Blackberry Ice Cream

With so many flavors of ice cream available in the market, one may wonder why make it yourself. Well, there is something so special about homemade ice cream…you can customize the flavor with your favorite ingredients like fruits, chocolate, chips, nuts and control the consistency to make it either super-rich, or low-fat depending on dietary needs. And it is such a fun activity for the kids! They can decide what they want to mix in it and are very excited to try the outcome.

With blackberries at their season's peak, its the perfect time to indulge in blackberry desserts. In the Northwest, blackberry season spans the end of summer and the beginning of fall. We have big beautiful blackberries all around the neighborhood. It was fun picking the juiciest ripest blackberries.

The beautiful purple color the berries left on my hand already set my mind imagining the rich purple color the ice cream would be. And after an hour there it was, right in front of my eyes, exactly the way I imagined!

Luscious purple colored ice cream is such a visual treat! And the rich creamy taste of the ice cream infused with the sweet tartness of the berries is just divine!

I made this ice cream in an ice cream maker but it can be also made if you do not have one.

Recipe

Ingredients (around 6 scoops)

• 1 cup whole milk
• 2/3 cup half and half
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups blackberries

Method

• Process blackberries in a mixer till pureed
• Strain the puree through a fine sieve, and discard seeds
• Combine milk and sugar. Mix till the sugar is completely dissolved
• Mix it with half and half, whipping cream and strained blackberry puree
• Process the mixture in ice cream machine.

If you don’t have an Ice Cream Maker …

• Chill the mixture in refrigerator for 3-4 hours
• Pour the mixture in a freezer safe container, cover and freeze for an hour
• Remove from the freezer, and stir to break up the ice crystals that may have formed
• Repeat the process every hour for 3-4 hours, or until the ice cream is firm

Scoop your ice cream into bowls or cones and enjoy!

Sending this to Sanghi’s FIL event.

Awards and Tag

I have been showered with awards from my dear fellow blogger friends! I am very honored to accept these wonderful awards. Thanks so much!

1) Shubha of Munchcrunchandsuch, Subhie of Subhie's Kitchen, and Preethi of Authentic Food treasures have given me the “Kreativ Blogger award”. Thank you so much Shubha , Subhie and Preethi.  It means so much to me!

 

The Kreativ Blogger award comes with some rules:-
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated

Here are 7 things about me…

• I love dark chocolates
• Flowers always cheer me up
• For me a beautiful person is a one who is loving, giving and caring... and shows compassion towards others
• I like to do anything that involves creativity. I love to try out new things- especially things I have never done before
• I like making new friends and socializing with people
• I like getting surprises and am also good at giving surprises
• I love to travel and learn about different cultures.

2) Sangi from Simply delicious and Lata from Flavors and Tastes have given me another award. What an honor! Thanks Sangi and Lata.

3) Another award given by Lata from Flavors and Tastes . You are so sweet to think about me!

4)Preethi of Authentic Food treasures, Sangi from "Simply Delicious" and Lata from Flavors and Tastes  have showered me with more awards and a Tag. Thanks Preethi, Sangi and Lata. This is very encouraging!

 

 

Here are the answers to the Tag

TAG:

1. What is your current obsession
Flower arranging, gardening

2. What are you wearing today?
Capri and T-shirt

3. What’s for dinner?
Wheat spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, tofu asparagus stir fry

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Back to School supplies for kids

5. What are you listening to right now?
My little daughter talking non-stop!

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?                                                Preethi, Lata and Sangi are amazingly talented and enthusiastic bloggers. I am always inspired by their posts. They are always there to encourage me with their lovely comments.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Paris 

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Cotton clothes, Sunglasses and a broad rimmed hat

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Swiss Alps

10. Which language do you want to learn?
French

11. What’s your favorite quote? 
Do good feel good

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
My husband - he is travelling

13. What is your favorite color?
Blue

14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Black turtleneck top accented with coordinating scarves, and skirts

15. What is your dream job?
Interior decor consultant

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
Changes from time to time - currently it is Metropolitan Home

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Buy something for my kids

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Wearing clothes that don’t suit you.

19. Who are your style icons?
no one in particular

20. Describe your personal style.
Simple and comfortable in normal life. For occasions, dress up accordingly.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Eat dinner

22. What are your favorite movies?                                                                                Too many to list

24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
I do not use much makeup, so just a lip gloss and a nice perfume

23. What inspires you?
People who do selfless work to help others.

24. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
Be simple, be comfortable and just be yourself

25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
I ask my husband to pick a dress for me!

26. Coffee or tea?
Coffee (Double shot Cappuccino)

27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Listen to music, talk to someone, think about positive things in my life, and immerse myself in doing something new and creative

28. What is the meaning of your name?
Jyoti means light

29. Which other blogs you love visiting?
Every blog that I have been visiting. Each one has a unique style and lot of talent.

30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Dark chocolate ice cream/gelato

31. Favorite Season ?
Spring

32) If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
Tom Yum Soup, Panang curry with Steamed rice , Pad Thai, Tapioca Pudding

I have added this question…
33) What is your fondest childhood memory?

The rules are:
Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other new set of people.

I want to take this opportunity to THANK readers and all fellow bloggers who drop me encouraging words. I love being a part of this blog community and the new friends I've met. Would like to pass these awards and tag to
Vidya, Avisha, Dolon, Jayashri, Rajitha, Jaya, Vijitha, Vidya Venky, Sanghi

Beetroot Patties with Soya filling

Its so good to be back after a long summer break… Seattle and vicinity is so gorgeous at this time of year that one can’t resist staying outdoors and enjoying the natural beauty around here.

