Top 10 kitchen appliances designed for quick, easy and efficient meal prep

Top 10 kitchen appliances designed for quick, easy and efficient meal prep

If you’re a passionate lover of cooking, or you’ve recently kickstarted your cooking journey, and want to accelerate it even further in 2023, then you’ve reached the right place. Having an efficient and streamlined cooking process is the key to preparing dishes that simply taste excellent! And the number one aid you need in having an effortless process is an arsenal of great kitchen appliances.  With the right kitchen tools and appliances, cooking can be an increasingly fun and simplified process. The right products can reduce your prep time in half, make the little cooking tasks much easier, and help you with tedious and complicated techniques. From ‘The Tesla of Ovens’ to a compact induction cooker that fits every conceivable cooking method in its modular stackable design – these innovative and exceptional appliances are all you need in your kitchen.

1. Brava

Meet Brava, an oven that harnesses the power of pure light to cook food to perfection. Unlike radiant heat, which heats the entire oven chamber, light can be precisely delivered to specific zones within the oven chamber, allowing you to cook with precise control and no energy wastage.

Why is it noteworthy?

With three dedicated zones on the cooking tray, and lights above and below it to match, Brava can cook three-part meals at three different temperatures at the same time, on the same tray, and in minutes as opposed to hours on a grill or oven

What we like

  • The three light zones help focus the heat into three distinct categories, letting you cook meats and veggies on one tray, but at different temperatures
  • A camera built into the smart oven gives you a literal window into the oven’s interiors, letting you see your lasagna bake and your meat sear in real-time

What we dislike

  • Some people may prefer ovens with transparent displays

2. The BlendQuik

Designed to be used on the kitchen countertop as well as on a mountaintop, the BlendQuik is the world’s first mason jar-style portable blender that can do everything from making smoothies at home and protein shakes at the gym to churning up quick guacamole at a picnic or even a frappe in your car.

Why is it noteworthy?

The BlendQuik is a nifty blender with a vessel big enough to hold your daily smoothie, and a 10-blade design powerful enough to cut right through dense ingredients like carrots, nuts, ice cubes, etc. The blender’s motor and blades are built right into its leak-proof cap. Chuck your ingredients into the mason jar, lock the cap in place, and hit the power button before flipping it over.

What we like

  • Makes everything from shakes to dips, cocktails, slushies, batters, emulsions, purees, and everything else you’d otherwise need a large blender for
  • Features a portable design, so it’s  not restricted to the kitchen

What we dislike

  • We don’t know how durable it is, so it could get damaged when you travel

3. Pronto

Rather aptly named the Pronto, this relatively compact gadget handles every part of the cooking process, from weighing to sautéing, slow-cooking, simmering, reheating, and even air-frying thanks to its modular companion, the Alto.

Why is it noteworthy?

With its small footprint and multipurpose design, the dynamic duo of Pronto and Alto occupy a fraction of the countertop space and let you prep elaborate meals without all the messy dishes and dread-inducing clean-up. Pronto and Alto were designed to take the effort out of cooking, so you can focus on the most important part… eating!

What we like

  • Multipurpose design
  • Make meal prep easier, faster, and smarter

What we dislike

  • There is a learning curve involved in getting used to the design

4. The Affinitea Brewing System

Designed as an elegant tabletop device, the Affinitea Brewing System expertly makes you a fresh cup of luxury loose-leaf tea in just 90 seconds. The Clearview re-usable chamber takes care of every aspect from agitating, pressurizing, and steeping the tea brew, before straining and dispensing it directly into your cup.

Why is it noteworthy?

The patented chamber uses pressure and agitation to handle the steeping cycle perfectly, creating a brew that has fewer tannins (the chemical that creates that bitter aftertaste) while extracting the maximum flavour.

What we like

  • An LCD screen right above the control panel lets you view and confirm your choices
  • Has a subscription service allowing you to try different teas

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming and bulky design

5. Makit’s Portable Microwave

This cordless microwave uses the cordless XTGT system to help you heat your meals and snacks when you’re on the go. It has 40-volt rechargeable batteries and can use up to 500 watts for eight minutes and then 350 watts after that to save energy.

Why is it noteworthy?

When the batteries are fully charged, it will be able to warm up 11 meals or 20 drinks. It also has a USB port so you can also juice up your smartphone or a gadget, but of course, you’ll probably have to choose between your meal or your device. The microwave also comes with a handle and a strap so you can carry it around with you.

