Celebrating Summer With Mango Black Tea Lemonade
If you've followed me for any length of time you know, I have a pretty significant Starbucks addiction.
I constantly find myself waiting in their drive-through for a little pick me up for the day. I have three kids 6 and under, what can I say! I'm always near or past the point of exhaustion and need some help to keep up with them.The problem is that my kids are officially to the age where they beg me for little treats there. If I don't order them something, they act like their little lives are over. Don't worry I don't let them boss me around and they only get something when they have a good attitude, or I have no will-power for the day.As we're getting closer to the summer months, I know I'm going to be tempted to go every day! However, I'm going to make this summer better than any other summer we've ever had.
My motto this summer is to make it simple.
I'm over this idea that things have to be crazy to keep the kids happy. Their schedules are full all during the school year and I just want to have fun while they're home. I want to let all the stress go and make it simple!
Step number one to a simple summer, make my drinks at home! This week, I tried my hand at my very own mango black tea lemonade. To say it was a success is an understatement.It was perfect. It was summer in a glass, and I had to fight the kids to keep my glass full!Every time I turned around, they were there to steal sips and beg me for more!Then my hubby got home, and it was all over. It's a huge crowd pleaser! It was super easy to whip up, and I'm officially making it my go-to drink for parties and summer meals.
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:36]
Make your summer simple with us! Toss the hectic schedule, the crazy expectations, and relax with a big iced mango black tea lemonade!
Easter Cookie Cake Pops
As my kids get older, they're starting to expect more from the holidays. They look around to see what other families are doing and create their own little ideas.It ends up with me scouring Pinterest for ideas to keep up with them! The problem is I'm not that crazy creative Pinterest mom! I have three boys and I need simple, easy to follow instructions! If not, I end up butchering it all! At least my fails in the kitchen make hilarious memories for the boys! They love when I mess up in the kitchen!
This year I'm not taking any chances! I've enlisted all three of my little kitchen helpers so we can succeed and make some delicious treats for Easter!We decided to whip up some tasty Easter cookie cake pops! They couldn't be easier to make and they're a huge hit in our house! As soon as they're ready you better be prepared! Your little kitchen helpers turn into cake pop thieves!
These cake pops won't last long, but they're worth it! Perfect for chocolate lovers or a treat to celebrate a successful Whole 30 program!
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:34]
If you and your little helpers want to make these Easter cookie cake pops head over to your local Walmart! Pick up a bag of Nestlé® Toll House® Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers Cookie Dough! It makes this recipe incredibly easy! They do all the hard work for you!Head over here for more Spring inspired recipes!
Sweeten Up Your Summer With Mango Lemonade
Summer time in our house gets a little chaotic. I look around and my kids are always shirtless, eating popsicles, leaving popsicle wrappers on the floor and trying to have water fights.Moving to North Carolina has changed up our summer a bit. It's so stinkin' hot here so we're always looking for ways to cool off!My favorite way is to whip up a cold treat. We've been surviving on smoothies and popsicles mainly. Now that mango season has officially hit, I've been trying to think up ways to include mangos into our summer fun.
Then mango lemonade was born in our house.We all love lemonade and snack on mangos all summer long. I knew there had to be a way to have the best of both worlds in one cup.Today, the boys and I did a little experiment and it turned out to be amazing. Y'all, mango lemonade. Say it with me...Mango. Lemonade.It's what dreams are made of!We've already made up two batches today! We made one for the video in this post and then we drank it all and had to make more so daddy can try some when he gets home!Don't believe me? Make some today and let your taste buds be the judge.The best part is you can tweak it to your liking as well. You could add in a few strawberries or even some pineapple and then voila! Summer in a cup.
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:25]
Mango Lassi Chia Pudding Recipe
Food Is About More Than Just A Meal
I love seeing how many of my children's memories are associated with food. Food isn't just something to eat for them. It brings them back to the moment they first tried it, the people they were with, the feelings they had at the time, and it's all tied in to each bite.Mango Lassi is definitely one of those sweets for them. Every time we make it at home, they tell me how their Ammamma makes it for them every time they see her. Every sip brings them back to their visits to her house and the special moments they have had together.Food means so much more than I ever could have imagined in Indian families. It's more than food, it's all about the community around the meal. It's about the relationships forged over preparing and enjoying the dishes.I love that we're carrying this on with our boys. I think their bellies are happy too!
