Organic Homemade Rose Syrup

This is a very special experimentation for me. My maiden attempt to create an Organic Rose syrup using fresh Paneer Roses. Everybody loves Rose Milk right!!! who doesn't. I had recently made Rose Milk flavoured Coconut Ladoo (Recipe soon to be posted) for fireless cooking competition at my office. The Rose Milk essence that was store bought was made in a Chemical Laboratory and tasted pungent and horrible. That is when I understood how harmful these artificial colouring and essence are. The store bought rose milk essence are nothing but just sugar syrup mixed with rose essence and food colour.

Rose syrup made out of real roses has so many health benefits and when you can make something so organic easily at home, why at all store bought?

This Rose Syrup is completely natural and organic made with unrefined brown sugar (sweetness) and beetroot for the colour. This can be stored for about months in an airtight container in a refrigerator and used in milk, as essence in cakes and juices, in sweets, payasam etc.

Following are the Health Benefits of Organic Rose Syrup

1. Act as a great coolant in cooling the body heat.
2. It's anti-inflammatory properties keep problems like bloating and acidity at bay.
3. Loaded with antioxidants, delays aging, natural glowing and healthy skin,
4. Calms the mind and reduces mood swings.
5. Great Immunity Booster and a healthy/refreshing summer drink.
6. Highly kids friendly and kids love rose flavour.

Let's jump to the recipe

Ingredients

1. Rose Petals - 1 cup tightly packed (about 13 roses)
2. Unrefined Brown Sugar - 1 cup
3. Water - 1/2 cup
4. Grated Beetroot - 1/4 cup

Method

Fresh Paneer Rose

1. Remove the petals from the roses and soak the petals in a container full of water.

Wash the petals thoroughly for insects and pesticides

2. Wash the petals thoroughly to get rid of insects and pesticides.

3. Strain the petals well and allow them to dry for half hour.

Drain the water

4. Take a pan and add brown sugar. Add grated beetroot, rose petals and water.

Unrefined Brown Sugar

Grated Beetroot for color

5. Cover the pan and allow it to simmer on low flame for 10 mins with occasional stirring. This helps in removing the raw flavour of beetroot and allow the rose petals to release its essence and flavour.

                                         Roses ready to get boiled

6. After simmering for 10 mins, you will notice the syrup has turned thick and the petals have shrunk well losing all its color. Check for the consistency.

                                           Rose Syrup getting cooked

7. Strain the syrup nicely using a fine mesh.

                                                    Strain the Syrup well

8. Transfer to a clean airtight glass container and refrigerate it. Use it whenever needed for all your sweet delicacies.

Orange Smoothie

Orange smoothie is a perfect beverage for a hot summer.I prepared this one fine weekend when I had invited my cousin and her husband home for lunch.Orange is all time refreshing and when you want to have it in summer...It's out of the world!!! Check out the recipe for this Tangy Delight.

Serves: 3 medium glasses

Ingredients

1. Fresh Orange Juice - 2 Cups
2. Chilled milk - 1/4 Cup
3. Vanilla Ice Cream-1 scoop
4. Vanilla Extract-1 tsp
5. Ice Cubes-4-5
6. Sugar as needed

Method

1. In a blender, add all the milk,ice cream,orange juice,sugar and vanilla extract and blend at a high speed.

2. Serve Chilled with with Ice cubes.

Masala Milk (Kesar Badam Pista Milk)

I remember having this masala milk for the very first time at hot chips. Masala milk or otherwise known as kesar badam pista milk will be served super hot at this restaurant.Here is a rich beverage that can be served as a dessert when you call someone for dinner.This can be served either hot or cold.This is very good for cough and cold when served hot.

serves: 2 big glasses

Ingredients

1. Milk- 1 litre
2. Sugar- 5 tbsp
3. Saffron-4-5 strands
4. Nutmeg powder-a pinch
5. Green Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp
6. Almonds-10-15 (Blanched and Coarsely ground)
7. Pistachios- 10-15 (Blanched and Coarsely ground)

Method

1. Heat the milk in a thick bottomed pan. Once it comes to boil, reduce the flame to low.

2. Stir the milk constantly in low flame till the milk thickens and volume reduces.

3. Add Sugar and stir continuously till the sugar dissolves.

4. Add the cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and saffron and mix well on low flame for 2-3 mins.

5. Add the ground almond and pistachio paste to the milk and mix well.

6. Serve the milk either hot or cold seasoned with few crushed almond and pistachio pieces.

Notes,Tips & Add-On's

You can add a tsp of turmeric while serving hot.This is very good for cold,cough and phlegm.Also,it gives nice yellow color to the drink.

Bovonto with Ice Cream

How about combining your favorite aerated drink topped with a scoop of Ice Cream?? Indeed Interesting na?? I once saw this in the menu card of a restaurant called PEACHES at Velachery. Found it really intresting. Wanted to try this immediately. This is something definitely worth trying and sipping. 

serves: 2 Glasses

Ingredients

1. Bovonto-500 ml
2. Vanilla Ice Cream-1/4 Cup
3. Vanilla Extract-1 tsp
4. Ice Cream-1 scoop (Any flavor,preferably grape or vanilla)

Method

1. In a mixer,blend the Bovonto,Vanilla Ice cream and Vanilla Extract.

2. Top it with a scoop of ice cream and serve chilled.

Notes,Tips & Add-On's

1. Since Bovonto contains soda,the moment you add ice cream it may rise.Hence,fill half glass of bovonto and top it with an ice cream scoop.
2. You can add Ice cream topping just before serving.

Cucumber Mint Cooler

You might have realised by now that how crazy mint fan I am:p. Not just a mint fan but also a crazy lover of yogurt.Well,cucumber mint cooler is a perfect beverage for a scorching summer. I had tasted this for the very first time in a hotel at kochi.They served this for breakfast.I was completely in awe with the taste.There can't be any other cooler that can taste as better as this one.The goodness of yogurt,cucumber and mint combined in one single drink.What more could you ask for this summer...Try out this recipe for this summer and cool your senses.

serves:2-3 glasses

Ingredients:

1. Fresh Pudina/Mint Leaves-1/2 cup
2. Cucumber-1 (sliced)
3. Yoghurt/Fresh Curd-3/4 Cup
4. Green chilli – 1
5. Salt to taste

Method:

1. Take fresh pudina leaves,cucumber,yoghurt and green chillies and grind it in a mixer along with the salt to taste at a high speed.

2. Serve the above combo chilled :)

Notes,Tips & Add On(s):

You can also squeeze lemon to the above beverage to bring a much more tangy taste. :)