Strawberry Lassi (smoothie)

I cant believe I'm actually posting a recipe for a lassi, when I don't even like it that much. I'm not a big fan of smoothies and breakfast drinks...I don't even like fruity milk shakes for that matter, except the occasional mango lassi I share with Ro when we head to any Indian restaurant. 

Picked up strawberries thinking I'd make strawberry cupcakes and then changed my mind since it was too much work. I am also not craving any cake now, because I bought the awesomest banana loaf from Respect Organics and cant stop eating it. So, so, so moist, I cant stop at one slice. I can easily finish off the entire loaf but I'm struggling not to. (In my defence, its a really tiny loaf OK!)

I made the lassi thinking I'd force it down Ro's throat, but even the non-fussy Ro didn't want it. So I had to force it down my throat and it was actually not that bad. I added loads of sugar and it did come close to my taste. I still had one glass left, but after rotting in the fridge for a day, I threw it out :(

I have to STOP making things I don't like, or things that have failed to come out well. Like the chiffon cake, for example,..I made it again yesterday and it was a disaster. Losing 3 eggs was sad, not to mention half a cup of honey and the other ingredients...sigh! 

The strawberry lassi recipe is a no-brain recipe and why am I blogging it still..because I woke up this morn, completely enthu to write a post only to realize I didn't have anything interesting. Since I couldn't let my enthu-ness fizzle out, here's a brainless post from my end, with very lethargic pictures.

Fresh strawberries- 1/2 a pound (227gms), cleaned, hulled and halved

Sugar- 1/4 cup or as per taste

Honey- 2 tbsp (I loved how sweet it was)

Cold strawberry yoghurt- 1 cup (use plain yoghurt as substitute)

Salt- a pinch (optional)

Puree the strawberries along with the sugar, honey and salt using an immersion blender.

Add the yoghurt and give it one more whizz, just to mix it all in.

Pour into individual glasses and top with a strawberry. I got about 3 medium size glasses full.

Notes: Add milk instead of yoghurt if you don't want it too thick

I read somewhere that a pinch of cardamom will give it a nice flavour. Go on improvise.
Use ice cubes if you yoghurt isn't cold enough

Fruit fusion (salad)

You know what I realised, I have never posted a salad recipe here, in spite of eating them on a regular basis. It probably is because I very rarely make a salad from scratch. As in I pick up the mixed salad packet from the supermarket and then just add some dressing (whatever it is I feel, to be precise) and I'm good to go. Ro usually ruins the salad by adding enormous quantities of Italian or ranch dressing and makes is as unhealthy as you can imagine. Like that's not enough, he comes up with smart-ass things like, 'oh my god I'm eating an entire tree for dinner.' And then I stopped making salads for him, but when I eat, he'd dig into it and then not finish what's on his plate, ending up in arguments about whether to keep them back in the fridge and then throw it out after a couple of days or just spare me the time and effort and throw it out now itself. Its like having a frikkin 3 year old at home (ironic because he refers to me that way).

So this 3 year old that I'm talking about, has been bugging me to make fruit salad at home. I keep putting it off giving lame excuses like 'what??? fruit salad? weren't you sick of eating it back in India at all the Christian mallu weddings.' And then when we have invited people over and I'm thinking out loud about the menu Ro would sweetly chime in, 'please make fruit salad and custard or ice-cream for dessert.' My are-you-kidding-me look would stop him from further interactions. Oh yes, I'm a mean, mean wife, to say the least! I know wives who bend backwards to serve the husbands, especially their food needs. Me, not one of them. In fact I'm so damn selfish that I never buy things I don't like (fish tops the list).

Today also, this happened by fluke. I would never make fruit salad. For one, I think its an absolute waste of fruits. Why would you want to put them all together when you have the privilege of delving into each and every one of them separately and enjoying it a whole lot more? Two, if you don't eat it immediately after you make it, it becomes the most horrid thing to devour..the fruits start fermenting and you have no choice but to throw it out. 