Magno Lassi Chia Seed Pudding
As the weather is starting to warm up in North Carolina, the boys and I decided it would be the perfect time to whip up a batch of Mango Lassis. While the boys enjoyed the traditional recipe, I decided to put a little spin on mine.My husband and I have been trying to eat better the last two weeks and incorporating more healthy options into our diet. Chia seeds have been a huge one for us. It has so many health benefits! Their rich with Omega-3, fiber, antioxidant and are great for your metabolism!We've been adding them into our smoothies, granola, cookies, and today we're even making chia pudding!When I told my husband what I was making, he got a little nervous. I could see it in his face.What are you trying to get me to eat now?All it took was one bite and he was hooked. It's so delicious and the added flavors of the mango lassi with it are amazing.
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:19]
20+ Easy Indian Recipes
Are you looking for a few new recipes to try? Check out my round up and see all of my favorite Indian recipes!
20+ Of My Favorite Indian Recipes
I want to make it easy for you and to prevent you from finding disappointing Indian recipes online! Here are a few of my favorite Indian recipes that have been passed down to me from my in laws. They're delicious and simple to make!
Simple Indian Dinners
Almond Chicken CurryChicken Tikka MasalaBaked Tandoori ChickenSamosa Hand PiesTraditional Butter Chicken RecipeLahori Fish FryKarahi ChickenSimple Pav Bhaji (Vegetarian)Keema Curry
Sweet Indian Desserts
Indian DonutsVermicelli KheerMango Lassi SmoothieChai Spiced Donuts
Tasty Indian Side Dishes
Cumin Salad DressingGarlic NaanHyderabadi CabbageCoconut Green BeansCoconut Chana MasalaKhichidi Lemon RicePappu
Which one is your favorite?
Don't forget to PIN this round up for later!
Celebrating Holi By Making It Colorful
This post is brought to you by Tea India. As always all opinions are my own.
How You Can Celebrate Holi
As spring is approaching, many Indian families around the world are getting excited. It means it's almost time for Holi, the Festival of Colors! This holiday has been making its way to the US as some colleges are even starting to celebrate it on their own!It's an opportunity for people to put down their differences and have some fun! During Holi week kids play pranks, colorful powder is thrown (or a color war if you're in our house!), and people are celebrating good over evil.As multicultural families, this holiday may look different to all of us. You may not know about the religious background to the holiday and that's ok. This is a great opportunity to teach your family about the world around them.As parents, we're raising global citizens. We have the opportunity to challenge hate and racism in the world by informing our kids. We can teach our kids about different holidays, customs, and ways of life. Holi is the perfect holiday to teach your kids about!It's all about love and celebration.
Colorful Activities
Another name for Holi is the Festival of Colors so as you can imagine, it's all about color! The time of year it's celebrated alone is all about flowers blooming and life starting fresh.There are so many ways you can teach your family about the Festival of Colors. Here are a few activities my kids love doing around this time of year.
Good Food
One of my family's traditions during Holi week is to prepare a delicious batch of Indian donuts. They're super fun and easy to make with the whole family! I swear my kids have a different sense just for Indian donuts because the second they smell them cooking they come running!
Celebrate Holi With Tea India
I've joined with Tea India today to see how we can help you #makeitcolorful! Whether this is your first time celebrating Holi or your family does every year, we want to see how you're celebrating!Be sure to share your traditions and don't forget to tag us!
Are you looking for a way to authentically experience Holi this year? Pick up Tea India's Chai moments! Their delicious, single serving drinks are the perfect way to experience Holi this year.I start most of my mornings off with a cup of their Chai Moments Milk Tea. They're so easy to make and even my husband loves how authentic every taste is!Learn more about Tea India's fresh and new products by following them today! You may even see us pop up on their feed!
Vermicelli Kheer Recipe
The Dessert My Family Can't Get Enough Of
Dessert in my house is my children's family meal... Wait. No, that's a lie. It's my whole family's favorite meal!We look forward to it because we always make something delicious. It used to be once a week or so and now we have fun creating our little dessert concoctions each night.I love preparing the dishes with my kids. It's probably because I have countless memories making dessert with my mom as a kid. She was a single mom at the time and she knew how to make it special. We would make cookies, eagerly waiting to lick the beaters.Now, I get to carry on these same traditions with my little boys.