After all the junk food we ate while traveling, I was strongly motivated to make something healthy so we could get back to our normal diet. Here is one of the recent recipes I have made which is not only delicious (or so my hubby and kids tell me!) but also has significant  nutritious value.

Nice crispy patties (tikkis) are one of the most popular snack dishes in India. And whats even better is that these patties are stuffed with Nutrela High Protein Soya Granules. The addition of beet to the potatoes not only adds color, but iron-rich nutrition too.

Ingredients

For the Outer covering

• 4 medium sized potatoes
• 1 medium beet
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (grind 2 slices of bread in a food processor)
• 1/4 cup rava (semolina)
• Coriander leaves
• Salt (to taste)
• 2-3 Green chilies
• Oil (to shallow fry patties)

For the filling

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 2 tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp red chili powder (or to taste)
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• soya granules - 1/2 cup
• Water - 2 cups
• Salt (to taste)

Method

For the filling

• Boil the soy granules in slightly salted hot water for about 5-7 minutes
• Let it rest for 10 min. Drain and squeeze the excess water by pressing the granules firmly with hands. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan
• Sauté the onions on a low flame till golden brown
• Add the cumin and coriander powder, garam masala, chili powder, ginger garlic paste, and chopped tomatoes
• Cook till tomatoes are soft
• Add soya granules, water and salt
• Cover and let in simmer on low heat for 5-10 min. The soya granules by itself have a bland taste. This step of simmering lets the granules absorb all the flavors.
• Increase the flame to high, and stir continuously till the water is completely evaporated

For the Outer covering

• Boil the potatoes and beet. Peel them
• Combine mashed potatoes, grated beet, salt, bread crumbs, chopped coriander leaves and green chilies

Assembling the patties

• Take a portion of potato-beet mixture, flatten it, and fill it with soya filling in the center. Fold up the edges to completely cover the mixture, and shape it into round patties
• Spread rava(semolina) on a plate. Place the assembled patties to coat with rava on all sides

Shallow fry on a nonstick pan until golden brown on both sides

Enjoy while still hot and crisp!

Blueberry and Strawberry Milkshakes

My son woke up one day and said "Can you make Blue Milk for me today?”. Promptly my little daughter goes … and I want Pink Princess Milk”! Here the culture associates dressing baby boys in blue and baby girls in pink. So they have grown up with associating blue with boys and pink with girls. Kids get so influenced by color and shapes in their food. Sometimes I feel that they taste food by looking at them, not by tasting them!

Anyway, so I was wondering how to satisfy the kids demand while making it a healthy alternative at the same time. Luckily I had blueberries and strawberries and used those to make the blue and pink milkshakes.

Blueberries and strawberries are a natural and rich source of antioxidants, and other vitamins. Click here for a custom nutrition label  for this healthy milkshake.

Both of them loved their respective boy-girl milkshakes and were happy...and I was the happiest of course, because they got their fruit and milk serving in one go!

Blueberry Banana Milkshake

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 medium size banana

Strawberry Banana Milkshake

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup strawberries
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 medium size banana

Mix the berries and banana in a blender till no chunks remain. Add milk, sugar and blend again. Enjoy these healthy and refreshing milkshakes!

Its summertime, and I am going for a week vacation again, this time to Yellowstone NP. Will be back to catch up soon!

Edamame and Cabbage Pulao

What do you do after a party where there is leftover rice? Our leftover rice usually gets converted into different variations of Pulao (Fried Rice). Even when you are in a hurry some spices and veggies can transform plain white rice into an exciting dish. This time my rice makeover was a Pulao with Edamame and cabbage.

Edamame is basically fresh soybeans that has been harvested at the peak of ripening right before the seed has hardened. Anyone who's eaten in a sushi restaurant may have eaten this delicious bean. Edamame may be an acquired taste, but luckily my kids have been happily snacking on these green beans since I first introduced it to them. So I have a pack of Edamame in my refrigerator these days.

I buy it from the local Trader Joe's (look for Shelled Soybeans Edamame- ready-to-eat) available in their refrigerator section. Edamame is the only vegetable that offers a value of protein equal to that of meat and eggs, and is rich in calcium, iron, zinc, fiber, and many of the B vitamins. Click here for a nutrition label.

Edamame adds an extra flair to this Pulao, with its beautiful, bright green color. Makes it more fun for kids to eat and I just love it when my kids say ..."Mommy Mommy ..more Edamame !" Yes, they did come up with this cute rhyme.

Ingredients (serves 3-4)

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup chopped cabbage
• 1/2 cup edamame
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• an inch of cinnamon stick
• 2-3  Bay leaves
• a pinch of turmeric (haldi)
• Red Chilli (to taste)
• Salt (to taste)
• 1 green chilli (optional )
• 1/2 tsp Pulao masala

METHOD

• Heat oil in a frying pan
• When hot, add cumin seeds and let it crackle
• Add cinnamon and bay leaves
• Lower the flame and then add turmeric, red chilli powder and pulao masala
• Add chopped cabbage, edamame, and salt. Cook on high heat for a couple of minutes, then cover and cook on low until done(5-7 min).
• Add the cooked rice and mix it well
• Cook the Pulao for another 3-4 min  with constant stirring over medium heat until all the flavors are well incorporated

Enjoy this protein rich Pulao served hot with a simple cooling cucumber Raita (Yoghurt Dip)!