Rosemary Kadha / Immunity Booster Drink

 

              This immune booster drink is the need of the time. It's refreshing as it will surely soothe your nerves and keep you going throughout the day. I skipped the mandatory basil / mint and instead, added some rosemary herb, as apart from adding a flavour to the drink, it has many health benefits. I also included some fresh turmeric. 

             You can enjoy this drink hot or chilled, along with some ice cubes, according to your preference, anytime of the day. The brown sugar (or any sweetener) can be omitted if you wish. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this traditional Indian medicine. 

          Ginger and lime contains vitamin C and other anti oxidants. The intake of ginger wards off nausea, stomach ailments and strengthens our immunity. Lime improves digestion, is good for the tummy, removes toxins from our body and relieves constipation.

           Fresh turmeric root has its own health benefits. It has anti inflammatory properties, lowers cholesterol and prevents cancer. 

          Rosemary is a fragrant herb that improves blood circulation, boosts the immune system and aids in digestion.

          Lastly, the whole spices are high in antioxidants as they lower blood sugar level / blood pressure, reduces inflammation, digestive problems and improves cholesterol, relieves indigestion and constipation.

          So a cupful of this healthy drink has a lot of healing properties. It relieves any cold during winter and boosts our energy. So it is beneficial to include kadha in our everyday life. 

• 3 cups water
• pinch of salt (opt)
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 3 green cardamoms 
• 6 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp. carom seeds
• 10-12 whole peppercorns
• 1" ginger
• 1" fresh turmeric
• 2 tbsp. rosemary
• lime juice to taste
• brown sugar / jaggery / honey to taste

          Crush all the ingredients (except lime & sweetener) in a mortal & pestle.

          Add water in a pan along with a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil. Then add all the crushed ingredients. 

          Simmer for 10 minutes on a low flame till it is slightly reduced. When done, switch off the flame and keep it covered for 5 minutes. 

          Then strain and serve with lime juice and brown sugar / jaggery / honey to taste.

                                 The ingredients to be crushed. 

                          Crush all the ingredients (except lime & sweetener) in a mortal & pestle.

                            Add water in a pan along with a pinch of salt & bring it to a boil. 

                                  Then add all the crushed ingredients. 

                       Simmer for 10 minutes on a low flame till it is slightly reduced. When done, 

                       switch off the flame and keep it covered for 5 minutes. 

 Strain. 

Serve with lime juice & honey / brown sugar / jaggery.

Masala Ginger Lime Tea

          This immune booster drink is the need of the time. It's refreshing, spicy and a tangy concoction that will surely soothe your nerves and keep you going throughout the day. You can enjoy it hot or chilled, along with some ice cubes, according to your preference, anytime of the day. The tea and the honey (or any sweeteners) can be omitted if you wish.

       
          Ginger and lime contains vitamin C and other anti oxidants. The intake of ginger wards off nausea, stomach ailments and of course strengthens our immunity. 

          Lime on the other hand, improves digestion, is good for the tummy, removes toxins from our body and relieves constipation.

          Lastly, the whole spices are high in antioxidants as they lower blood sugar level / blood pressure, reduces inflammation, digestive problems and improves cholesterol, relieves indigestion and constipation.

          So a cupful of this healthy drink (with all the above mentioned ingredients) has a lot of healing properties. It relieves any cold during winter and boosts our energy with or without the spices, tea or honey.

• 1 litre water
• 1" ginger, sliced 
• 2" cinnamon stick 
• 3 green cardamoms 
• 5 cloves 
• 1 tsp. carom seeds 
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds 
• pinch of salt
• 1-2 tsp. tea leaves / 2 tea bags
• lime juice to taste
• honey / brown sugar / jaggery to taste

          Bring the water to a boil in a pan. Then add all the ingredients (except tea, lime juice and honey). Simmer for 8-10 minutes on a low flame till it is slightly reduced.

          When done, switch off the flame and add the tea leaves. Keep it covered for 5 minutes. Then strain and serve with lime juice and honey / brown sugar / jaggery to taste.

Lobongo Lotika (Traditional Bengali Sweet)

          

          It is a traditional and a very delicious Bengali sweet usually prepared during festivals. It is not much found in any sweet shop these days and remains a homemade sweet prepared by the women folk. It is also very popular in the North & North-East regions of India.

          It is basically sweetened khoya filled in a poori (made of maida dough), folded in a square shaped envelope and sealed with a clove (lobongo). The filling can be either made at home or any store bought pedas / khoya sweets can be substituted.

          It is then deep fried in ghee and later dipped in sugar syrup. These sweets can be made in huge quantities and stored in airtight containers for later use or can dig into them when you have those sweet cravings. 

  

• 2 cups maida (Plain flour)
• 1 cup khoya (dried whole milk)
• 1 cup coconut, grated
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. cloves
• 1 & 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 cups water
• 2 tbsp. nuts and raisins, sliced
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg powder
• pinch of saffron
• ghee for deep frying

     

 



           In a pan, mix khoya, coconut and 3 tbsp. sugar. Cook till well blended.

          Add the nuts, raisins, cardamom and nutmeg powder. Keep aside. Knead a stiff dough with flour, water and 3-4 tbsps. of ghee.

          Make a syrup of the remaining sugar and water to one thread consistency. Add a pinch of saffron to it and keep aside. Make equal portions of the dough and khoya mix.

          Roll out the dough. Put in little khoya and fold over in a rectangular shape, just like a parcel, fixing it with a clove. 

          Heat ghee and fry the Lobongo Lotika till golden in colour. Dip in the sugar syrup for a couple of minutes. Drain and serve, hot or cold.