Blueberry-Mango Marble Froyo Bars

 Dipped in hues of love and trust has come the festival of Holi. Let the colors of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness with this colorful recipe..

Holi--the festival of colors, marks the beginning of spring season and is celebrated in different parts of India though the rituals and customs to celebrate this festival vary from one region to another, the spirit of festivity remains the same. Holi is one festival, where people tend to forget their grudges and misunderstandings and welcome each other in their lives with warmth and love.. 

Holi Hai.....

      My colorful recipe for this #foodiemonday #bloghop #holispecial theme.

Ingredients:
For Blueberry Froyo:
1 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup blueberries
Sugar as taste
For Mango Froyo:
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/3 cup chopped mango
Sugar as taste
Method:
For Blueberry Froyo:
* Pour all the ingredients of blueberry froyo in a blender and make smooth puree.
For Mango Froyo:
* Pour all the ingredients of mango froyo in a blender and make smooth puree.
Freezing Method:
* Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and spread blueberry smooth puree evenly inside.

* Top with 5-6 tablespoon of mango smooth puree on it.
* Use a clean bread knife to gently swirl on the puree.
* Cover with the cling film and freeze overnight or until solid.
* Cut into bars, once froyo gets solid.

* Blueberry-Mango Marble Froyo bars are ready to eat..

* Enjoy!!

Blue Hawaiian Mocktail

      Holi, the festival of colors is finally  here!! And as you know festivals go hand in hand with food and frenzy.  Tame your festival fever by cooling down with this colorful Blue Hawaiian Mocktail. Easy, simple, refreshing and of course virgin drink to quench your thirst with all the Holi hubbub!!

 Happy Holi. Play Safe...

    My contribution for today's #foodiemonday #bloghop #festivalofcolors Challenge. Have a colorful Holi to all #foodiemonday #bloghop bloggers to. Let's splash the screen with colorful recipes..

Ingredients:
8 ounces Blue fruit punch or Blue raspberry kool-aid
2 ounces Pineapple juice
1 can Sprite or 7up
Some ice cubes.

Method:
* Place the blue fruit punch or blue raspberry Kool-Aid in a jar.
* Add pineapple juice in it and mix well.
* Pour 5 ounces of blue fruit punch and pineapple juice mix in the champagne glass or any other glass.
* Then add  7up or sprite until full.
* Add some ice cubes.
* Enjoy the Blue Hawaiian Mocktail.
* Cheers.

Happy Holi..
 

Thandai Shahi-Tukda

     Sling bags filled with frisky colors, water guns loaded with mischief, vibrant spirits, old-new songs, plates piled with festive goodies and blossoming spring breeze--Ahh, I love Holi !! This is the perfect time to throw yourself to the festive zeal with playful moments and adoring meals. Talk about Holi celebrations and we can think of sweet & savory and a lot more food. Food is integral to every festival in India. Here is one more recipe for this Holi..It's all about "Thandai Shahi-Tukda"..--a recipe with simple and effortless fusion touch..

    Holi is the day to express love with colors. It is a time to show affection. Dipped in hues of love and trust has come the festival of Holi. Let the colors of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness with this colorful recipe... Happy Holi..

Ingredients:
4 pieces round shape cut bread
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
Ghee (clarified butter) for deep-frying
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
Extra sugar if needed
1 tablespoon Thandai masala/powder
some sliced almonds and pistachios for garnishing.
Method:
* Cut the bread slice into round shape with cookie cutter.

* Heat pure ghee in a pan and shallow-fry the bread pieces for about a minute or until light brown and crisp.

* Drain on absorbent paper towel.
* Heat another small pan with sugar and water.
* Boil it for about 4-5 minutes.
* Make one string Chasni(syrup)and keep it on side.

* Heat the milk in another heavy bottom pan.
* Bring milk to boil, and add sweetened condensed milk.

* Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring continuously.
* Add extra sugar if you like more sweet in taste.
* Remove from flame and chill it.
* Add Thandai masala in it and stir.
* Mix properly.

* Dip fried bread pieces in to sugar syrup(chasni) and take out immediately.

* Pour some milk Thandai on serving plate.