What we like

  • If you’re worried about safety, the design has safety measures in place for user’s convenience
  • It also deactivates when it’s tilted or when the door is opened

What we dislike

  • If you’re warming up frozen meals, it might take up more energy so you’ll be able to reheat fewer meals

6. The Slide Toaster

The toasting process begins in the Slide toaster with an LED ring indicating the toasting level and completion. The slide-up tray has a translucent design element to it so that you can keep an eye on the toast turning perfectly brown to your delight Level of the toast crispness can be set with an adjustment dial like all other toasters we’ve seen countless times. This is ably aided by audio indications to keep the user well-informed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Harry Rigler wants to reinvent the trusted image of the toaster with a detour to the soft form design of this household kitchen appliance. That too keeps in mind the requirements of modern users, and the present as well as future design progression of kitchen interiors. Rather than being a pop-up toaster like most out there, this is the Slide toaster which rolls the toasting grill to the side like a rollable smartphone. The tray slides out – you put in the bread and slide it back in.

What we like

  • Audio indications to update the user on their toast
  • Unique slide-out tray

What we dislike

  • The radically changed design may not be easily accepted in households

7. The CookMate

Designed for this new, ‘smaller than life’ home, the Cookmate is an all-in-one kitchen appliance that goes from prep to cooking to serving, in one device. Its modular design has stackable pieces that turn the cooktop into a pan, crock pot, and even a steamer. The induction coil on the inside works on electricity, saving the need to place a gas cylinder under the hob.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Cookmate looks at the cooking process as something that goes from idea to ingredient to table. Rather than focusing on just the cooking, this induction cooktop (although it seems highly reductive to call it just that) considers every aspect of the cooking process. This isn’t just clever, holistic design thinking, it also helps the Cookmate be more universally applicable so you save effort, energy, and space with other utensils.

What we like

  • Features an integrated weighing scale
  • Can be split into 6 parts

What we dislike

  • As we can either use one at a time or them all together, the cooking time has to be finely balanced for each layer

8. The SüpKüp

The SüpKüp is a travel mug that is not really a mug in itself but serves more as an alternative to the disposable paper coffee sleeves. It is able to hold the paper cups (medium and large at least) that most coffee shops provide, including the still pretty popular Starbucks.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is made from durable polycarbonate and has a pretty elegant and minimalist design that can still display whatever cup is snugly placed inside. This holder doesn’t need any liquid transfer or constant cleaning that’s why it’s more convenient.

What we like

  • Your hot drink can remain hot for longer, 50{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} longer, than when you just hold your paper cup
  • Has a double helix screw ejector that lets you eject the cup when you’ve finished just by twisting the rotating base

What we dislike

  • It helps retain your coffee drinkability rather than an alternative to disposable cups, leaving scope for future plastic-free design

9. The 4T7 Smart Chopping Board

The 4T7 Smart Chopping Board is meant to help simplify every stage of meal prep and go beyond it as well. Made up of different parts, all the components of the chopping board come together to create a rather innovative, united, and creative product.

Why is it noteworthy?

The 4T7 breaks meal prep into its different components, adding good design and tech wherever necessary. The board comes with 4 distinct parts, a main bamboo chopping board, a secondary silver-ion anti-bacterial board for veggies to prevent cross-contamination, a third heat-conducting defrosting tray that helps rapidly thaw frozen foods, and lastly, the 4T7’s base, which has its own built-in weighing scale. The only part of the 4T7 experience to exist outside the actual board is its smartphone app, which counts calories as you weigh your ingredients. Once your prep work is done, the digital display on the 4T7 can also function as a kitchen timer, while the board itself becomes a magnetic knife holder.

What we like

  • All of 4T7’s components are designed to be wonderfully functional as independent items
  • The board works equally well for fruits/veggies as well as for meats

What we dislike

  • It precisely counts calories for you, which isn’t always the best route to healthy eating, since many users can get unhealthily hooked on counting calories

10. Roll

Roll is an attempt to preserve not only the flavors of food but also their presentation. It eschews the traditional square or rectangular shape of food containers in favor of something round.

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes Roll different from bowl food containers (which do exist, of course) is that it wholeheartedly embraces the culture of using the lid or dish cap as a plate. That’s why the cap itself was made to look presentable, using soft and clean tones like ivory, sky blue, and terracotta. The idea is that you set the freshly cooked food on the lid itself and then later just cover it with the glass bowl when it’s time to put it away.

