【胖大海炖梨】Malva Nut and Asian Pear Drink

 

朋友送来两箱子疏果时摘的亚洲梨，体积不大，但是很清甜。取几个煮这个胖大海炖梨，冷藏了喝，是这个夏天里喝了很舒服的一款饮料。

A friend sent two boxes of Asian pears she picked during fruit thinning in her garden. They are small in size but very sweet nontheless. 

I used a few of them to make this refreshing drink, a good way to stay cool during this heatwave.

【仙草水】【仙草豆奶】Grass Jelly Drinks & Cincau Soya

 

 

前几天加拿大的野火导致纽约附近的雾霾都很严重, 这样的天气让人感觉很不舒服，刚好我前阵子买了罐仙草罐头，也做了些豆奶，今天就做一些清凉好喝的仙草水和马来西亚人喜欢的仙草豆奶喝。

这两款饮料都是马来西亚人很爱的冷饮，一般是街边小摊既卖仙草水也卖豆浆，后来渐渐地出现了黑白两参，就是仙草加豆奶的饮料，让口感味道更加丰富，有机会你一定要试试哦！

The wildfires in Canada has caused severe haze at where we are. The air condition really made it hard to do much activities, I was having headache and scratchy throat all the time.

I just bought a can of Grass jelly not long ago and made some soy milk few days back. I decided to make some refreshing and delicious Grass jelly water and grass jelly soy milk that Malaysians like to drink to calm my throat.

These two drinks are very popular cold drinks among Malaysians. Usually sold at street stalls you must try it if you have a chance!

Homemade Soy Milk 【自制豆浆/豆奶】

I started a budget for our grocery spending in May just to have a better understanding of how much we actually spend for grocery a month, with inflation and the current economy, it is crucial to be conscious about finances.

I also started a plan to utilize most of the stock we have in pantry before buying more stuff. With that said, I have been making homemade milk (soy, almond milk mostly) for my breakfast. Homemade soy milk is so smooth and creamy that it even gives me some bean curds!

今年五月我开始记录我们家的买菜钱，也有意识地进行预算。主要是想看看在通货膨胀的情况下，我们家一个月的买菜钱是多少。也想逐渐地把家里的囤货先给用完，也算是一个简单的断舍离吧！

所以这几周只要有时间我就会自制豆浆或者杏仁奶喝，营养好喝还节约。自己磨的豆浆很香醇，还每次都能捞出一小片腐竹，我都在炒菜的时一起加入炒了吃。感觉特别满足！

【西洋菜蜜】Watercress Honey Drink

我曾在香港待过两个月，非常享受香港的美食，尤其是各式各样的茶餐厅美食。而这款西洋菜蜜饮料是我觉得特别新奇的一款饮料，因为西洋菜在我家乡都是拿来炖汤的，所以我经常点了来喝。

美东这几天特别冷，刚好买了两把西洋菜，为这几天因为暖气开太足而变得干燥的体质做一锅润肺去燥的西洋菜蜜吧！

I spent two months in Hong Kong sometimes ago and really enjoyed the food in Hong Kong. This watercress honey drink is a type of drink that many restaurants serve, very unique and refreshing.

Since it is not too hard to make it at home, I decided to make a pot of this drink for this winter day.

【英国热威士忌饮】Hot Toddy to fight the Cold

十六岁的时候我到日本当交换生，去的时候正值严冬，一下飞机我就感冒了。后来一直咳嗽不停，吃了好些药都不好。

一天夜里我又咳得睡不着觉，寄宿家庭的爸爸给我弄了一杯这个威士忌热饮，一杯下肚整个身子暖暖地，咳嗽也止住了，那还是我第一次喝酒呢！第二天醒来感冒居然就真的好了一大半。

虽然不知道是不是这款热饮的功劳，平时感冒如果症状不是特别严重，我会弄一杯热威士忌饮当药喝，既能减缓症状，也能提升病时的睡眠质量，让感冒更快好起来。

Years back, I went to Japan as an exchanged student and contracted cold during my stay, the cold symptoms lasted for weeks even after taking some medication.

One night I was coughing so bad that I couldn't sleep, my foster father made me a cup of this hot toddy to help easing my pain, it was my first encounter with alcohol and it was tasting quiet good. 

