Post V-day Tantra: Punching up your love life

Although V-day has passed, love is in the air. A splash of color and a stroke of romance is all that is needed to recreate the aura of Valentine's day. As Spring unfolds it's beauty, punch up your love life with a refreshing and colorful drink. Re-live Valentines day with a bit of color and a ton of joy. Fruit punch, to me, with it's pinkish-red tinge is a reminiscence of the blossomed red roses of Valentines'. The dazzling notes of fresh fruit in the drink is a reminder of the freshness of new-found love and the fizz of the soda is the buzz of being in a beautiful relationship. Fruit punch with its delicious flavor, like no other, will drift you away to cupid land. Try this drink on a romantic night sans alcohol and enjoy the contentment of being loved and having someone in your life to love, just as I did. :)

Alternatively, try this drink on a bright sunny day with a bunch of friends at a BBQ party and be showered with compliments for your drink making capabilities.

Credits: This recipe was introduced to me by a common friend.

No preparation required. Serves 15.


Ingredients:
1. 1 L lemonade
2. 1 can fruitopia
3. 300ml ginger-ale
4. Fresh strawberries, chopped.

Instructions:
Mix everything together and voila! You have an amazing drink ready to gulp down!

Avocado Shake

Avocado is something that was unknown to me for a long time. When I got to know about it, there was something that held me back from experimenting with this. Lately, this fruit has fascinated me - the texture, the color, the nutritious value, and of course the taste! One ripe avocado provides with approximately 50 calories. Avocado is rich in the antioxidants beta carotene, vitamins C and E, magnesium, potassium, and monounsaturated fat which can boost your immune system. An avocado when raw, can be rock solid and it is difficult to take the peel off. But when ripe, the peel comes off easier than that of an orange!
I absolutely love avocado in sushi. My favorite way of using avocado in my kitchen is in salads. I have also considered making guacamole which is in the Food fanatic pipeline of coming up recipes. Mr. Husband, on the other hand likes avocado shake!
To please Mr. Husband, I got ripe avocados that were as soft and creamy as butter!
Avocado shake is a refreshing, delicious drink that can steal hearts of many...Try it on your next guest!

Serves 2. No preparation required.


Ingredients:
1. 1 ripe avocado, peeled and seed removed.
2. 2 cups of milk or as desired for consistency of the shake.
3. 2 tablespoons sugar or steiva for the calorie concious.

Instructions:
Blend all ingredients together and serve chilled.

Dahl Serendipity

I had been craving protein rich food for the past little while. The best way I could do this seemed to be through Dahl or lentil soup. The other day when I looked in the fridge, there were not many vegetables but a ton of shredded carrot. Adventure today it will be, I said to my self! And off I went to make use of whatever I had and experiment or invent a new recipe.

What came out was Dahl serendipity. Mr. Husband and I both were happy with the results. Boring dahl was spiced up with minced green chili and sambhar masala (powdered spices). Fenugreek seeds added warmth to the flavor of the soup, while the pungency of mustard seeds gave the soup just the right kick. While the smoothness of lentils were crunched up with caramelized onion, the sweetness of the onion was countered with a dazzle of tangy lemon juice and tomato paste. The unmistakable aroma of fresh curry leaves unveiled its magic making its way up the senses; the goodness of turmeric powder, garlic, and fresh vegetable defined the comfort and satisfaction of devouring a wholesome, healthy meal.


Serves 4. No preparation required.

Ingredients:
1. Toor (Arhar) Dahl, washed and soaked in water for 5 mins.
2. Curry leaves, fresh and green
3. Salt to taste
4. Musard seeds
5. Fenugreek seeds
6. Green chilli, shopped
7. Sliced onion
8. Tomato paste
9. Garlic, chopped
10. Oil, 2-3 tablespoons
11. Sambhar masala
12. Lemon juice.
13. Water.
14. Shredded carrot
15. Turmeric powder

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
2. Add mustard and fenugreek seeds and allow it to splutter.
3. Add garlic, green chili, curry leaves, onion, and saute until golden brown.
4. Add turmeric powder and mix.
5. Add tomato paste and cook for another few minutes.
6. Add sambhar masala, salt, toor dahl, carrot, and water.
7. Cook and cover the lid of the pressure cooker. Let 5 whistles blow.
8. Remove from heat and allow the lid to open by itself.

Serve hot over a bed of white rice or as soup.