Orange Fizzy Drink

This quick and easy mocktail is a perennial favourite with the young ones, who have tried mixing it themselves occasionally, leaving the Swallow with a little extra time to prepare that special meal.

Using the level indicators on the bottle, pour out 2 levels of Sunquick orange juice concentrate into a drink container (time to use that punch bowl set!).  Add 4 bottles of Sprite 1.5L, 4 blocks of ice and water to taste.  Mix well.

Prepare this drink about an hour before the guests arrive, giving the ice some time to melt.  Adjust taste, if necessary, before serving.

This mixture can serve about 15 to 20 persons if the young ones do not have a free hand with it...

Cocoa & Peanut Butter Shakes

Whenever the Swallow needs to clear either the cocoa powder or the peanut butter in her pantry, this is a recipe she considers using.  Although a little too creamy for her, the young ones enjoy this rare treat.

Blend 1 cup vanilla ice-cream, 1 banana (peeled), 1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder, 1 tbsp peanut butter and 1/4 cup milk until the mixture is creamy.  Serves 1 to 2.

Chocolate Banana Shakes

This high-energy drink combines two ingredients on the young ones' list of favourite foods.  Little wonder it makes an appearance during the holidays - yes, young ones' always-hungry stomachs strike again!

CHOCOLATE BANANA SHAKES

Two different versions of
Chocolate Banana Shakes
(Version 1 is on the right and
Version 2 is on the left)

Version 1 (makes 2 x 250 ml servings)
Ingredients
250 g chocolate ice-cream
1 banana (peeled), about 100 g
125 ml milk

Version 2 (makes 2 x 250 ml servings)
Ingredients
200 g chocolate ice-cream
2 bananas (peeled), about 200 g
60 ml milk

Method

For either version, blend the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth.

Notes
This recipe is good for clearing over-ripe bananas, or getting your young ones (or young-at-heart ones) to eat their fruits!

Cookie Shakes

This recipe is good for clearing all those sandwich cookies the young ones bring home in their goodie bags.  It is welcomed as a snack for those holidays when the young ones seem to be hungry all the time.

Blend together 2 1/2 cups vanilla ice-cream, 6 pcs broken-up chocolate sandwich cookies (or any other flavour, maybe not jam, then again it may be good...), and 1/2 cup milk until the mixture is a little chunky.  Serve with a few broken-up pieces of cookies as a garnish.  This mixture serves 1 to 2.

Luo Han Guo Tea

Luo Han Guo, also known as Lor Hon Kuo in Cantonese, is lightweight, round and dark-brown (before drying, it is green). This dried fruit has a sweet taste and is easily available in Chinese medical shops.

Due to its cooling properties, it is very popular to drink Luo Han Guo Tea during the hot weather, which occurs frequently in Singapore and Malaysia.

It is very simple to make Luo Han Guo Tea.  No sugar is needed to sweeten the tea and this makes the tea suitable for diabetics.

LUO HAN GUO TEA (serves 3)

Luo Han Guo

Ingredients

• 2 pcs Luo Han Guo
• 4 cups water

Method

1. Wash and rinse luo han guo.  Crush them open.  Put everything into a pot.
2. Add water and boil for 40 minutes.
3. Strain and serve the tea.

Note

• The Luo Han Guo residue is good for a few more rounds of boiling, although the sweetness will be milder.  Re-boil as many rounds to personal taste.