I was out galavanting and on my way back stopped at the supermarket cos I was out of milk. Instead of just going straight to the particular isle and picking it up, I get carried away to the fruit section. Saw these pretty clementines still with the leaves and such, strawberries on a roll back, mangoes (not yet in season though) and pink grapefruit (something I was totally intrigued by) and picked it all up. What was supposed to be a one pound bill, ended up being a tenner...all for Ro, if ever he asks me why I do grocery shopping every day (for just the 2 of us), and sometimes even twice a day (like today because obviously i forgot to buy important things like coffee and eggs, and then Ro had to make a trip at 8.30pm).

The grapefruit was a bit of a disaster since I had no clue how to peel it or chop it or whatever, but managed somehow. They are the prettiest pink ever :). But on the whole, it was a breeze to put together and I added some zing to it with a few other ingredients which made it yummy. 

Mango- 1, sliced into cubes

Strawberries- 1 cup- hulled, halved and then quartered

Pink grapefruit- 1, peeled, chopped (please google for instructions on how to do this)

Clementines- 2, small, peeled 

Coriander leaves- 1 tbsp (finely chopped)

Caster sugar- 2 tbsp (or more if you want it really sweet)

Lime juice- 1 tsp (or more is you please)

Salt- a generous pinch

Put all the ingredients in a salad bowl and toss well to combine. 

Refrigerate for a while and then serve in individual glasses as it is, or with some chilled Greek/flavoured yogurt.

Notes: The addition of salt was such a brilliant idea. I mean I loved it so so much. Avoid if you are not too sure.

PS: OMG I cant believe I wrote all this shit for one fruit salad. Ro loved it nonetheless. Not that mean a wife after all huh? (please say yes)

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

The weekend was tedious with guests, one after the other and some staying over. Cooked, baked, cooked and cooked and Ro cleaned after my mess a zillion times and I have had enough of it...the cooking and cleaning bit. I hate it when my kitchen is in a mess and the wooden floor is dirty after my expedition and I have to clean it up even if I'm super tired. Same goes for dirty vessels. After over loading the dish washer, twice, we still had enough and more vessels to wash, which Ro gratefully agreed to do 'in a while' which turned out into a few hours and I was super pissed that I had dirty vessels in the sink. So i ended up doing the dishes with a vengeance and have vowed not to cook this entire week....Ro, go figure!

I love entertaining guests though...its good fun to have friends over. We drank, ate, shared old memories into the wee hours of the night and today morn dragged ourselves outta bed to start a rather pleasant week (weather-wise atleast).

This gorgeous drink perfectly complemented the weekend weather. I had to make use of the strawberry season and what better way than to make a pitcher of chilled, berry-licious lemonade spiked with some incredibly strong basil leaves. I also served it as a cocktail at night with a dash of gin and vodka...which, needless to say, did the trick:)

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Makes about 5 to 6 medium size tumblers (loosely adapted from Martha Stewart's recipes)

Freshly squeezed lemon juice- 1/2 cup (juice from 3 large lemons)

Sugar- 6 to 7 tbsp (or according to your taste)

Water- 3 cups (approx.)

Fresh basil leaves- a handful (or less if you don't like it too strong)

Fresh strawberries- 6 to 8, hulled and halved

Vodka or gin- as required (optional)

Purée the sliced strawberries and basil with a hand blender. It should be smooth and the basil should be well chopped.

Transfer the juiced lemons into a large pitcher or bowl. Add the required amount of water and sugar and mix well.

Add the strawberry purée to the lemon mix and blend well using a wooden ladle. You can add the alcohol at this point, if using.

Fill a glass with ice cubes and top with the lemonade.

Alternatively, chill the pitcher in the refrigerator till you want to use it.

A tip: Before you juice the lemon, roll them lightly on the kitchen top, with your palm, which would apparently make the juices flow freely.

I am sending this to Indrani of Appayan who is hosting yet another spotlight event, this time the theme being 'Summer Foods & Drinks' and also to the Thanda mela event hosted by Srivalli of Cooking 4 all Seasons.