with Mary Anne Mohanraj
I really shouldn’t start on the cocktail party cookbook recipes until I finish up the vegan cookbook ones — but since this cocktail is also vegan, and I can potentially include it, I think it’s okay. (There’s going to have to be a bit of a winnowing, though — I have more recipes than I have room for in the book…) I had just enough blooms on my hibiscus tree to pull this off.
Morning, folks! I’m here with your Vegan Serendib Kickstarter update — and stretch goals!
We’ve blown through our $2500 goal, and are currently sitting very nicely at $4287 with two more weeks to go. More funds will let us do more stuff, so here’s the first stretch goal — if we make it to $5000, I’m going to release:
• Serendib Cocktail Party Sampler eBook (aiming for Oct. release, so you have it in plenty of time for the holiday season)
I’m planning to include a baker’s dozen of tropical recipes, including savory bites, sweet bites, and some fun drinks (both alcoholic and non).
As many of us are able to re-enter the party-throwing phase, maybe a little Sri Lankan inspiration will be helpful! (And if you’re still sheltering in place, you might want a little cocktail inspiration for yourself…)
You’ll be able to select the vegan or non-vegan version of the book, and all Kickstarter backers will receive a copy. It’ll also be available for purchase, of course, so a cute little holiday gift for yourself or someone you love?
Interested? Head on over to the Kickstarter and pledge, and/or tell your friends. Likes / comments / shares always appreciated for visiblity!
https://www.kickstarter.com/…/vegan-serendib-a-sri…
I admit, vegetable juice drinks are new to me; I was a little suspicious when I first went to taste beet juice. I thought it might be very, well, beet-y.
But in fact, when you add cardamom, sugar, coconut, and most importantly, lime, the end result is a sweet & tangy drink packed full of nutrient goodness. This would be gorgeous in a pitcher on a brunch board, or served poolside.
3 T lime juice
1. Combine ingredients in a blender; serve chilled.
Note — you can, of course, make this with regular yogurt, which would be standard in Sri Lanka, but I’m working on a vegan cookbook, so…
***
(15 minutes, serves 4)
On a hot day, this a wholesome way to cool down!
1-2 T lime juice (to taste)
1. In a large pouring container, mix yogurt with asafoetida powder (if using) and salt.
2. Add 2-4 c. water, stirring to combine, to your desired drinking consistency.
3. Add chopped onion, green chili, and coriander to the beverage.
4. In a small pan on high, heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they start to splutter, remove from heat and add to the beverage, stirring to combine.
5. Add lime juice and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve cold as a refreshing beverage; it can also be served as an accompaniment to a rice meal, and in that instance, would be poured over the rice.
NOTE: To turn this into a refreshing cocktail, feel free to add a shot or two of arrack to the glass!
One more hour, my local peeps, for this event. (Me pictured wearing one of Madhurima’s fabulous earrings; you can’t have this pair, but she has other delightful options…)
I have to say the main thing that’s sold this time are confections (esp. the sweet samplers) and cakes — the redbud cakes have been selling like hotcakes. Maybe because they’re delicious? Not that people can tell that when they’re wrapped in plastic wrap, but they look delicious, and they ARE delicious. Also curry powder, several. Plus a scarf and a set of greeting cards and an alicorne soap for someone’s little girl, and a constellation pendant w/ necklace.
It’s interesting how differently things sell at different kinds of events — in December, lots of people wanted soaps for little $5 stocking stuffers. I thought they’d be big for Mother’s Day, but I guess not?
Still, it’s a beautiful day, and I’m enjoying myself on my porch (grateful for the shade) with my elderflower rose lemonade (which is kind of ridiculously floral in concept, but also tasty).
So you’ve simmered down some delicious edible redbuds in a sugar syrup, and you have plenty of pretty pink redbud syrup on hand. After a long day of spring gardening, here’s a lovely floral relaxer. Scoop of ice cream optional, but a nice addition.
Scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
1. In a cocktail glass, combine vodka, lemon or lime juice, and syrup; stir to combine.
2. Garnish with slice of lemon and redbud flowers, and if you like, add a scoop of ice cream. Enjoy!
Redbud syrup: https://serendibkitchen.com/2021/04/15/redbud-syrup/
So, I don’t have a recipe for you yet, because I think this version had a little too much gelatin. I did 5 packets to about 2 c. liquid (puree + water) I think, and the resulting gummies were quite firm; I want to try lessening the amount of gelatin, see if they still set and are a little softer.
But that said, they were tasty, Kavi enjoys eating them, and they’re fun for decorating a mango mimosa!
I’d hesitated to open a bottle of champagne for New Year’s, given that Kevin doesn’t like champagne much, so it’d just be me — but then I thought, well, it’s a gift that someone brought to my house in a previous year for a party, so it’ll be a nice memory of friends past, which is particularly appropriate for New Year’s (Auld Lang Syne), and I can probably convince my neighbors to take the rest of the bottle and finish it off (and they did). 
The pomegranate seeds were both pretty and delicious in the mimosa; recommended!
(5 minutes, serves 2)
When I visited Paris, I got to try hot chocolate the way they make it, which is pretty much melted chocolate & cream — very different from the rather watery (and sometimes gritty) version Americans often encounter.
This recipe is a touch lighter than the French version, and inflected with spices you’d find in chai. The key to maximizing its deliciousness is to use high quality ingredients — dutch-process cocoa, excellent chocolate chips (I use Callebaut or Ghirardelli), and nutmeg grated fresh (your microplane grater will make this easy).
The end result is luxurious enough to serve at a dinner party, but is also just right for comforting your stressed out student facing exams, or for just indulging yourself at the end of a long week. And if you want to make it just a little more French and a little more indulgent, feel free to substitute in half a cup of heavy cream for half a cup of milk!
mini marshmallows for serving (optional)
1. Place milk, cocoa powder, spices, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until warm (but not boiling), and the cocoa and sugar have dissolved. Add chocolate chips and whisk constantly for another thirty seconds or so, until the chocolate chips melt and distribute evenly into the milk. Serve hot, ideally with a few mini marshmallows on top!
