Summer Siesta!

I love summers …I hate summers.. Don’t really know which is true. I hate it because everything is so hot and humid. It really kills me. 😰😰 But I have more and better reasons to love the summers! 

The drinks…the ice-creams…sorbets..popsicles! The “not so traditional” twist on the desi favourites!

I have done all this and more on PolkaPuffs! this summer…I like to call the Summer Siesta! 

Strawberry Panna cotta..

The name itself sounds so exotic , seductive and not to forget romantic 😍 I love the silken texture and the smoothness! And I am rather good at making them. 😉💃

Strawberry Panna cotta !

Spiced Mango Popsicle!

I have used some exciting flavours to give these popsicles a bit of warmth that will take you by surprise between icy cool licks!! ☺️

Spiced Mango Popsicles

Iced Green Tea Limeade!

This delicious twist on the popular lemonade results in a sweet, slightly tart & refreshing drink!

I’ve spiked it with a bit of fennel seeds (saunf) and the taste is amazing!

Iced Green Tea Limeade

No Churn Orange Ice Cream ! 😀

It’s summertime! It’s ice cream time! Who doesn’t crave ice creams in summers!? I know I do…
Why not start with a no – fail recipe, which requires just under 15 mins of prepping! 😋

No Churn Orange Ice Cream!

Mint & Kiwi Sorbet!

I adore Sorbets! They are so incredibly fresh and flavourful without being too loaded with calories! For those who haven’t yet tried it so far or heard much about it, Sorbet is a frozen dessert made with mildly sweet water flavoured with puréed fruits or liqueurs…whatever one prefers.. 😊 And it’s really a boon to know that it’s super easy to make these…🍧

Mint & Kiwi Sorbet!

Tropical Iced Tea!

Summers for me, call for a cooling and refreshing drink! Something healthy and easy to do !
Today I bring to you another of my homemade, easy and delicious drink that will leave you feeling refreshed! It’s my Tropical Iced Tea!

As the name suggests, it obviously has a strong flavour of tea…but what brings a twist to these beauties are the sunny tropical notes it’s sweet and tangy! Chilled and loaded with ice cubes! What more could one ask for on a hot summer day?!

Tropical Iced Tea

Thandaai Mousse!

My twisted take on everyone’s favourite! ☺️

Thandaai Mousse!

Dahi Wadas on a Skewer!

I gave our good, old Dahi Wadas a bit of swagger! 😉😉 check these babies out..!

Dahi Wadas on a Skewer!

Minty Pomegranate Mock Mojitos! 

So…it’s getting hotter here in Mumbai for the last couple of days..and my lemony, minty, zingy pomegranate mock Mojitos are perfect to beat the heat! They are super easy to make and total party pleasers!!

https://polkapuffs.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/minty-pomegranate-mock-mojitos-%f0%9f%8d-%b9%f0%9f%8d/?preview_id=102

I hope you guys will enjoy each of these soon… These are too good to let go!

Love,

Shreya ❤️

Mint & Kiwi Sorbet!

Summers are going to be relentless… And they are just beginning! I need to have something very cool and light…something other than ice creams!  Although, I enjoyed my No Churn Orange Ice Cream to no end, I wanted something lighter and more refreshing this time around.

Something which I hadn’t tried making at home yet but absolutely loved! 👌 😊 Sorbets! 💞

I adore Sorbets! They are so incredibly fresh and flavourful without being too loaded with calories😛

For those who haven’t yet tried it so far or heard much about it, Sorbet is a frozen dessert made with mildly sweet water flavoured with puréed fruits or liqueurs…whatever one prefers😬

Its different from an ice cream where air is whipped into the cream base and then frozen, Sorbet is frozen to become ice-like but has a very smooth, pulpy texture.

I had first tasted a Sorbet ages ago at a Gelato outlet here in Mumbai and fell in love with the texture and the fruity flavours! It was Kiwi & Melons 🍉🍉So tropical, right?! Perfect for a hot, sunny day 🍧 🍧☀️..neither icy nor juicy..somewhere in between…a delight for a ice lolly lover like myself 😋😋

And it’s really a boon to know that it’s super easy to make these…so here comes the recipe.

Yield: 2-3 servings

Equipment: a medium sized stainless steel /aluminium bowl, a bender, a saucepan, a spatula, fruit knife, a fork.

Ingredients:

4 nos. green kiwis peeled and chopped

5 tbsp sugar (add more or less as per personal preference)

1/2 cup water

14-15 nos. mint leaves washed and roughly chopped

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

Place the stainless steel or aluminium bowl in d freezer to cool at least 1 hr before you begin prepping. After an hr, proceed with making the sugar syrup by heating the water and sugar in the saucepan over low heat while stirring it constantly. Once the sugar has melted and dissolved completely, turn off the stove. The sugar syrup is a basic syrup with no-thread consistency. Put the syrup in the refrigerator to cool for 10-15 mins.

In the meanwhile, blend the chopped kiwis, mint leaves & lemon juice until smooth without any bits of fruit in it. Add the sugar syrup to the blender and blend once more. Now transfer this mixture into the cold stainless steel /aluminium bowl and freeze it for 2 hrs. Now, remove the bowl and using a fork, mix the mixture once. You will notice that there will be ice crystal formation which is normal, it should be that way. Repeat this step again after 2 hrs. And freeze again for another hour or so. Even overnight freezing is perfectly fine.

Now the Sorbet is ready. To serve, place the bowl containing the ready Sorbet at room temperature for 15 mins, it will loosen slightly and become pulpy, using spoon or a ice cream scoop, fill the serving bowls / glasses and garnish with mint leaves! Tada!! 😊 there you have a very fancy, shmancy dessert ready! With minimal efforts!😜

Until we meet the next time….

Love,

Shreya ❤️