What we like

  • The next time you want to eat the food, you don’t have to rearrange the food again to make it presentable
  • Roll takes the food container concept upside-down, literally, by making it usable, whether as a bowl with a round lid or a plate with a bowl cover

What we dislike

  • Not the most shape-efficient design/shape for storage in a refridgerator

20 Best Lemon Dessert Recipes for Easy Baking

20 Best Lemon Dessert Recipes for Easy Baking

A delicious lemon dessert should balance the tart, astringent acidity of lemon juice with the sweetness of the sugar it’s mixed with. We’ve got 20 recipes that do just that. Start with a classic, like a batch of these lemon bars from recipe developer (and Carson’s wife!) Siri Daly. The base of them is made with a classic combination of powdered sugar, all-purpose flour, butter, vanilla extract and lemon zest. The result is a buttery, slightly crumbly cookie crumb crust that maintains its structural integrity. As for the filling, you’ll make a thickened lemon curd using eggs, granulated sugar, flour, lemon zest and, most notably, an entire cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Once the bars bake, dust them with powdered sugar, slice and serve.

Once you master this essential lemon dessert, try other popular recipes such as lemon meringue pie (including our foolproof version for beginning bakers!), lemon cupcakes, a lemon layer cake and so much more. 

You’ll notice that some of these recipes call for Meyer lemons. This variety is smaller than regular Eureka lemons and is prized for its sweet flavor and floral-like aroma. They tend to be harder to find and more expensive, but we highly recommend giving them a try. Feel free to substitute Eureka lemons in recipes that call for Meyer lemons (and vice versa). Because they’re smaller, just know that you may need more of them to yield the right amount of juice. 

Celebrate this sunny citrus fruit year-round with our best lemon desserts. 

Siri's Lemon Bars

Helen Healey / TODAY

This zesty dessert is as classic as it gets. A buttery cookie crust serves as the base for these summery bars and the simple filling is made with a combination of sugar, flour, eggs, and the zest and juice of a few lemons. Dust the bars with powdered sugar just before serving for a picture-perfect look.

Lemon Velvet Cake

Zach Pagano / TODAY

Move aside, red velvet. This lighter and brighter layer cake gets its airy, moist texture from a combination of fine cake flour and buttermilk. As for the flavor, the batter features a combination of lemon and vanilla extracts, while fresh lemon zest is mixed into the frosting. 

Ginger-Lemon Crinkle Cookies

TODAY

A holiday classic that’s delicious year round, these warm and zesty cookies taste like a perfect cup of tea all in one sweet bite. A trio of ground spices (ginger, cinnamon and cardamom) bring the cozy feels, while the zest of two whole lemons perks up each batch with a bit of brightness. 

Mama's Lemon-Lime Soda Cake

Jocelyn Delk Adams

There’s something special about this Bundt cake recipe created by Martha Stewart. Maybe it’s the nostalgic, fizzy flavor of a can of lemon-lime soda. Or maybe it’s the fact that it’s the first cake Martha ever learned how to bake. Both can be true and should inspire you to give it a try too.

Foolproof Extra Lemony Meringue Pie

Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Making a billowy mountain of meringue has a reputation for being an intimidating process. That is, until now. It’s nearly impossible to mess up the filling or the fluffy white topping — pinky promise.

Al's Lemon Vanilla Dutch Baby with Blueberry Sauce

Patty Lee / TODAY

Think of a Dutch baby as a giant, free-form puffy pancake. This one has more flavor than the traditional recipe, thanks to a duo of lemon zest and vanilla bean paste, which are folded into the batter, plus a juicy blueberry sauce on top.

Lemon Loaf Cake

TODAY

We won’t judge if you decide to start your day with a slice of this good-for-you lemon loaf that just so happens to be both gluten- and dairy-free. 

Lemon White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gaby Dalkin / TODAY

Baking a batch of these cookies is as easy as classic chocolate chip, but the result is a cookie that tastes like summer.

Martha Stewart's Meyer Lemon Cupcakes

TODAY

Meyer lemons are known for their sweet-floral aroma and less astringent flavor, compared to regular Eureka lemons. If you can get your hands on a few of these prized citrus fruits, stock up and bake a batch of these cupcakes from the lifestyle queen herself.

Lemon Espresso Pie

Dan Goldberg

Lemon and coffee are an unconventional pairing but this magical recipe from pie baker Maya-Camille Broussard proves that it works. A lemon curd filling sits in an espresso-chocolate crumb crust, then the whole thing is topped with made-from-scratch hot fudge. 

Lemon Mug Cake

TODAY Illustration / Courtesy Caroline Choe

Cake for one? This easy single-serve recipe comes together in less than 5 minutes, making it easy to enjoy a freshly baked dessert at the drop of a hat. 

Martha Stewart's Lemon Mousse Cake

Courtesy Clarkson Potter

If a layer cake and a lemon meringue pie had a baby, it would be this superstar cake from Martha Stewart. For the best cake texture, use cake flour, which has a lower protein count than all-purpose, thus contributing to light and airy baked goods.