Simple Vermicelli Kheer Dessert
Dessert overall is delicious, but Indian desserts... Come on. They're delicious!Lately we've been making kheer. It's a delicious and simple to make Indian rice pudding. You can make it with rice or vermicelli like we do.The best part is the day after we make it. We usually make enough for one night and a bit extra. The next day everyone starts hiding the leftovers in the fridge and by everyone I'm including my husband! He and the kids start hiding it behind whatever they can in the fridge so the rest of them thinks it's gone.Then the lucky winner sits down with a cold bowl of vermicelli kheer while the rest of them gawk and beg for a bite!
Shan Foods Makes It Simple!
When my husband and I first got married, I had every intention of making Indian food frequently throughout the week. Sadly, the reality was much different. Traditional Indian dishes can take hours or even an entire day to prepare.As a busy momma to three little ones, I just didn't have the time. I needed help. Then I discovered Shan Foods.They make it possible for anyone to make traditional Indian dishes in no time! A few of our favorites are pav bhaji, karahi chicken, butter chicken, and lahori fish fry.
Follow Shan Foods Today
Start Your Day With A Mango Lassi Smoothie!
Hectic Mornings And Mango Lassi!
Growing up, I never had the title of a Morning Person. I would sleep in as long as humanly possible, giving myself the exact amount of time I needed to get ready. Every minute of sleep counted and I did everything in my power to get as many as I could!Then it all changed the day I had my first son.As a mother, mornings are a whole different ball game. You don't just have to get yourself ready every morning, you have to get all the little people in your house ready! Not to mention help your husband find everything he can't seem to find on his own...In addition to getting them dressed, reminding them to keep their clothes on, you have to make breakfast!Most mornings in our house mean cereal. It's quick and easy. Not to mention my oldest can pour his own bowl! The day he learned to do that was a huge day in our family!The problem with quick breakfasts like cereal is that it's not always the most nutritious way to start of your kid's day. They need to have a rich breakfast that will help them get the energy they need at school or to get their day going at home.I started talking to my mother in law as well as my husband's Pinnis. I asked them what they give to their kids for good and nutritious breakfasts and their idea was just what we needed!They whip up simple mango lassis!Think mango smoothie, triple the taste, and that's what you get when you make a mango lassi. It's one of my favorite little pick me ups during the day and it's so good for you!
Simplify Your Mornings With BelVita Biscuits
We started whipping these up every morning and serve it with BelVita biscuits. It's great because they give our kids everything they need to start off their mornings! My favorite part... it's as quick as cereal and way better for you!I've had Mango Lassi smoothies in the past, but I always assumed they would be way too hard to make at home. If only I would have known how easy they were! My kids are obsessed with them! They used to associate them with their Umamma's house and now they think I'm the greatest mom for learning how to make them!Two mom points for me!
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:4]
What is your favorite BelVita Biscuit flavor?
Chai Spiced Donut Recipe
The first few days post vacation are a little hectic to say the least. You're running around trying to unpack your suitcases, find everything you packed, and get back into your routine while your kids run rampant through the house.If you're super lucky, you're even dealing with jet lag. So instead of dealing with the chaos fully rested, all you can think about is climbing up into your bed and pulling the covers over your head.Then you have to think about breakfast. You walk to the fridge only to remember you've just been on vacation for a week so you have nothing in the fridge other than the left over you forget to toss before you left that have grown a disgusting fur coat. While looking into your bare fridge your kids run over pulling on your legs telling you they're STARVING...Admit it.. How often have you found yourself in the same predicament I found myself in this morning?Well, I have the solution for you! Pick up a pack of Pillsbury or pretty much any other pre-made biscuit dough and you can make Chai Spiced Donuts for breakfast!
I discovered this little trick a few months ago. It's been a staple in our house ever since! They are so easy to make and only require a few ingredients that you usually have on hand in your pantry.My kids can smell them from upstairs! They run down when the smell reaches their room and start trying to negotiate how many they can have.
Now, I know you probably expected this, but we had to kick up the traditional donut recipe. Instead of covering the donuts in cinnamon sugar, we decided to let our Indian culture inspire us and decided to make our own chai sugar!If I'm feeling extremely inspired I even whip up a glass of Indian Chai Tea.
Chai Sugar Recipe
2 cups of Sugar1 tsp Cinnamon1 tsp Ginger1/4 tsp Cloves1/4 tsp NutmegCombine all ingredients and set aside.