My cough and cold magically improved the day after I had the hot toddy, though I wasn't sure it was the medicine that I took finally started working or that this hot toddy really did lived up to its fame.

In any case, it is a very nice soothing drink that relieve cold symptoms and helps one sleep better when I was under the weather. 

Asian Pear & Lotus Root Juice 【藕梨汁】

Winter months, for many people is the months of chronic feeling of dry throat and dry nose.

If you’re someone who’s battling itchy throat and bleeding nose, here is one simple solution that requires little effort, the best part of it is, it tastes really good!

深秋、冬季气候干燥，每天在开着暖气的屋里生活很容易上火，造成喉咙鼻腔干燥发疼。

秋冬季节是吃藕和梨的好季节，鲜榨的藕梨汁清火润肺，是冬天最好的降火、润肺饮品。

Mint Barley Water 【薄荷薏米水】

Barley water is well known for its cooling property, it is used especially in the southeast Asia, where the tropical climate brings with it the heat and humidity, this particular beverage could help to prevent dehydration and cool down the body.

The Chinese traditional herb and medicine also believed that barley could help to reduce weight, reduce water retention, and is a good source of fiber.

Since we are running heater 24/7 now in winter, I am making some Barley water to go with the Mint Syrup that I have in the fridge to help quince the thirst and dryness.

东南亚天气炎热，很容易上火。所以那里的人都习惯喝点凉茶或者可以清热祛湿的饮料。

百度百科说：薏米是常用的中药．又是普遍、常吃的食物，性味甘淡微寒，有利水消肿、健脾去湿、舒筋除痹、清热排脓等功效，为常用的利水渗湿药。薏仁又是一种美容食品，常食可以保持人体皮肤光泽细腻，消除粉刺、斑雀、老年斑、妊娠斑、蝴蝶斑，对脱屑、痤疮、皲裂、皮肤粗糙等都有良好疗效。

我之前做过香兰薏米水， 是家乡经常饮用的一道冷饮。冰箱里还有一瓶之前做的薄荷糖浆，今天熬点薏米水，喝的时候加一小勺的薄荷糖浆，薏米和薄荷也很搭哦！

Masala Chai with Spiced Syrup 印度香料奶茶（附加香料糖浆食谱）

My husband loves Spiced tea and could have it several times a day. I used to grudge at the chore of repeatedly boiling and cleaning the utensils to make tea. 

Then one day when I was making this Mint Syrup , it suddenly dawned on me that I can also infuse spices in Syrup and make tea with it!!

That way, I can make as many teas as hubby liked and not having to wash pots several times a day!

So I didn't wait too long to take this thought into action, I made a jar of Spiced Syrup and made Tea for my husband, he couldn't tell the difference from boiling the spices in water!

俊爹很爱喝香料奶茶，只要在家一天要喝好几次。刚结婚的时候对于每天要熬制几次奶茶这件事情我是略有怨言的。来美之后因为俊爹工作的关系，需要做茶喝茶的次数见减少了。我也只在周末比较空的时候才会给他做香料奶茶喝。

前阵子熬制薄荷糖浆的时候我灵机一触，觉得加入香料熬制糖浆岂不就是香料糖浆了嘛！制作一大瓶放在冰箱里，要喝茶的时候岂不是就很方便啦？

于是我就制作了这款糖浆，周末早晨用它做了杯奶茶，俊爹完全没发现是糖浆做的哦！还只说味道真好。

Autumn Pear Paste 【秋梨膏】

Autumn Pear Paste or Qiu Li Gao/秋梨膏 is a type of traditional Chinese herbal remedy that was created in the Tang dynasty, initially for the Royal family. 

It is a type of natural throat demulcent and expectorant that is used for the relief of sore throat, coughs, hoarseness, and loss of voice.  

As the weather gets colder and dryer by the day, it is time to make a bottle of this herbal paste and be ready for the winter !