Rosemary-Lemon Pecan Bars

TODAY

If you’re not so keen on super sweet desserts, these tart and aromatic bars should hit the spot. A pecan nut crust serves as the base for a rosemary and citrus curd, which is dusted with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

Martha Stewart's Meyer-Lemon Shortbread Wreath Cookies

TODAY

Bookmark this festive recipe to bake in December. Lemon shortbread cookie dough is rolled out and cut into individual wreaths, which are baked and decorated with a lemon glaze and sugared herbs.

Luscious Limoncello Cake

Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Even though limoncello has plenty of citrusy flavor as is, this recipe calls for even more lemon flavor in the form of both freshly squeezed juice and zest. Mascarpone is used in the batter to create a rich, moist cake and additional tangy notes.

Ginger-lemon crème brûlée

Samantha Okazaki / TODAY

A far cry from classic vanilla bean crème brûlée is this lemony situation. To make it, pulse together fresh ginger, sugar and lemon peels in a food processor, then steep with cream until the mixture is smooth and silky.  

Buttermilk Pie

Angie & Ike Photography

This classic southern pie calls for buttermilk and lemon juice, which give it its signature flavor. We decided to introduce coconut extract, which compliments the lemon notes in a subtly sweet way.

Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

In between a Bundt cake and a quick bread is this bakery-inspired recipe. We like to use Meyer lemon here due to their floral, aromatic quality, but regular lemons will do in a pinch. 

No-Bake Individual Lemon and Raspberry Cheesecake Jars

My Cupcake Addiction

Baking for a crowd can be a feat, but with this simple recipe on hand, it’ll be both easy and enjoyable. Prepping individual cheesecakes seems like a lot more work than it actually is, which will make you the hosting MVP.

Lemon and Olive Oil Cake with Limoncello Glaze

TODAY

Take your tastebuds on a trip to Italy with this lemony cake that gets its moistness from high-quality olive oil. We love the sweet, floral quality of limoncello in the glaze but feel free to swap it out for regular lemon juice for a booze-free cake.


Easy Dessert Recipes That Are Delicious And Easy To Make At Home

Easy Dessert Recipes That Are Delicious And Easy To Make At Home

Easy Dessert Recipes: Indians love experimenting with food and they always look to cook food in the easiest way. One such practice followed almost in every Indian home is having dessert after every meal. You can get easy dessert recipes in books, or on YouTube and Instagram. Imagine having fluffy and soft gulab jamuns that just melt in the mouth or some pancakes in the morning. Ahhh.. that’s a delight for every sweet lover. Due to hygienic and health reasons, we restrict ourselves to eat food outside every day. So with the help of easy dessert recipes, you can make several sweets at home. These dessert recipes come in a mix and you just have to follow the instructions given to prepare them.

Experience guilt-free pleasure by having some hot and tasty desserts at home. Save time in making tasty dessert recipes without compromising on the taste. Enjoy your favorite dessert at home anytime and anywhere. Easy dessert recipes that can be made even when you are inviting guests to your place. Now with the help of dessert recipes, you can instantly make sweets within a few minutes.

Easy Dessert Recipes

To help with delicious and tasty desserts we have shortlisted some of the easy dessert recipes that you can try at home. Why not make sweets at home and avoid outside food?

MTR Gulab Jamun Mix

Gulab Jamun is one of the all-time favorite dessert recipes in India. From villages to big cities, hot and soft gulab jamun is what everyone prefers. Be it marriage or even a house party this is the most

dessert

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common sweet dish found at every home. Now you can make this at home with MTR Gulab Jamun Mix. These are the easiest dessert recipes that you can make. MTR Gulab Jamun Mix Price: Rs 145.

Betty Crocker Complete Classic Pancake Mix

English breakfast is incomplete without this dessert pancake. Now you can make this easily at home by just mixing the batter in water. One of the easy dessert recipes that you can present in the most

dessert

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beautiful way by garnishing with strawberries, chocolate syrup, or honey to enhance the flavor. As there are no preservatives you can give this to kids even. Betty Crocker Pancake Mix Price: Rs 170.

Pik Crème Caramel Pudding Mix

This easy dessert recipe pudding mix is something that you will want to eat more and more. Make delicious pudding for your kids without getting tired and with minimal effort. Read the directions

dessert

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carefully before making. Just add milk and mix the batter and your scrumptious dessert recipe is prepared. Pik Caramel Pudding Mix Price: Rs 220.

