

So now there was a tall glass of white fluffy liquid on the table and a very excited husband watching me from across the table. I reluctantly picked up the glass of lassi and started sipping it. I never knew when I hit bottom. It was so good! Since then I never shy away from lassi, especially not in Delhi. And when it was time to look up a recipe for Delhi I could not think of anything better than lassi. Since it is mango season I decided to make mango lassi.

You will need
1/2 cup yogurt
1/4 cup mango pulp
1/4 cup milk

Mix all the ingredients together and blend for a minute or two.

You could add ice while blending if you like it really cold or if you are having it in summer.

Serve chilled.