Mango milk shake - a simple summer cooler

It is that time of the year again. Holidays!!! The kid is at home, feeling hungry at all hours. Not only does she feel hungry and thirsty for 'specific' things - as in, I am thirsty for Coke, I am hungry for noodles........but she also wants variety in her food. Gone are the days when I could mash up pretty much any combination of edible stuff and coax her into eating it.
This mango milk shake with splashes of colour from mango and tutti fruity is visually appealing, not to mention easy to make.

What you need:
Mango - 1, peeled, and chopped (Finely chop and set aside about 4-5 tbsp of mango)
Millk - 2 cups, chilled
Sugar - 2 tsp (adjust depending on sweetness of mango)
Tutti fruity - a few spoonfuls

Puree the mango and sugar in a blender. Add the chilled milk and blend again until frothy. Pour into a glass. Top with some chopped mango and tutti fruity. Serve chilled.

Panakam - a traditional summer cooler

The older generations truly are wise.....they have come up with recipes that use locally and seasonally available ingredients that have a host of health benefits. Panakam is one such drink that is cools the body while at the same time providing us with much needed energy and minerals (mainly iron).
I associate this drink with Sri Rama Navami - the birthday of Sri Rama, believed by Hindus to be the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. On the nine days preceding and culminating in Sri Rama Navami, the Rama temple in our town would be at its festive best. A temple chariot would be taken out every day and pulled by devotees around the town, with regular stops made at all the homes on the way. Each home would make offerings to the God. Panagam is one of the offerings that is popularly made. Not only is it supposed to be a favourite with the God, it also works as a great thirst quencher for all the people who pull the chariot and for the devotees who have traveled long distances to see the festivities. It is usually made in huge steel vessels and served to all passersby after being offered to the Lord.

What you need:
Jaggery - powdered/grated - 1 cup
Water - 6 cups (adjust depending on how sweet you want the drink to be)
Dry ginger powder/chukku podi - 1 tsp

Making this drink is a breeze. All that you have to do is mix all the ingredients well and then chill for a few hours. That's it - a healthy, nourishing and all natural thirst quencher and summer cooler is ready.

This is my first post for Blogging Marathon #16, themed on Kids' Delight - What kids love for summer. It goes to Smitha who is hosting Kids' Delight this month. This also goes to Sangee's Show me your HITS-Iron rich foods, being hosted this month at Erivum Puliyum.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other marathoners doing BM#16.

Watermelon shake

This is a very, very easy to make dessert/snack. Kids are sure to love this....and so will the kid in you.
There's no real recipe as such....but I just thought I'd post this here because every time I have made this, the little girl has finished it off without me having to ask her to a zillion times in an increasingly louder and frustrated voice. Her friends too love this and usually ask for second helpings.
Without further ado, here's how you make it.

Grate watermelon....remove the seeds. Chill this until it is almost frozen, but not yet solid. Add Milkmaid (or any brand of sweetened condensed milk). If you have a shaker, transfer this to the shaker and shake well until mixed. If not, just stir it really well with a spoon and serve topped with some watermelon slices and a dollop of condensed milk.

Despite having made this several times, I haven't managed to click a pic of this, as it disappears almost as soon as it is ready. Next time, maybe I'll make it when she's at school and then update this post with a pic.

I am sending this to Valli who is hosting Colouring your kids' delight.