Showing posts with label hot beverages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot beverages. Show all posts

Jul 26, 2008

Badam paal / Almond milk


Almonds, the protein power house are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease. More here.

Here is one sweet delicacy that can be prepared before hand and stored in the refrigerator and can be used as and when needed. This almond drink can be had hot or cold. Makes a warm drink on a winter night and a cold drink on a summer afternoon. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

Almonds or Almond meal - 1 cup

Granulated sugar - one and half cups

Reduced fat milk - 2 cups

Water - 1 cup

Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon

Saffron strands - 1 pinch

Method:

If using almonds, blanch the almonds by boiling almonds in hot water for thirty minutes. Cool off and peel the skin.

Grind the blanced almonds to smooth paste using half cup water and half cup milk.

Transfer the ground almond to a heavy bottomed kadai and add half cup water and half cup milk.

Add the saffron strands and allow it to cook in reduced heat.

If using the almond meal (ground alomond), whisk half a cup water and half a cup milk and cook in a heavy bottomed kadai.

Stir every other minute for atleast 15 minutes or until the raw almond smell goes away.

If required add more milk.

When the almond paste is cooked, add the sugar.

Let the sugar dissolve.

Allow it to cook until the mixture thickens.

Add the cardamom powder and let it cook for a couple of minutes.

Turn off heat.

Take half a cup of this almond paste and pour half a cup milk and serve hot, cold or at room temperature.

This badam paste can be stored in the fridge in an air tight container.

Just mix milk to the paste as and when needed.

This badam milk can be called badam payasam too.

Thanks to my mom for teaching me this delicious recipe.


This is my entry to sweet series - cool desserts.

Jul 10, 2008

The best cup of coffee is just two minutes away


I am a coffee lover and I wanted to share the taste of my everyday coffee. I am really addicted to coffee, just once a day, everyday. For me, the day starts with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and I am sure this is the same for every coffee lover in the world. I like Madras Kaapi that I will never miss everytime I visit Saravana Bhavan and Madras Cafe in Sunnyvale, CA. They have the best Madras Kaapi in the SF bay area. Kaapi is slang for coffee in Tamil nadu.

After I tasted the Seattle's Best - french roast coffee, I don't prefer any other brand or any other variety in the same brand in the US. The best decoction that makes the day. Thanks to my friend Priya for introducing this coffee to me. All you need is French roasted, ground Seattle's best coffee powder and a coffee maker. I use Black & Decker 5 cup coffee maker with stainless steel carafe. Of couse you will need #4 coffee filter.

I don't regret that I don't have a typical south Indian style coffee filter brewing Narasus's coffee or Leo coffee from Tamil nadu, after making decoction in this coffee maker. Just one tablespoon of coffee powder for one cup of coffee and it is ready in two minutes.

Ingredients for preparing 2 cups of coffee:


Water - two third cup (one third for one cup coffee)

Milk - two third cup (one third for one cup coffee)

Sugar - 2 teaspoons

Method:

Pour water in the water resorvoir.

Place the #4 filter in the filte basket.

Add exactly 2 tablespoons coffee powder and press it so that the powder is equally distributed in the filter.

Place the carafe and switch on the coffee maker and let it start brewing.

Meanwhile, heat milk in microwave for 2 minutes.

When the milk is ready, the decoction will also be ready as it takes only a couple of minutes to brew.

Turn off the coffee maker and pour the hot milk in the carafe and add 2 spoons of sugar. Adjust the sugar to your taste.

Stir briskly and pour immediately in the coffee cups. You can as well heat the milk in 2 cups and then pour the decoction to the milk and stir with sugar.

Enjoy the intense, bittersweet coffee with the aroma of the fresh brew. Hmmm... that is one best coffee.



"Kaapinna...Seattle's best french roast coffee dhaan... besh besh....romba nallarukku...."


Click here to see my entry to Click - Coffee and Tea hosted by Jai and bee of Jugalbandhi. I have taken a picture of Starbucks coffee chocolates. They might look like coffee beans but they are chocolates infused with dark roast coffee.