Cheers with Beer on Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest, the 16 days beer fest is celebrated in Germany annually, for the honor of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage. The vibrant fest stretches from September 19 to October 4, 2015. Let’s revive some facts and yummz.

• It must not be surprising if I say around 2 million beer gallons is consumed by 6 million people at the fest.
• Different tents offer different kind of beer.
• Capacity a tent can accommodate is 10,000 people.
• The traditional stein costs around $13 (33 Ounces).
• People with hangover can rest on the beds arranged by the Red Cross society.
• Best recipes offered on the fest includes:-

1. Brezn (pretzel)
2. Wurstl (sausages)
3. Haxn (pork knuckle)
4. Hendl (roasted chicken)
5. Weisswurst (white sausage)
6. Kaasspotzn (cheese noodles)
7. Schweinsbraten (roasted pork)
8. Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes)
9. Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on stick)
10. Knodeln (potato/bread dumplings)
11. Obatzda (spicy cheese-butter concoction)
12. Sauerkraut or Rotkraut (pickled red cabbage)

Do try my Fried Chicken recipe with Beer Dip. It would pair very well with following Cocktails.

The Eclipse 

Ingredients:-

Ginger beer,

6 Blueberries,

3 Mint leaves,

4 Strawberries,

1½ oz. Sour Mix,

1½ oz. Tequila.

Preparation Method:-

1. Muddle raspberries, blueberries, and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add tequila and sour mix. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with beer. Enjoy!

El Ayudacal

Ingredients:-

1 Lime zest,

1 bottle Beer,

1½ oz. Lime Juice,

½ oz. Agave Nectar,

Lime wheel for Garnishing.

Preparation Method:-

1. Combine lime juice, agave nectar, and lime zest in a glass.
2. Add beer and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy!

Dance with Beer!

Dance with the Traditional Drink on Holi

Winter in India is a big deal in the Northern part. Winter comes to an end in the month of March which marks the arrival of spring, a season of colors. Years ago, Indians came up with a festival “Holi”. Also known as festival of love, victory of good over evil (unlike Diwali, which is quite sober as compared to Holi) and for some, this is an excuse to meet old friends and family. Well, everybody has their own excuse to celebrate and color anybody they come across. This is the beauty of Holi. Celebrations are day long and in some parts of India it goes on for 2 weeks.

People move out of their houses and go to each others house, throw colors. You can see them everywhere, dancing, laughing, dragging each other to throw colors. In Mathura (around 100 miles from New Delhi) women playfully beat their husbands. Where do you think this energy comes from, as food is cooked from oil which eventually slows people down? May be this Thandai is where all the happiness comes from. Thandai, the traditional Holi drink, is the perfect source of energy and unlimited source of ecstasy which has been a part of the Indian culture from ancient times. Hope you've enjoyed my last blog, Red Meat Recipe. This time let’s dance to the beat of drums and celebrate Holi with vibrant powdered and wet colors and of course the Thandai.

Thandai Recipe

Ingredients:-

1 1/2 litre milk,

Few ice cubes,

6 peppercorns,

6 teaspoons sugar,

10 peeled almonds,

2 teaspoons fennel seeds,

1 teaspoon  poppy seeds essence,

250 grams sweetened condensed milk,

1/2 teaspoon pinch powdered cardamom.

Preparation Method:-

1. Grind well the peeled almonds, cardamom and fennel seeds to a fine paste and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Strain the mixture well.

2. Take crushed ice cubes in a glass till half and fill the rest with the above mixture.

3. Serve garnished with rose petals. This makes for 12 glasses.

Wish you a colorful Holi!

Bullfight Celebration with Special Spanish Omelette and Drinks

Bullfight is AKA tauromachia or tauromachy. This tradition is observed in Spain, Portugal, Philippines, France and few American countries. This year the bullfight is taking place from July 5 to July 13, 2014 in Pamplona, Spain. Though the critics call this the blood sport, the supporters say that it is culturally most important tradition. It is a developed form of art that is equivalent to dancing, learning music and painting. It is very enjoyable and lively occasion. And as I always say that any occasion or fest is incomplete without food, let’s throw light on what Spanish people love to eat and drink. 

Spain is one of the largest producers of good quality of wine and hence it is an important part of dining. Traditional drinks include:-

• Sangria(mixture of wine, brandy, juice and fruits)
• tinto de verano (mixture of red wine with lemonade)
• Rioja wine (typical red wine)
• Cava wine (sparkling wine)
• Licor 43 or Cuarenta Y(wine made up of 43 ingredients) 
  
   

Traditional Spanish Omelette is AKA tortilla española or tortilla de patatas. It is very different from French omelette. Basic Spanish omelette is made up of eggs and potatoes only. The recipes has number of variations and I am gonna present a variant recipe to you. This dish is paired with bread. It is accompanied by fried pimientos de padron. Padron peppers are small, bright green peppers. These peppers are fried and sprinkled with sea salt. In some places, it is also served with bocadillo or bocata. Bocadillo is a popular Spanish sandwich.

