Refreshing Almond Drink

This Saturday, I visited my friend at Versova after a long time. ”Your welcome drink is ready” she said as soon as I entered her house. There was a great variety of food cooked for us, but in this heat, we can’t eat too much. But almond drink was a clever idea. I loved the nutty taste plus it’s so nutritious. I can’t remember the number of glasses I drank ..was it two?…or maybe five…? I can't remember...

The taste lingers till you go for next sip.

I hate asking for recipes during eating and drinking moments, the concentration get diverted. But while I take each sip, savoring and guessing the ingredients is a wonderful game I play silently in my mind.

I am aware that almond juice is good for health, it’s good for selfie too…the pretty glowing skin that results after regular cups of this refreshing drink..

And if we are not too logy, why not make it regularly?

Just soak 25-30 almonds in the water for 5-6 hours.

The skin begins to wrinkle and easily slips off with soft touch.

Transfer the peeled almond in the blender and add 1tsp aniseeds (sauf) 1tsp Black pepper (kala miri) 1tsp Poppy seeds (Khus khus) 2-3 Cardamon(elachi), 1tbsp sugar and 1tbsp of pumpkin seeds.

Add 2glasses of water and grind it to thin paste.

Line the strainer with cheesecloth and pour the blended mixture over it.

Gather the cheesecloth over the almond mixture and twist and squeeze out all the milk

Garnish with saffron threads, ground cashew nuts, ground pistachio and rose petals

You could add jaggery, figs or dates instead of sugar.

Serve chilled.