Health Drink - Almond Milk/ Badam Kheer

Almonds mistakenly were considered too fatty to be a healthy snack! but research has shown otherwise. 90% of the fats in almonds are unsaturated, it is high in protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and antioxidants.
Almonds are considered to be the healthiest and most nutritious nuts of all. Owing to this fact it is termed as the source of well-balanced food. Almonds make a great snack, as they reduce the blood sugar levels and free radicals from the body. Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Almonds include but not limited to:

- Help in the prevention of cancer, as they are low in saturated fat

- Contain protective nutrients like calcium and magnesium, which assist strengthening of bones

- Contains phyotchemicals, which protect against cardiovascular diseases and cancer

- Reduces the risk of heart attack

- Help in checking blood cholesterol levels

- Contain lots of fiber, which is good for the system

- Contain folic acid, which is believed to reduce levels of homocystein, the amino acid thought to contribute to the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries

- Assist in controlling diabetes, by lowering blood sugar after meals

- Provide essential anti-oxidants and help in the clean up of the free-radicals in the body

Badam kheer or a health drink made of almond and milk has been my favourite ever since childhood. My mom used to make it frequently considering its health benefits. It enjoyed it most during the summer months when i got back from school.

Ingredients: makes 4 glasses

Almonds 40

Milk 4 glasses

Ghee/clarified butter 2 tsp

Saffron 3-4 strands or 1 pinch

Sugar 12 spoons

Saara pappu (telugu) chironji (hindi) 3 tbsp

Method:

1. Soak almonds in water overnight and peel the skin out

2. Puree almonds along with half glass milk in the blender
3. Bring the remaining milk to boil in the mean time

4. Add almond paste to the milk and keep stirring constantly till the raw smell goes. This might take 8-10 mins

5. Add sugar, stir well, turn stove off and then put in the saffron

6. In a saucepan heat ghee to roast saarapappu (pieces of cachew if desired). Mix this to the badam kheer

This could be consumed either warm or cold. It satys good in the refridgerator for upto 3-4 days.

Health Drink - Carrot Milk

Once spring comes, it brings along with it all kinds of flowers, fruits and veggies:) I normally buy 2 carrots during my weekly grocery shopping. The other day my husband got a 10 lb bag full of carrots from Costco!! I was wondering what on earth would I do with so many carrots. Then I started trying out all the carrot recipes I knew and had heard off. However, after 10 days I had hardly used up half the stock. I preferred making khajar ka halwa, carrot milk, carrot curd pachadi, as these utilize more carrots. When I was discussing this with my cousin Sunitha, she gave me her version of carrot milk recipe. So taking the best of hers and mine here is what I have.

Ingredients:

Makes 4 cups

Carrots shredded 1 cup
Milk 2.5 cups
Cardamom powdered 1 pod
Sugar 5 spoons
Saffron 3-4 flakes
Cashew/almond paste (optional)

Method:
- Soak 2 cashews and 4 almonds overnight and grind to a paste with milk (after removing skin) - keep aside
- Boil carrots and puree
- Boil milk, turn to simmer add cardamom powder and saffron
- Let it stand for 5 minutes, then add the carrot puree and nut paste
- Boil the mixture together for abt 10 mins
- Add sugar
Drink either warm or refrigerate till cold and consume. It tastes better when cold after a bright sunny day. This drink is very healthy with the vitamin A + fiber from carrots, calcium from milk and one of the two "good" fats responsible for lowering LDL cholesterol in Almonds.

Masala Vada - Gara

Nothing could beat Masala Vada - an evergreen evening snack. It is a nutritious, cripsy South Indian delicacy made with 3 different kind of dals. Accompaniments though not really necessary due to its balanced taste, could include tomato ketchup, corriender chutney, mint chutney...

A good idea to remove excess oil from the vada would be to blot it with tissue paper once the golden crisp is removed from the pan.

Ingredients:

Makes 6 vadas

Urud dal 2 tbsp

Moong dal 2 tbsp

Toor dal 2 tbsp
Green chilli 2

Onion chopped small 1/4

Rice flour 1 spoon

asofortidia, salt, coriander

Method:

- Soak the three dals in water for 40 minutes

- Beat to a coarse mixture in mixie along with chillis
- Add salt, asofortidia, onion, coriender, rice flour

- Heat oil in pan, make round flat dumplings with the mixture and put in oil till golden brown