Weikfield Custard Powder – Vanilla

The most common dessert recipe that we make especially during the summer season is custard. It can be either fruit or plain custard. High in nutritious and delicious this custard comes in vanilla

dessert

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flavor. You can also use this mix as a salad topping or in fruit salad too. Besides Vanilla this dessert recipe is available in aamras (mango), strawberry, and butterscotch flavors. Weikfield Custard Mix Price: Rs 37.

Gits Open & Eat Rasgulla Tin

A dessert recipe famous in West Bengal is rasgulla. The soft and spongy texture dipped in sweetener has gained popularity all over India. They are also considered one of the easy dessert recipes in

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India. These ready-made rasgullas come in 16 pieces and you can get the best in taste and softness. Git Rasgulla Price: Rs 210.

Explore more options on the easy dessert recipes

Disclaimer: Jagran’s journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The prices mentioned here are subject to change with respect to Amazon.

Best Spring Cocktails: Easy Spring Drinks Recipes to Make at Home

Best Spring Cocktails: Easy Spring Drinks Recipes to Make at Home
spring cocktails
Celebrating the new season with a fresh and fizzy spring cocktail.

Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to start making the most of the longer days and warmer weather. Yes, we can finally put away those winter coats, sweaters and boots, but aside from switching up your wardrobe, what better way to welcome in the new season than by mixing up a refreshing cocktail that celebrates all things spring? It’s been a long, cold and grey winter, so let’s bid adieu to hot toddies, mulled wine and espresso martinis until next year, and embrace spring with a fresh and rejuvenating beverage.

While it’s always nice to head out to a favorite cocktail bar or lounge, there’s something special about testing out your own bartending skills right at home, whether you’re preparing a drink solo or mixing up a batch of refreshments for a celebratory springtime fête. From bubbly beverages and champagne cocktails to cheerful spritzers and mezcal libations, these are the best spring-ready cocktail recipes to whip up this season and buy some wholesale soft drinks.

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The Best Spring Cocktail Recipes to Sip This Season

The League Favorite.

The League Favorite

Ingredients:

2 oz The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.25 oz simple syrup
1 bar spoon apricot preserves
Elderflower tonic water
Lemon wedge and sprig of thyme

Directions:

Add all ingredients, except tonic, to a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Fine strain over ice into a highball glass; top with elderflower tonic and garnish with a lemon wedge and fresh sprig of thyme and enjoy this gin cocktail.

Spring Garden.

Ketel One Spring Garden

Ingredients:

45 ml Ketel One Vodka
10 ml sugar syrup
20ml fresh lemon
65 ml fresh pressed apple juice
3 fresh raspberries
8 fresh mint leaves

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with mint sprig and raspberry.

Peach Flower Power.

Peach Flower Power

Ingredients:

3 oz Rosa Regale Sparkling White Wine
1 oz gin
.5 oz elderflower liqueur
.5 oz peach puree
1 oz lemon juice
2 dashes lavender bitters

Directions:

Shake over ice; top off with sparkling white wine. Strain into coupe glass and garnish with lemon twist and edible orchard.

Sipsmith’s Lavender Dreams. Pranthik Samal

Sipsmith’s Lavender Dreams

Ingredients:

2 oz Sipsmith London Dry Gin
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz lavender syrup
Luxardo cherry

Directions:

Shake ingredients well over ice. Strain over a coupe or martini glass; garnish with a cherry skewer.

Betty Buzz Grapefruit Thyme Fizz Mocktail. Moriah Sawtelle

Betty Buzz Grapefruit Thyme Fizz Mocktail

Ingredients:

1/2 bottle Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit
Meyer lemon juice
Thyme

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a lowball glass filled with ice. Stir gently and garnish with thyme.

Raspberry Rosé Cocktail.

Raspberry Rosé Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 lime, cut into wheels
.5 part raspberries
Sugar, to taste
1 bottle chilled Mumm Napa Brut Rosé
Raspberries and lime wheel, for garnish

Directions:

Muddle lime wheels, raspberries and sugar. Let rest until sugar dissolves, then strain using fine mesh strainer. Add one part compote and five parts Mumm Napa Brut Rosé sparkling wine to a glass. Garnish with raspberries lime wheels.

Herbal Gin and Tonic.

Herbal Gin and Tonic

Created by Marshall Minaya at Valerie

Ingredients:

1 oz Empress 1908 Gin
.5 oz génépi
4 dashes lavender bitters
2 dashes cardamom bitters
Thomas Henry Tonic Water
2 dehydrated lemon wheels and lavender sprig, for garnish

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a goblet; garnish with lemon wheels and lavender sprig.

What’s The Tea, Rosarita.

What’s The Tea, Rosarita

Ingredients:

1 oz Patron Silver
1 oz St. Germain
.75 oz hibiscus tea
.75 oz beet juice
.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add all ingredients and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe.

