Tea Time

This is my second post on Green tea. The first one was Stabucks’s Green Tea Frappuchino, very satisfying but laden with calories! This post is on Green Tea in its truest form. I’ve always know that this ancient Chinese drink is high in anti-oxidants and is therefore good for your skin and complexion. That's all I needed to know. Apart from occasionally ordering green tea at a Chinese restaurant, I’ve tried a couple of retail brands as well. The best by far has been the one home-brewed by Trader Joes. It’s pretty expensive though, viz a viz the Arizona Green Tea that sells at the same price for a gallon! ‘POM’ is another brand; they bottle Green and White Tea in different flavors, very natural but again, pretty pricey!

Today I decided to read up a little more on the much hyped Green Tea and realized that there are a whole lot of other health benefits associated with its consumption as well. In an article titled “The Miracle of Green Tea”, the author has listed a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful.

* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function

There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that says "Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one."

If it’s going to make my skin glow, SURE.!

Jell-O Shots

Yesterday, after the longest time, we had a 'Girls Night In'. My contribution was Jello-Shots. I think I had as much fun making them as we had eating 'em!

Ingredients:
2 cups boiling water
1 6 oz. package of gelatin
6 ounces cold water
10 ounces Vodka

Method:

Bring water to a boil, then remove from heat.
Stir together boiling water and powdered gelatin in a medium mixing bowl. Stir constantly until gelatin is completely dissolved.
Stir in water and Vodka.

I did this three times with different colored gelatin. Pour mixture into shot glasses or an ice-cube tray.

TIP: Make sure the vodka is really chilled before adding it to the gelatin.

We had an amazing time. Chit-chat, Chinese food, chick-flicks; the makings of a perfect night-in.

Falooda

Falooda is a true Bombay specialty. In our home, Falooda is G junior’s territory. The recipe maybe simple but the process of soaking the onion seeds, making the jelly, etc is rather time-consuming. All the more reason why I appreciate and enjoy her falooda so much. It can definitely give Badshah’s at Crawford Market a run for their money!

Royal Falooda
(serving 4)

Ingredients:
Pre-soaked Sabza ( ½ cup)
Vermicelli ( ½ cup)
Rose syrup (Rooafzah)
Rose milk (I glass)
Jelly (1 cup)
Vanilla or strawberry ice-cream.

Method:
- Cook vermicelli in boiling water for 10 mins. Drain water, mix with 1 tbs rose syrup and keep in fridge.
- Soak Sabza for an hour in water, strain and keep aside.
- In a glass first add 2tbs sabza, then 2tbs vermicelli, then 4 tbs jelly, pour over it the rose milk and finally top it with a scoop of ice cream
- Decorate it with a piece of chocolate or roasted almonds.
- Serve in a tall glass with a straw and a long spoon.

Green Tea

I discovered the Green Tea Frappuccino a few months ago at Starbucks. Anyone who knows me well enough, knows that I always make a quick dive for the low fat bottled frappuccino; come hail or snow. If I’m really feeling adventurous, I’ll have it freshly made. So for me to try their new green tea, was quite something. It was probably the Hotlanta summer that prompted me to wedge out of my comfort zone. I gave it a shot, the Green Tea, raspberry flavored frappuccino with whipped cream. (I winced but had to bid my South-Beach diet good-bye for a little bit). To my amazement, I really enjoyed it. This was several months ago.

Today was a cold, wet, foggy Monday in Atlanta and you’d think I’d want something warm. But No! I actually surprised myself when I ordered the same iced green tea. And once again, I loved it! When you have a whole week of work looming ahead of you, it’s the little things like this that can make even the dullest day in Atlanta seem bright, ah, these short-lived, guilty pleasures.