秋梨膏也叫雪梨膏，相传始于唐朝。以精选之秋梨（或鸭梨、雪花梨）为主要原料，配以其它止咳、祛痰、生津、润肺药物熬制而成。

秋梨膏可用于治疗因热燥伤津所致的肺热烦渴、便干燥闷、劳伤肺阴、咳吐白痰、久咳咯血等呼吸道病症。秋梨膏过去是宫廷内专用的药品，直到清朝由御医传出宫廷，才在民间流传。

趁萝卜和秋梨盛产之际，做一瓶秋梨膏，秋冬寒冷干燥时可以给家人宝宝冲水喝，生津解渴还可以预防感冒。

Mint Limeade & Mint Syrup 【薄荷柠檬水& 薄荷糖浆】

I have a mint plant in my backyard that has been with us for years, it survived a few winters and always managed to come back to flourish. I normally used the leaves to make Pudina chutney or garnish to dishes.

This year I started using fresh mint leaves to make mint syrup to be used in different drinks and desserts. It is so good that I made so many batches in the span of few weeks! My mint plant can hardly keep up with my demand!

我家的后院种了一盆薄荷，每年冬天它都会枯萎冬眠，我会给它施肥加土。第二年春天它也绝不例外地再次钻出土来，又会茂盛地生长一个春夏。

薄荷叶我一般只会拿来做印式薄荷沾酱或饮料食品的点缀。所以种的薄荷也用得不是特别多。

今年夏天我做了这款薄荷糖浆，用来做好多不同的饮料。家人都好喜欢，一个月内我就做了好几瓶。结果后院的薄荷都长不够我用了呢!

Blue Pea Flower Ice Cubes in Milk 蝶豆花冰牛奶

I made Blue Chai and Natural Blue Soda using the butterfly pea flower my mom sent before. I then freeze some of the unsweetened blue chai in a cute dinosaur ice cube box and use it as to serve with some cold milk for my son's play date, it is so cute and beautiful that all kids enjoyed it thoroughly.

前阵子我用娘家给我准备的蝶豆花干做了消暑健康的蓝花/蝶豆花茶 和 梦幻蝶豆花饮料。

我把剩下不加糖和柠檬汁的蓝花/蝶豆花茶倒到可爱的恐龙制冰盒里做成了可爱的蓝恐龙冰块。

在俊宝的小朋友们来家里玩的时候加到冰牛奶里给孩子们喝，颜色好看又可爱，小朋友们都和喜欢哦！

Peach Limeade 【桃子青柠汁】

My son A is a big fan of Peaches, he will ask for it every so often, even when peaches are out of season. It goes without saying that peaches are always in sight at home during its season!

I brought home some sweet juicy peaches from the market and decided to make this delicious limeade, a perfect drink for summer afternoon!

俊宝是个桃子控，不管是白桃，黄桃还是水蜜桃，只要是桃子他都爱吃。冬天时都还经常吵我买罐头桃子给他吃呢！

所以桃子当季的时候我们家是一箱一箱地往家里抗。今天前几天天气太热，就想喝点冰凉的，我做了这款桃子青柠汁，冰镇了喝味道不是一般的好呢！

Corn Milk 【玉米汁】

Sweet，juicy local grown corn is one of the benefits of living in NJ, we loved it grilled, buttered or steamed. Last week the local farmers market had a promotion on sweet corn, I brought a big bag of it and make this very refreshing corn milk.

My son A is a corn lover. He fell for this corn milk instantly, he said : " I like it mommy!"

夏天是甜玉米盛产的季节, 非常甜美多汁。上周我家附近的农夫市场促销玉米，我买了一大包，回来用几根做了这款玉米汁，冰箱里冰起来喝。俊宝很爱吃玉米，对这款玉米汁也赞不绝口哦！

Natural Blue Soda 【梦幻蝶豆花饮料】

I made Blue Chai using the butterfly pea flower not long ago, the color of the drink is so beautiful that I can't stop looking at it. 

I then freeze some of the unsweetened blue chai in ice cube box and use it today to serve with soda, it makes the soda looks so dreamy and beautiful.

A good idea to serve over party!