Meatpacking Spritz.

The Meatpacking Spritz

Created by Federico Doldi at Gansevoort Meatpacking

Ingredients:

2 oz Martini Fiero
1 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Splash of Prosecco
1 slice of grapefruit

Directions:

Mix the Martini Fiero and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur together in a wine glass with ice. Top with a splash of Prosecco and add a fresh slice of grapefruit.

Berry-Mint Kenny. 818 Tequila

Berry-Mint Kenny

Ingredients:

1.5 oz 818 Blanco
1 oz strawberry puree
.5 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz agave syrup
Perrier
Mint leaves and strawberry slice, for garnish

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with a splash of Perrier sparkling water and garnish with mint leaves and a strawberry slice.

Bee’s Knees.

Bee’s Knees

Ingredients:

2 oz  Barr Hill Gin
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.75 oz raw honey syrup (mix two parts raw honey and one part warm water until honey dissolves)

Directions:

Combine gin cocktail ingredients in a mixer, add ice and shake. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Tanteo Tequila Lavender Jalapeno Cocktail.

Tanteo Tequila Lavender Jalapeno Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 oz Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila
1 oz lavender syrup
.75 oz fresh lime juice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice; shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of lime or a slice of jalapeño.

Sake Blossom.

Sake Blossom

Ingredients:

2 oz Yes Way Rosé
2 oz Nigori unfiltered sake
.5 oz cherry liquor
1 oz peach juice
.5 oz simple syrup
Cherry blossom garnish

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add rosé, sake, cherry liquor, peach juice and simple syrup. Shake well. Strain over a cocktail glass with a large ice cube; garnish with cherry blossom.

Slip of The Tongue.

Slip of the Tongue

From Off the Record at The Hay-Adams, a Leading Hotel of the World.

Ingredients:

1 part vodka or liquor of choice
2 parts limeade (combine lime juice, cucumber juice, basil water, pineapple juice and honey syrup)

Directions:

Pour vodka and limeade into shaker; shake and serve straight up. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon or a lime wheel.

Blueberry Mojito Cocktail.

Blueberry Mojito Cocktail

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège
.75 oz simple syrup
.5 oz fresh lime juice
Soda water
Blueberries
Mint

Directions:

Add all liquid ingredients except for the soda water, as well as four blueberries, into a cocktail shaker. Shake until blueberries are bruised. Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice; top with soda water. Garnish with a sprig of mint and blueberries.

Pina Margarita.

Pina Margarita

Ingredients:

2 oz blanco tequila
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz fresh pineapple juice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass and garnish with a pineapple slice.

The Jasmine.

The Jasmine

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Bulldog Gin
.25 oz Campari 
.25 oz Grand Marnier
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice; shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Sunset Rose.

Sunset Rose

Ingredients:

3 oz Whispering Angel
1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
.5 oz lime juice
.25 oz honey water
3 blackberries
Mint sprig, for garnish

Directions:

Add blackberries into shaker and muddle. Add all remaining ingredients, except for rosé, into the shaker. Shake with ice and strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with rosé and garnish with Mint.

Brancott Blossom.

Brancott Blossom

Ingredients:

4 oz Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc
3 oz elderflower soda (or elderflower tonic)
0.5 oz squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Fill highball glass with ice cubes. Add all ingredients into glass; stir.

Aperol Spritz ‘3-2-1.’

Aperol Spritz ‘3-2-1’

Ingredients:

2 parts Aperol
3 parts Cinzano Prosecco
1 part club soda
Orange slice

Directions:

Pour Prosecco into a stemmed balloon glass filled with ice. Add Aperol, then add splash of soda. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.

Mana Daisy.

Mana Daisy

Ingredients:

2 oz Teremana Blanco
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz passion fruit syrup
Splash of soda water

Directions:

Add lemon juice, passion fruit syrup and Teremana Blanco into shaker. Shake and add a splash of soda directly into the tin before straining. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with edible flower.

​​Raspberry Tequila Spritz.

​​Raspberry Tequila Spritz

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Tequila Cazadores Reposado
1 oz lychee juice
.25 oz fresh lime juice
5 raspberries
1 pinch kosher salt
2 oz Martini & Rossi Rosé

Directions:

Muddle raspberries in the bottom of a wine glass. Add ice cubes; pour in all remaining ingredients. Top with rosé and then gently stir to combine. Garnish with a lime slice and raspberry.

Lillet Rosé Spritz.

