Thursday, February 17, 2011

Mock tails




Summer is approaching and for this summer one need to cool body through good drinks. Here are some of the drinks recipe that you can prepare at home and enjoy it with delight.

  • Coffee Clouds
  • Virgin Mary
  • Mint Crush
  • Pink Lady

Coffee Clouds
(For 2 to 3 servings)


Ingredients -
200 ml - Milk
1TSP  - Coffee Powder
11/2 TBS - Sugar
2 Scoops - Vanilla Ice cream
2 TBS - Fresh Cream
2 TBS - Chocolate Syrup
2 -3 Drops - Vanilla Essence 
2 TSP - Chocolate Grated
2 - Wafer Biscuits


Directions -

  1. Mix Sugar, Coffee Powder, Cream, 1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream and Essence in the Milk.
  2. Blend it together
  3. Take a glass. Pour chocolate syrup in it.
  4. Keep in the glass in Refrigerator for 5 min.
  5. Pour the coffee in it.
  6. Put the scoop of ice cream on it.
  7. Grate the chocolate and decorate it with grated chocolate and biscuit.
 Virgin Mary
(For 4-5 servings)
A Perfect Ladies Drink for a cocktail party


Ingredients -
3 tea cups - Tomato Juice
4 TSP - Lemon Juice
1 TSP - Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 TSP - Tabasco Sauce
1/4 TSP - Salt
1/4 TSP - Pepper
1 Bottle - Chilled Soda
Ice cubes and crushed Ice


Directions -

  1. Mix Tomato juice, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Sauce, salt, pepper and ice.
  2. Blend for 1 min in a blender
  3. Transfer to deep pan. Add soda and mix well
  4. Pour in tall stem glasses.
  5. Garnish it with celery stick or a lemon slice.
  6. Serve Immediately


Mint Crush

(For 4 Servings)
The cool minty flavor is made more refreshing with the addition of lemon juice and some aerated lemon drink. Perfect for Party.


Ingredients -
2 cups - Fresh Mint Leaves
4 TSP - Lemon Juice
2 Bottles - Lemonade
1/4 TSP of salt 
1/4 TSP of pepper 
Ice Cubes
Mint Sprigs and Lemon Slices


Directions -

  1. Blend mint leaves and 1 cup of water together.
  2. Strain to extract 1 cup of mint juice.
  3. Keep it in refrigerator.
  4. At the time of serving - Add lemon juice, salt and pepper in the mint juice.
  5. Put the ice cubes in each glass. Divide the mint juice in 4 glasses.
  6. Top with slightly less than 1/2 bottle of lemonade in each glass.
  7. Stir
  8. Garnish the glass with a mint sprig and a lemon slice.
  9. Serve Immediately


Pink Lady

(For 4-5 servings)
A little cream added to this drink gives it the special touch.


Ingredients -
4 Cups - Fresh Watermelon Juice
8 TBS - Strawberry crush
4 TSP - Cream
4 -5 Fresh Strawberries (Chopped)
Strawberries and mint sprigs


Directions -

  1. Blend Watermelon Juice, Strawberry Crush, Chopped Strawberries and Cream.
  2. Fill 1/3 of the glass with crushed ice.
  3. Pour the prepared Drink and Garnish with a slit strawberry and mint sprig.
  4. Serve Immediately. 








Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Lemon

Botanical Name - Citrus Limon
Indian Name - Bara Nimbu / Pahari Nimbu

The lemon is an important fruit of citrus group. The lemon is rich in many food ingredients, particularly citric acid. Different Varieties contain this acid in different proportions ranging from 3.71 to 8.40 %. It is mainly due to its citric acid and Vitamin C contents that the lemon is widely used in medicine. 

Food Value - (in 100 gm)
Moisture - 85.0 gm
Protein - 1.0 gm
Fat - 0.9 gm
Fibre - 1.7 gm
Carbohydrates - 11.1 gm
Energy - 57 Kcal
Calcium - 70 mg
Phosphorus - 10 mg
Iron 0.26 mg
Vitamin C - 39 mg
Thiamine - 0.02 mg
Riboflavin - 0.01 mg
Niacin - 0.1 mg

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties 
The various parts of the lemon used for medicinal purposes -
  • rind of the ripe fruit
  • essential oil of the rind
  • expressed juice of the ripe fruit
The pale yellow oil is bitter yet it is highly valued in medicine as a flavoring agent, carminative that relives flatulence for treating gastric discomfort and that improves appetite. It destroys the toxins in the body. This detoxifying property arises from its high potassium content. The juice also encourages bile secretion and is valuable in jaundice and gravels - a condition of small stone in urinary tract. The bark of the lemon tree is used as febrifuge which prevents fever and seeds as a vermifuge which expels worms from intestine.

Some of the benefits and curative properties in - 
  • Scurvy
  • Oral Diseases
  • Throat Disorders
  • Digestive Problems
  • Fever
  • Obesity
  • Cold
  • Detoxification
Scurvy - The lemon is chiefly valued for its Vitamin C content. Daily intake of lemon juice can help in prevent scurvy.

Oral Diseases - Lemon strengthens the gums and teeth. It is very effective for preventing and curing acute inflammation of the gum margins, pyorrhoea, dental caries and other oral diseases.

Throat Disorders - Lemon is highly beneficial in the treatment of throat disorders such as catarrh, chocking sensation and itching sensitivities. A ripe un-peeled lemon should be roasted slowly until it begins to crack open. Then one teaspoon of the juice with a little honey should be taken once every hour or the same juice of the roasted lemon in a glass of boiled water should be taken flavored with honey. It should be sipped slowly. 

Digestive Problems - A ripe lemon is a good appetizer. The lemon juice stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice and is regarded as an excellent digestive agent. It destroy intestinal worms and eliminates the gases formed in the digestive tract. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of several digestive problems like dyspepsia, constipation and biliousness. Heart burn is easily relieved by taking the juice of half a lemon in a little water.  

Fever - Lemon Juice makes an effective thirst quenching drink in pox, measles, scarlet and other fevers which are attendant with extreme thirst and a very hot and dry skin. 


Obesity - Soak a little cumin in boiling water with slices of lemon and leave the mixture throughout the night and then drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon juice mixed with honey in warm water first thing in the morning is known to aid weight loss. Lemon juice is known to have pectin fiber. Pectin fiber assimilates sugar quickly into the bloodstream, thereby reducing hunger pangs or cravings. This indirectly aids weight loss. Decreased intake of food coupled with adequate exercise can result in weight loss.


Cold - The anti-viral properties in lime/lemon fight infections and halt the progress of a cold.  Take the juice of two lemons in half a liter of hot water and add raw honey to taste.  Sip it slowly before bedtime.


Diuretic - Lemon has diuretic properties, which means that it is good for people who suffer from urinary tract infections.


Detoxification - Lemon juice is an effective remedy for the detoxifying the body. On the first day one should not take anything but plenty of water. On the second day juice of three lemon mixed with equal lukewarm water should be taken. One lemon should be subsequently added each day until it reaches 12 lemons a day. Then the number of lemon to deduct in same order until it reaches 3 lemon per day. One may feel weak, hungry on first two days, but afterwards the condition will stabilize by itself.
    Refreshing - Lemon juice in hot water is known to reduce the sour flavor and reduce its acidic qualities. Lemon juice in warm water is ideal as compared to hot water. Lemon juice in warm water is a great refresher that boosts the immune system and helps various health and skin problems.