前阵子我做了消暑健康的蓝花/蝶豆花茶，加了些柠檬汁的蓝花/蝶豆花茶会渐渐变色，颜色非常梦幻，味道也很好。

我把剩下不加糖和柠檬汁的蓝花/蝶豆花茶放到制冰盒里做成蓝色的冰块，拿来和无色的碳酸饮料一起喝，颜色不仅好看，喝了还让心情也好起来哦！

这样的饮料派对里拿来宴客是不是很拉风呢？

Blue Chai (Blue Pea Flower Tea) 【蓝花茶】

When I made Nyonya dumplings not long ago, many friends asked me about the blue coloring I used to dye the rice. It is from blue pea flower/butterfly pea flower, it is a natural food coloring with a lot of health benefits.

According to Wikipedia:

Clitoria ternatea, common names including butterfly pea, blue pea, Aprajita, Cordofan pea and Asian pigeonwings, is a plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family.

......Names in other languages include bunga telang (Malay), อัญชัน `anchan (Thai), đậu biếc (Vietnamese), अपराजिता Aparajita in Hindi and 蝶豆 dié dòu (Mandarin Chinese), 'Sankhu Poolu/Sankham Poolu' in Telugu, "Shankupushpam" in Malayalam language and অপরাজিতা (Aparajita) in Bengali.

In Thailand, a syrupy blue drink is made called nam dok anchan (น้ำดอกอัญชัน), it is sometimes consumed with a drop of sweet lime juice to increase acidity and turn the juice into pink-purple.

前阵子做娘惹粽 的时候好些朋友问我娘惹粽漂亮的蓝色是怎么来的。它是用天然色素蝶豆花染的，出来的效果非常好。蝶豆花是个健康保健的好东西、有抗氧化、提升脑力、护发、提高抵抗力的效果。

在泰国，人们会把蝶豆花泡热水做成蓝色的饮料，有消暑养生的效果。

 夏天来一杯蓝花茶，不仅消暑，是不是还很梦幻呢！

【草莓酸奶昔】Strawberry Lassi

最近草莓上市，非常肥美香甜。我的小菜地草莓也长了一些，收了用自己家里做的优格做这个Lassi，全家都很喜欢哦!

Its Strawberry season！

With those sweet little strawberries in the market （and some from my garden).

I decided to make some Strawberry Lassi with my homemade yogurt, the whole family loved it!

【芒果酸奶昔】Mango Lassi (Mango Yogurt Smoothie)

Mango lassi is one drink I really enjoyed during my stay in India, especially during those hot summer days. Which is also the time different kind of mangoes come into season. 

This mango lassi is sweet, smooth and full of flavor, oh so satisfying!

芒果酸奶昔（Lassi）是我在印度时经常买来享用的饮料。夏日炎炎的时候也是芒果盛产的季节. 慵懒没胃口的夏日午后，来一杯冰凉香甜的Lassi，舒心的感觉至今仍在心间呢！

Lemongrass Tea

This summer I was hooked to a bottled lemongrass drink that sold mainly in health food stores, I had to get a bottle or two whenever I see it in the stores.

This is the tea that I love, love --

To my surprise,  A too likes the tea, one day he was having sore throat and we were out doing some grocery shopping, I bought a bottle of this tea and he asked to try it, I let him and he gulped down almost half bottle! His throat gets much better the next day.

Since he and I loved the tea so much, I made it at home and enjoyed the tea over one hot summer afternoon.

Coffee Ice cubes & Ice Coffee

My mom is a coffee lover and she craves for coffee most afternoon, so we sort of starting a routine of having afternoon coffee ever since she is here.

I got a bag of very good organic coffee from BJ's the other day, when it is brewing, the kitchen smells like a coffee house. 

Chinese Style Almond Tea 【杏仁茶】

Legend has it that this almond milk was the beauty secret used by all concubines at the Imperial palace in ancient China.

It is also recorded in Chinese Medicine book that almond could help in skincare, lung care (to prevent cough and  asthma) and its rich fiber could also help prevent constipation and will help reducing cholesterol!

Note: The almonds used here is different than the almond we snack on, the two type of almonds I used for this milk could be found in Chinese/Asian supermarket or Chinese medicine shop, it is mostly used in medicine/soup in Chinese culinary.

杏仁茶能够养颜，润肺，润肠，还可以止咳平喘。很适合用来预防秋燥，做法也不难，常喝还可以美白祛斑，降低胆固醇喔！