* Place sweet bread pieces on it.

* Pour more milk Thandai on it again.

* Garnish with some slices of almonds and pistachios.

* Serve it chilled and enjoy..

NOTES:::
* Adjust Thandai masala according to your taste.
* You can use Thandai syrup instead of Thandai masala.
* Adjust sugar in Thandai Milk according to your taste.  
-Please do check the another Holi-Special recipe on blog.. 
  -Contributing my this recipe to my fellow Blogger and a sweet lady, Sonal Gupta's Holi special Collection...Check her interesting recipes at her blog simplyvegetarian777 and feel delighted in a bulky collection of the food world..

         "Hope your life is framed with all the colors of Love & Happiness this Holi forever and always..."Happy Holi !!!

Thandai Mini Cheesecakes (No-Bake)(No-Egg)

   Holi--the festival of colors is around the corner now. It is a major festival celebrated in all parts of India with lots of enthusiasm. During Holi people play with colors and color sprinklers and is usually followed with music, dance and the most important-lavish and colorful food.. After all, the holi fun and running around is bound to make you hugry! Here is some special Holi recipe with my fusion touch for you to try, and watch as your creations disappear on Holi day!--Presenting "Thandai Mini Cheesecake"..!

     Thandai is one non-alchoholic traditional drink for this festival, which is a cold drink made of almonds, cashews, fennel seeds, dry rose petals, melon seeds, pepper, cardamom, saffron, poppy seeds, milk and sugar. Thandai can also be mixed with ghee and sugar to make a tasty halwa and into peppery, chewy little balls called golis. As is with every cusine innovations are needed to keep everyone interested. Hence I thought of this recipe, 'Thandai Mini Cheesecake'!! Infused no-bake & no-egg cheesecake! I love making no bake cheesecake with locally available ingredients. These festival provided me just the right opportunity.It also helped me discover new ways to make the flavor of Thandai more appealing!

    Our #foodiemonday #bloghop is growing so fast theses days and we are welcoming our new members from this awesome Monday. Cheers for our #fusionthandairecipes.. Don't stick with traditional Thandai this Holi, try #fusionthandairecipes this year and enjoy the Holi with family and friends..

Ingredients:
For Crust:
1 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers or any digestive cookies 
6-8 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon brown sugar or sugar
For Cheesecake filling:
8 ounce cream-cheese
3-4 tablespoon condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoon sugar(optional)
1 teaspoon rose-water
2 tablespoon Thandai masala(I use home-made)
         For home-made Thandai Masala
      *6 almonds
      *6 cashews

      *6 pistachios        

      *1 tablespoon poppy seeds/khus-khus
      *1 tablespoon fennel seeds/saunf
      *1/2 teaspoon cardamom/elaichi powder
      *1/2 teaspoon black pepper/kali mirch
      *1 tablespoon melon seeds/magaztari
     -Dry roast all these ingredients for couple of minutes.
     -Grind all these ingredients with few strands of saffron, couple of pinch of dry ginger powder and 5-6 dry edible rose petals.
Food color for garnishing.(optional)
Method:
 For Crust;
* Crush the graham crackers or any digestive cookies until very fine crumbs form. (use food-processor or crush them with a rolling pin)
* Pour crumbs into a medium bowl, stir in sugar.

* Add butter and stir until well combined.

* Press the crumb mixture into small cookie cutters, spread and press flat.
* Make all mini crust like this.

* Chill crust in freezer at least for 10 minutes.
 For Cheesecake filling;
* Using an electric whipping mixer set at medium-high speed. 
* Beat the cream-cheese in a large bowl until smooth.
* Add condensed milk, vanilla extract and rose water in it and beat again.
* Add 2tablespoons of Thandai masala and sugar and mix well.
* Pour the cream-cheese filling on crust.
* Smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
* Pour on all mini crust like this.
* Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm. (atleast for an hour)
* Sprinkle some food color drops on it for "Holi" touch.:)

     Enjoy this flavorful Thandai Mini Cheesecakes on this colorful and auspicious festival of Holi.!! I hope you will love this as much as I loved making it!! Stay tune for more Holi Special colorful recipes...
           Happy Holi !!!