Summer Quenchers

Here are a few summer drinks,two of them traditional Indian drinks to keep cool throughout the hot weather.In the picture, left to right Saffron Sherbet,Pinacolada,Tropical Sunshine and Lassi

Saffron Sherbet:

500 ml milk

1 tsp saffron

100 ml sweetened,condensed milk

4-5 peppercorns

15 almonds soaked and skinned

1 tsp fennel seeds

3 cardamom pods

a few unsprayed organic rose petals

crushed ice

Boil milk and add the saffron while its hot to infuse the color and let it cool.In the meantime blend the almonds, fennel and cardamom pods to a smooth paste.Now add the rest of the ingredients except the rose petals and blend well.Sieve the liquid.Now fill up individual glasses with crushed ice upto 1/4 th level and add the sherbet sprinkle with rose petals and serve.You could use silver or stainless steel glasses to give that traditional Indian touch.

Lassi

1 cup yoghurt

2 tbs sugar

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup crushed ice

Blend all ingredients in a mixer till frothy.Serve in chilled glasses.As an option, you can add 2 tbs mango pulp to make a mango flavored lassi.

Tropical sunshine

1/2 carrot chopped

2 cups pineapple juice

1/4 cup apple chopped

1/2 banana

1/4 lemon wedge

4 orange segments

1 tsp raisins

1 tsp salted cashew and pistachio nuts

1 slice of cucumber

1 slice of green pepper

6 ice cubes

salt

Blend carrot into smooth paste add the pinepple juice and other ingredients and blend further while adding the ice cubes one at a time till a smooth liquid is obtained.If the liquid is too thick add pineapple juice or ice to thin it.

Pina Colada

1/4 cup coconut cream

1 cup pineapple juice

few pineapple chunks

ice cubes

Mix the coconut cream with pineapple juice and crushed ice cubes in a mixer.Fill tall and chilled glasses with the juice, add some finely chopped pieces of pineapple.Decorate the glasses with pineapple slices.