Lillet Rosé Spritz

Ingredients:

3 parts of Lillet Rosé
3 parts of tonic water
Grapefruit or orange, for garnish

Directions:

Shake Lillet Rosé and tonic water with ice; strain into a white wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with either a slice of grapefruit or orange slice.

Stranahan’s April Showers Sour. Kyle Ford

Stranahan’s April Showers Sour

Ingredients

1.5 oz Stranahan’s Original 
.5 oz sweet vermouth
.75 oz simple syrup
.75 oz lemon juice
2 bar spoons cranberry preserve
Egg white
Italian bitters
Lemon oil
Cherries

Directions:

Combine whiskey, vermouth, simple syrup, lemon juice, cranberry preserve and egg white in a shaker. Shake and strain into glass over fresh ice. Garnish with cranberries on a stick and lemon oil. Add a dash of Italian bitters and stir. Pour into coupe glass and garnish with brandied cherry.

Romance in the Garden.

Romance in the Garden   

Ingredients:  

1.5 oz Delisa Pinot Grigio Rosé
0.5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz sugar syrup
1 egg white  
3 oz Rotari Brut 

Directions:

Pour rosé, grapefruit juice, sugar syrup and egg white into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a fresh wine glass or coupe. Garnish with grapefruit slices or edible florals. 

Mezcal Unión Passionfruit Paloma.

Mezcal Unión Passionfruit Paloma 

Ingredients

1 oz Mezcal Unión Uno
1 oz Red Verjus or aperol
1 oz passion fruit syrup
Fever Tree sparkling grapefruit soda

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a highball or large rocks glass. Add ice; top with cold Fever Tree sparkling grapefruit soda.

The Fresh and Vibrant Spring Cocktails to Celebrate the Season

13 Easy Self-Saucing Pudding Recipes & Ideas

13 Easy Self-Saucing Pudding Recipes & Ideas

These easy and indulgent self-saucing pudding recipes are a true culinary feat.

And believe it or not, the oven does most of the work!

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Self-Saucing Pudding Recipes featuring Homemade Chocolate Molten Cake with Raspberries and Mint

13 Best Ever Self-Saucing Puddings

Self-saucing puddings are just what you think they are – baked cakes with a scrummy sauce that develops in the oven.

They’re a hugely popular treat in the U.K. and Australia (hence the name “pudding”), but they’re gaining popularity all over.

Best served warm, these self-saucing pudding recipes are sure to be a hit at your next Sunday dinner.

This lemon self-saucing pudding is like summer in a dish.

It’s bright, moist, and loaded with bold, zesty flavors to tickle your tastebuds. 

You’ll bake the light and fluffy sponge in a water bath to get the curd-like sauce on the bottom.

And the whipped egg whites ensure the crumb rises beautifully.

Chocolate might be one of the most popular self-saucing puddings out there. And for good reason!

I mean, just look at that dish! The chocolate sauce is so good, you’ll want to lick it off the plate. 

And the sponge is crazy soft and tender.

It’s like an inside-out molten lava cake. So if you love chocolate, you’ll go gaga for this. 

One bite of this passion fruit pudding, and you’ll be transported to an island paradise. 

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And you’ll make this like a real classic self-saucer! So you’ll pour a hot liquid over the cake batter and pop it in the oven without mixing.

As it bakes, the liquid seeps through the cake, infusing it with flavor and creating a sauce on the bottom.

Pretty neat, huh?

Sweet, spiced banana cake loaded with toasted, crunchy pecans sounds incredible.

But when you add a rum and honey caramel sauce to the mix? Oh man, that’s heaven right there!

Sliced bananas and more pecans go on top for taste and texture. And when it comes out of the oven, that sauce is ooey-gooey and to die for.

Don’t wait until fall to make this one!

That mix of toffee and apple with a dreamy sponge and warm sauce is too good to miss.

The cake batter is quick, loaded with chopped apples and nuts, and super tender.

Meanwhile, the caramel sauce ensures every bite is sweet perfection! What more could you want?

White chocolate is pretty rich and sweet. But when you mix it with sweet-tart raspberries, it’s perfectly balanced.

That’s why I love this self-saucing pud so much!

Every mouthful is a dream, and the sauce will keep you coming back for more.

Oh, and it smells phenomenal. So much so, you’ll want to eat it right out of the dish!

It’s not sticky toffee pudding without a sticky-sweet toffee sauce.

Loaded with naturally sweet dates and a stunning dark brown sugar sponge, it’s exactly what you want in sticky toffee.

Just add some brown sugar and butter to the top and pour over a bit of hot water. The next thing you know, you’re pud’s ready to be devoured.

You’ve heard of molten chocolate lava cakes. But have you ever tried it with peanut butter? 

