Pomegranate Breakfast Soda

Pomegranate is one of my favorite fruits. When it comes to nutrition content, this fruit is one of the toppers. On most days, my breakfast includes fresh orange juice and I shift to pomegranate when they are in season.


This breakfast soda is great for a sunny morning. The beauty of it lies in its simplicity . This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten.

I made fresh pomegranate juice at home. Care needs to be taken while blending the pomegranate seeds. Just pulse about 5 times to extract the juice. Too much blending will lead to a very grainy discolored juice. Straining the juice works best with a muslin cloth or small-holed mesh strainer.
(Always use gloves when removing pomegranate seeds as it stains fingers.)

Ingredients

• 100 ml pomegranate juice
• 100 ml sparkling water ( Soda)
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar(optional)

Directions:

Mix the ingredients together in a pitcher and serve over ice.

Very berry breakfast smoothie

" An optimist in the human personification of spring" - Susan J. Bissonette

I Love spring for the rain. Love spring for the singing of the birds. Love spring for the first baby leaves bursting out of the bare branches of trees. Love spring for the first flowers after winter. Love spring for the tulips. Love spring for the yawning winds lifting my spirits anticipating summer. Best of all, love spring for the fresh and vibrantly colored berries found in abundance at every store and market.
Here is my very berry smoothie. A power packed breakfast. The berries make the smoothie really sweet, so sugar can be avoided. Now, isn't that SUWEEET!

Ingredients : (Makes 2 servings)

• Cold Milk - 2 cups
• Strawberries -3
• Raspberries - 1/4 cup
• Black berries - 1/4 cup
• Blueberries - 1/4 cup
• Fresh mango pieces - 1/2 cup
• Chiquita banana - 1
• Pitted bing cherries - 1/2 cup
• Ice cubes - optional

Directions :

• Blend all the ingredients in the blender and serve. (Blend in the ice cubes only if you want your drink exceptionally cold)

Luv 'n' luc'

Smitha

Spiced Buttermilk/ Sambaaram

There is no better way to beat the heat than with some cool buttermilk. Why would anyone want coke and pepsi with all the artificial stuff in it when there is simething all natural which can reduce your body tempreature as well as good for you. I like my buttermilk spiced with just ginger,salt and some bruised curry leaves. My husband likes it with some chopped green chillies as well. Do it any way you like. Stay healthy and happy.

Ingredients:

ButterMilk - 2 cups

Water - 2 cups

Salt - to taste

Curry leaves - scant 20-25 leaves (bruised with your hand)

Coursely mashed ginger - 1 inch piece

Chopped green chilli - 1 (optional)

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and let it rest for 30-45 mins in the refrigerator.

Serve cold.

Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha

Cheers to one more award and the coming of spring - Cranberry Mint Cooler

The weekend was wonderful. We had temperatures of 75 and 76 F. It was really awesome.

For today, thought I'll post something simple. A healthy mocktail. Mocktails are the non-alcoholic counterparts of cocktails. A mix of juices. Refreshing, cold and just the right thing to pull you back up on warm days. The mint in this mocktail adds a kick and zing .

In addition to the onset of spring, I received another Friends Award from the very kind Poornima and Superchef ( of poornimastastytreats and superchef-mirchmasala )

Big, big thanks to them. I really appreciate it.

That's reason enough to celebrate right? So, here's to spring and the awards which make me "spring" :).

This award comes with a clause (as typed below)
"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."It also says : "Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Here comes the toughest part. Choosing just 8 friends to share this award with. But, I have to and I've chosen to pass this award onto 8 very special people :
Preety
Asha
Varsha
Suparna
Shabs
Sia
Neha
Tina

Cheers! To all of you.

The snaps from this post are my final entry to the magnificient click contest

Ingredients :(serves 2)

• Ice cubes -10-12
• Cranberry juice - 1-1/4 cups
• Fresh mint leaves- 12 leaves ( plus more to garnish)
• Sugar - 2 tspns ( or as per taste)
• Lemon juice - 1/8 cup
• Club soda - 1/2 cup

Directions:

• Muddle the cranberry juice, sugar and lemon juice in a jar.Allow sugar to dissolve.
• Crush mint leaves with your fingers and add it to the jar with the juices.
• Allow to sit for 5-6 mins.
• Add the soda and ice cubes before serving.Mix well.
• Serve on the rocks.Garnish with mint leaves.

Thunda, thunda.....Cool, cool!
Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha