Rose Milk Popsicle

Popsicle is made by freezing any flavored liquid around a stick. With summer around the corner, this aromatic and exotic rose flavored popsicle will be perfect to cool you down. Rose milk is one of my childhood favorite and i can't have enough of it. You can find rose milk in a few Indian restaurants menu here in the US. Freezing the rose milk in the molds is a fun way to eat with your family. Hope you will have fun making'em and slurping'em. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

2 cups 2% Milk 

4 tbsp Rose syrup

1 tsp Rose water

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder

2 tbsp Sugar or to taste

How to:

• Heat the milk and let it boil for 3-5 mins. Keep stirring to avoid the skin formation.

• Switch off and immediately add the cardamom powder, sugar syrup and sugar to taste. 

•  Add the rose water and let it come to room temperature.

• Now pour the rose milk into Popsicle molds and freeze them for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

• To loosen and remove the popsicle out, slowly run warm water on the outside of the mold.

• Serve and enjoy it on a hot day.

Tips:

• If you like milky popsicle, boil the milk for few more mins until it thickens up before adding the syrup.
• You can also add finely chopped nuts or cooked vermicelli for more texture.

Falooda Drink

Falooda is a dessert drink infused with rose flavor that is refreshing with sweet surprises in every sip. The drink is prepared by layering and it looks like a floating ice-cream sundae. I have used vanilla ice-cream here, alternatively you can use kulfi or kesar ice-cream for a richer tasting falooda. You can find all the ingredients at the Indian store.

When you crave something icy-cold to beat the heat, this is the drink for you. This summer perfect rose scented drink is hard to resist, so go ahead make yourself one and stay cool. And here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

2 cups Milk

5 tbsp Rose Syrup

2-4 tsp Sugar (to taste)

1/2 tsp Basil seeds (Takmaria)

1 pinch Cardamom powder

1/2 cup Vanilla Ice cream

2 cups Water

1 handful Falooda sev

For garnish:

2 tsp chopped Pistachios

2 scoops Vanilla Ice cream (divided)

How to:

• Soak the basil seeds in water for a minimum of 1 hr. (I soaked for 6 hrs)

• Heat the water in a sauce pan and let it boil. 

• Cook the falooda sev for 3-5 mins and strain the liquid.

• Boil the 2 cups of milk at medium heat. 

• Switch off and add cardamom powder, sugar and rose syrup.

• Now add the strained falooda sev to the milk and refrigerate the milk mixture for 3 hrs.

• Add the soaked basil seeds to the chilled milk mixture along with 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream and mix well.

 

To serve:

• In a tall glass, place 1 scoop vanilla ice cream and pour the chilled milk mixture.

• Garnish with the chopped pistachios and serve.

Badam Kulfi (Almond Ice cream)

Kulfi is a frozen dessert which is not whipped like the regular ice cream. It is more richer, more denser and hence it takes more time to melt. I found this recipe at Manjula's Kitchen and was very excited to try it. Thanks Manjula for this scrumptious dessert. 

A cold treat to end the summer! This lusciously smooth kulfi takes you to your dreamier world. It is infused with cardamom and added almonds for a nice crunch. The kulfi dissolves in your mouth and you just can't keep your spoon down. Do enjoy this Indian ice cream at your home. And here goes the recipe,
Ingredients:

4 cups Whole Milk
1/4 cup Sugar
1 White Bread Slice
1tsp Cornstarch
1/2tsp Cardamom (Coarsely ground)
10 Almonds (chopped)
 
How to:

• Remove the crust off of the bread and slice'em into squares. 

• Blend together 1/2 cup milk, bread pieces and cornstarch to a smooth paste.

• In a wide pan, boil the remaining milk at medium-high heat by stirring the pan continuously.

• Once it comes to boil, let the milk cook for another 12 mins until it is reduced. 
• Now reduce the heat to medium and pour the bread-cornstarch mixture and cook for 4 mins, until it thickens.

• Then add the sugar and chopped almonds, mix well and cook for another couple of mins.

• Finally switch off and add the cardamom powder.

• Let it cool completely and pour the mixture in to a bowl. Wrap the bowl with a plastic wrap, making sure it touches the top of the milk mixture.

• Freeze it overnight and serve cold garnished with more almonds.