Ingredients:-

6 Eggs,

1/3 Cup milk,

4 Rashers bacon,

1 sliced Red onion,

1 sliced Green onion,

1 tablespoon Olive oil,

2 crushed Garlic cloves,

1 teaspoon Sweet paprika,

2 medium sliced Sebago potatoes,

1 medium chopped Red capsicum,

1/4 Cup finely grated parmesan cheese,

2 tablespoons chopped Flat-leaf parsley leaves.

Preparation Method:-

1. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and bacon. Cook for 6 minutes. Add potato, capsicum, parsley and paprika. Stir occasionally, for 4 minutes or until potatoes are soft.

2. Preheat grill on medium. Whisk eggs, milk and parmesan together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Now pour egg mixture evenly over potato mixture. Tilt the pan to distribute egg mixture evenly. Set on low heat. Cook for 8 minutes.

3. Now place it under grill. Cook for 5 minutes. Set aside for 2 minutes. Use a spatula and turn onto a plate. Cut into wedges. Serve with bread. 

 

Enjoy the treat!

Celebrate the World Milk Day (June 1) with Unique Milkshakes

It is often said, “Milk is a complete food”. Milk contains calcium that promotes healthy bones and teeth. It is a great agent for skin rejuvenation. It protects us against heart attack. It helps in hydration. It also acts as resistant to fight against the deadly diseases such as cancer. It also prevents us from osteoporosis. This is a disease of bones that make our bones weak and fragile.

A baby lives entirely on mother’s milk. Just see how pure and rich this milk is! I love milk products such as cheese, butter, buttermilk, curd, yogurt and you know what milk recipes are my all time favorite. Hope you enjoyed rabri, the Indian recipe. So I thought of adding unique milk shakes to your life to celebrate the World Milk Day to the fullest.

• Lemon Meringue
  
   
  In a blender, mix 1 cup of each lemon sorbet and vanilla frozen yogurt with 1/4 cup milk along with 2 tablespoons of lemon curd. Pour the mixture into the glass. Beat 2 egg whites and 2 tablespoons of sugar until stiff and soft peaks is obtained. Spoon onto the shake. Celebrated world milk day with this heavenly treat!!

• Corn Cereal Milkshake
  
  
  
  
  
  Add 1 1/2 cups sweetened corn cereal to 1 1/2 cups of hot milk. Keep stirring for 30 minutes. Strain it and freeze in an ice cube tray. Blend the frozen milk cubes, in a blender along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and 1 cup of cereal. Add more cereals on the top. Serve the chilled treat!!

• Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake
  
  
  
  Broil 8 marshmallows in foil, turning them from time to time, until brown. Blend milk, adding 5 of the toasted marshmallows. Top with the remaining marshmallows. Serve chilled or warm, the choice is yours.

• Acai Milkshake
  
  In a blender, add 1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt, 1/2 banana, 1/4 cup acai juice, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries along with 2 tablespoons of protein powder. Blend well. Top with ice if desired. Enjoy the delightful treat!!

• Fig and Port Milkshake
  

Simmer 1 cup of port. To it add 1/3 cup of chopped dried figs. Keep stirring until the liquid is reduced by half. Now cool it. Then blend with 1 tablespoon port again. Mix milk and sugar, layer in glasses with the port mixture. Beat the scorching summer with cool milkshake.

St. Patrick’s Day Drinks

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, across the world especially in Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and Montserrat. It is marked as public holiday around the world especially in Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. It is a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland. The international festival is accompanied by parades, singing and dance performance, special food for the feast, green color drinks and a whole lot of green. It is believed that Saint Patrick had a shamrock, a three-leaved plant that symbolizes Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. Wearing shamrock-inspired designed cloths has become the prime feature of the day.

Most popular of all the St. Patrick’s Day Drinks are:-

• St. Patrick’s Day Punch
• Shamrock Shake
• Irish Car Bomb
• Irish Cream Pie Shake

Dizzy Vodka Punch

The taste of Dizzy Vodka Punch is doubled by refreshing Green Apple Pucker, which is a type of schnapps for alcoholic drink. Its green color matches up with Day of St. Patrick’s theme. Lime and orange wedges keep up the citrus factor.

Shamrock Shake

Welcome St. Patrick’s Day with the kids favorite vanilla ice cream along with goodness of milk, mint extract plus green food coloring to keep up the spirit of the big day. Good news!! McDonald's is back with the elusive Shamrock Shake.

Irish Car Bomb Cocktail

This tastes like chocolate milkshake and is great beverage for St. Patrick's Day parties. With the perfect blend of Irish whiskey, stout beer and rich Irish cream, this heavenly cocktail is a must for all cocktail lovers.

Irish Cream Pie Shake

Irish Cream Pie Shake is inspired by Irish cream pie cupcakes. With the desirable brand of Irish coffee creamer, chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream blend, this shake will certainly give an electrifying effect on St. Patrick's Day.

Enjoy St. Patrick's Day!!!