Nandakumar

SOME FLAVOURFUL YET EASY-TO-MAKE SUMMER DRINKS Summer-time calls for beverages, whether they are fancy or simple, healthy or sinful. However, not everyone is blessed with the time to create a spectacular mocktail. Here's looking at a few beverages which require very short preparation time. Some classic beverages that never age Tea, Punch and Cream Sodas have been around forever and are likely to remain so. The following four beverages will please all generations. Raspberry Iced tea Ingredients: 8 and 1/4 cup water, 3-4 cups unsweetened raspberries, 5 tea bags, 1/4 cup sugar 8 cups of water is brought to a boil and the sugar allowed to dissolve in it. Tea bags are added. As soon as the water colours, the tea bags are discarded and the liquor strained. In a separate bowl, the remaining water and raspberries are added. After simmering for 3 minutes, it is strained and the juice is added to the tea mixture. It is then chilled and served with ice-cubes. Simple Lemonade and Grape Juice Fruit Punch Ingredients: 250 ml orange juice, 250 ml grapefruit juice, 2 cans lemonade, 2 bottles sparkling white grape juice Orange juice and grapefruit juice are combined. Lemonade is added slowly, followed by sparkling white grape juice, making sure the fizz is under control. Punch is ready. Cranberry and Lime Fruit Punch Ingredients: 1 litre orange juice, 500 ml pineapple juice, 1 litre cranberry juice, 250 ml fresh lime juice, 1 litre ginger ale Orange juice, pineapple juice and cranberry juice are combined. The lime juice is added very slowly, followed by ginger ale. Italian Cream Soda Ingredients: 1/2 cup Club Soda, 3 tablespoon Torani syrup, 1 tablespoon Half & Half, ice cubes, whipped cream, cherry Torani syrup is added to club soda. Just before serving, the Half & Half is added to this mixture. Then ice cubes are put in and the drink is topped with whipped cream and cherry. Off-beat Coolers for the Experimental Those who are tired of the classic flavours can surprise themselves as well as guests with the unconventional flavour combinations used in the following three beverages Chocolate-Grape Shake Ingredients: 15 Mini choco chips, 25 seedless grapes, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups water Choco chips and grapes are processed in a blender with water till smooth. Sugar and milk is added and the drink is blended again. The shake is ready. Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca Ingredients: 4 cups watermelon (seeded and cubed), 1/2 cup water, 24 mint leaves, 8 tablespoon sugar, 4 thin lime slices. Watermelon is blended with water and puréed. Mint leaves, lemon and sugar is divided into 8 glasses and muddled. The purée is poured in. It is served with ice-cubes. Papaya Lassi with Cardamom Ingredients: 1 cup fresh papaya chunks, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 tablespoon sugar/honey, 1/8 tablespoon ground cardamom The ingredients are put in a blender and pulsed till smooth. It is then chilled before serving. All of the listed beverages can be prepared within 15 minutes and are excellent coolants. With such simple and appealing drinks, summer will no longer be a menace.