These babies aren’t self-saucing in the traditional sense, but they do have a sauce in the middle – so I think it counts.

And after one bite, you won’t care!

Attention Cupid: I’ve found the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. And it’s vegan!

Sweet, fruity strawberries bathed in a warm chocolate sauce and topped with a decadent chocolate sponge is as romantic as it gets.

And it’s so rich and delicious, you might forget it’s dairy-free – or not believe it!

So you like Nutella? I got you! 

This self-saucing, vegan mocha hazelnut pudding is insane. It’s also gluten-free. 

Rich and fudgy chocolate meets a sauce made with ground hazelnuts, cacao, and coconut sugar.

It’s the perfect balance between sweet and chocolate. And with a bit of hot coffee, it’s impossible to resist.

If you want something light and citrussy but find lemons too tart, this is the recipe for you.

It’s insanely moist and flavorful, with the most intoxicating aroma.

Serve it for date night in ramekins, or make a bigger batch for the whole family. Either way, it’s a must-make.

Make these once, and they’ll soon become your go-to holiday dessert.

You’ll adore the kick of spicy ginger and the sweet sauce that balances it out just right.

Plus, this recipe is healthy (ish)!

You’ll use spelt flour, coconut sugar, and protein powder with malt syrup for the sauce.

Butterscotch self-saucing pudding is your secret dessert weapon. 

The light toffee sponge cake is heavenly on its own. But what doesn’t become a million times better with sticky butterscotch sauce? 

This may be one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. Trust me, you’ll have a hard time sharing!

Self-Saucing Pudding Recipes

Easy cooking tips to keep your heart healthy

Easy cooking tips to keep your heart healthy

A heart-healthy diet is likely to bring to mind images of food that`s boiled and bland. On the contrary, a heart-healthy diet is one that is interesting, flavourful, and colourful as it should include an abundance of deep-colored veggies and fruits, coarse grains like millets, legumes of all kinds (soy, nuts, and seeds), low-fat dairy, along with some portions of fish or poultry.

Among all the foods required to keep the heart healthy, the ones that are eaten in far less quantity than recommended are vegetables and fruit.

This is a matter of concern that has been highlighted in various reports like “What India Eats” by ICMR-NIN, 2020. A heart-friendly diet must include at least five servings per day of this food group.

Other than eating diverse ingredients, the cooking process also plays a role in terms of the taste, texture, colour, digestibility, absorption, and nutritive value of the dish.

“Preferred cooking methods such as stewing (cooking in a covered pan using a small quantity of liquid that is simmering) and steaming (surrounding the food with steam produced by boiling water) score well. Among the methods of frying – stir-frying or sauteing (tossing food in a small amount of fat in a frying pan) is acceptable and healthy,” says Neelanjana Singh, a dietitian and wellness consultant.

“Even though each of the cooking methods has its set of advantages and limitations, it`s useful to remember these overarching guidelines for ideal heart health,” Neelanjana tells IANSlife:

Short cooking time: Overcooking should always be avoided, no matter what the cooking method. Overcooking destroys the nutrients as well as colours and textures of the food. Methods that employ shorter cooking time is preferred – pressure cooking and microwaving are prime examples.

Minimal use of water: When cooking in water, use as little as needed. This will minimise the leaching out of water-soluble nutrients. Try to use the leftover water in a sauce or gravy. Also, avoid adding baking soda to veggies when cooking. They may retain the colour but the Vitamin C content drops.

Avoid very high temperatures: This is particularly important in the case of dry heat methods like grilling, baking, broiling, and frying. Cooking at very high temperatures (above 180 degrees Celsius) can form acrylamide, a compound that has been linked to cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. The fat dripping onto the meats/paneer/potatoes at high temperatures causes such chemicals to form.

Use multi-source cooking oil: One of the most commonly asked questions about diet pertains to cooking oils and which of these is the best for our health. Multi-source cooking oils have the added advantage of low-absorbance technology and better heat stability, which is desirable for high-temperature cooking methods like baking and frying. Fried foods are very much part of our celebratory menus, which we can enjoy occasionally in limited portions, without increasing the risk of disease.

This brings us back to the fact that diet can play a big role in preventing disease conditions. The importance of using ingredients that are minimally processed and nutrient-dense cannot be overemphasized.

While the focus of a heart-friendly diet is on what we should do but being cognisant of the don`ts is crucial too. Excess salt, sugar, and saturated fat should be on the `watch out for` list. Trans fats, ultra-processed foods, and processed meats fall in the category of `to avoid` foods.

All in all, the dietary choices you make can go a long way in preventing not only heart disease but many other chronic conditions.