Chai Spiced Donut Recipe:
Heat a saucepan with vegetable oil over medium high heat. I used a small saucepan and filled it half way with oil. If your oil is too close to the bottom, the biscuits will burn or cook too quickly.Pull your Pillsbury biscuits apart and flatten them. Then place them to the side. Pull off a small piece of dough and place it into your oil when you think it's ready. You will know it's ready if it instantly starts bubbling around the dough.Place in 2-4 biscuits at a time. Turn the dough when it's golden brown on the bottom (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Cook the other side until it's golden brown and then place it on your wire sheet. When it's cool enough to touch, you can dip it in your chai sugar.
Pin For Later
Indian Donuts
Our little guy's birthday is here! We were racking our brains trying to decide what theme we should choose. The pictures taken at a child's birthday live on forever. You will show your children as they get older and if you're not careful you'll end up getting the look. You know what I'm talking about. The look that means, "You seriously chose that theme for my birthday. Wow, mom. Lame."I choose to live as the greatest mom ever and to never get that look from my kids. My husband tells me it's inevitable, but I disagree.One theme you can never go wrong with is Bollywood! We decided to have the kids dress up in their Indian clothes, made Indian food, and decorated everything with bright colors. It was perfect because my husband's family was in town and helped with everything!
Food For The Party
We ended up making Keema Curry, Naan, Samosas, Chutney, and Indian Donuts. Everything flew off the platters, but the thing everyone talked about all night were the Indian donuts. They were a hit!The recipe is thanks to my husband’s uncle, Cali-mama. A little special tidbit on family members names is that names are very meaningful. In our American families, we would call our aunts, Aunt so and so. In Indian families you use part of their name and then pinni, which means little mom. I am really only familiar with the mothers side because I’m around my husband’s mom’s side, mostly. Family members are extremely close in Indian families hence why aunts and uncles are called little moms and little dads. My husbands uncle’s name is Calvin so we call him Cali-mama.Let’s all say a special thanks to Cali-mama for this delicious recipe!
Indian Donuts
Ingredients:
4 cups flour1/2 cup plain yogurt2 cups powdered sugar2 eggs1 ½ tbs butter1 tbs vanilla¼ tsp saltoil for frying
Directions:
Beat the eggs. Add in your yogurt, salt, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Make sure all of your ingredients are mixed well. If you’re like me, you can add in some extra vanilla. I always figure everything’s better with an extra splash of vanilla.Start adding in your flour, a bit at a time, until your mixture becomes a dough. Add enough flour for your dough to not stick to the edges while mixing.Roll out your dough onto a floured surface to about an inch thick. I used a cup to cut out small circles, but feel free to use a cookie cutter or anything you have on hand.Heat your oil in a deep pan on medium high heat. You want your oil hot enough that it starts bubbling as soon as you drop your dough in. *If it’s too cool, your dough will soak up all the oil, but if it’s too hot your dough will burn.* Turn the donut when it’s a light golden brown. Place on a towel after it’s cooked to absorb the excess oil. You can serve them as is or add some yummy powdered sugar on top. Enjoy!
Family Fridays #3 Junnu
I'm very excited about this week's Family Fridays edition! I was able to get a recipe for my brand new pressure cooker! I've never used one, but everyone here assures me it makes life much easier! Instead of an Indian dish taking a full day to cook, it only takes 30-45 minutes! This week's recipe is brought to us by Padma. She is going to teach us how to make Junnu. Her and her husband have two beautiful children and she wants to share a bit about her family with us. 
What makes this dish special to you?My three siblings and I grew up eating Junnu. I missed it after moving to the US, but didn't know how to make it. One day, a friend of mine brought it to my Telugu fellowship. She shared the recipe with me and now I can make it whenever I want! JunnuIngredients:3 eggs1 cup sweetened condensed milk1 1/2 cups half and half milk Few peppers1 tsp of cardamom Directions:Beat 3 eggs in a big bowl and add condensed milk. Mix. Add half and half and combine. Add in crushed peppers and cardamom on top of it and put the lid on. Pour some water in your pressure cooker. Put the bowl inside the pressure cooker and close the it. Let it cook for 40 to 45 minutes over low flame.Do you want to share a family recipe? If so click here. Did you like this post? If so don't leave before you sign up for my weekly newsletter!