As soon as summer arrives, everyone starts craving for refreshingly cool lemonade iced tea served in tall glasses with generous cubes of ice. A very common drink in the south, it has been noted that iced tea makes for about 85% of the total tea consumption in the United States. The reason for such a high margin is pretty simple, iced tea is a healthy alternative to carbonated beverages.

Iced tea is available in many flavors, the most common among them being fruit-based flavors. Many novel flavors of iced tea have now been introduced. These include iced jasmine tea, herbal iced tea and the like. However, despite these new-age flavors and so much variety, the good old lemonade iced tea is still a favorite among many people.

Easily made at home, lemonade iced tea is healthy as well as quite versatile since it can be an accompaniment to any meal or had as a standalone drink. Generally made with green tea leaves, it has all the health benefits of tea including a high proportion of antioxidants. It is also known to be good for the heart, especially its unsweetened variant. The addition of lemon gives the drink an astringent quality, which is known to be good for your gums and teeth.

The first known recipe of lemon-flavored iced tea was developed in 1879 by Marion Cabell Tyree, the author of the book ‘Housekeeping in Old Virginia’. The book was very influential down south.  Cabell had apparently collected the recipes in the book from “two hundred and fifty of Virginia’s noted housewives”. In the book, the recipe for lemonade iced tea calls for green tea. The tea is boiled and then steeped for the whole day. After the tea has been steeped, tall glasses are filled with ice and two heaped teaspoons of granulated sugar and  lemon juice is squeezed over them before the tea is poured into these glasses.

Three years after Cabell published her recipe for iced tea with lemon, D. A. (Mary) Lincoln, head of the Boston cooking school developed her own variation which used black tea instead of green tea, as prescribed by Housekeeping in Old Virginia. Despite the existence of these recipes, lemonade iced tea, or iced tea in general, was made popular and sold commercially only in 1904 by Richard Blechynden at the World’s Fair in St.Louis. Blechynden saw a huge number of fair-goers looking for something cold to drink on that hot summer’s day. Seeing an opportunity, he started chilling his hot tea and sold iced tea to his customers. The beverage became an instant hit.

Our unhealthy lifestyle and our tendency to prefer junk food over the healthy ones have resulted in our falling into the traps laid down by the fast food joints which serves us with mouthwatering delicacies but yet fail us on the health grounds. You get a rude wake up call when you see you are out of breath after climbing ten steps or you cannot bend over properly to tie your shoelaces as your paunch hinders this activity. After much self- introspection you decide that you have been reckless about your health and you start exercising. However, unless your eating habits undergo changes, your weighing scale would not budge.

In addition to healthy eating, why not try healthy drinking. Go easy on the beer for sometime and try some green drinks for a change. Your beer might give you a high but your green drinks would ensure perfect health for the rest of your life. But what exactly are green drinks and what is so special about these drinks? Well, green drinks or green smoothies are the new health drinks that are almost every health enthusiast’s new best friend. Green drinks are your new detox drinks made of fresh green veggies which would flush off all the toxins from your body.

The next question you pose would be why should I consume these green smoothies? Get ready to be surprised and read on.

• They help you lose weight. Well, that should be enough to start appreciating this drink. Since these drinks have vegetables for its source, they are high in fiber, low in carbohydrates and do not mess with your blood sugar levels if you are suffering from it.

• They are high in their calcium, potassium and magnesium content. They work wonders for your bones and does not contain high amount of sodium which inflicts irreparable damages.

• These drinks keep cancer at bay since they are rich in carotenoids. Broccoli, kale, spinach, collard greens, etc. are the ones that you would be turning into smoothies if you wish to be on guard and prevent the life-threatening disease.

• The the green veggies in these drinks are rich sources of vitamins A,D,C and the various antioxidants that your body needs in abundance to function and keep you healthy. Your dark leafy vegetable smoothie would also prevent blood clotting since it contains vitamin K

These  reasons must be quite enough to motivate you to make your own smoothie. Making green drinks isn’t a herculean task and you can look up recipes for the same on the internet. Include these drinks in your menu now to start your journey towards a healthier tomorrow.

Being healthy is one of the topmost priorities these days since health is on a decline as a result of our constant quest to meet our daily needs and the luxuries we yearn for. You may hit the gym or go for a walk but unless you stick to your diet the weighing scale won’t budge an inch.

Following a diet religiously is what would get you closer to your destination. Along with healthy eating, people have now resorted to healthy drinking. Give your beer some time off and check out the green drinks that have caught people’s fancy off late. Green drinks are nothing but your vegetables concocted in a liquid form to cater to your daily intake of minerals, vitamins, fiber, magnesium, etc. Check out some of the most popular green drinks have not just worked wonders for people but also taste good once you get used to it.

• The kiwi and spinach smoothie: Kiwi is known for its various health benefits and is very popular among those who aim at controlling their blood pressure. Spinach has high proteins, fiber, calcium and aids weight loss. This unusual combination brings to the table the perfect blend of the fruit and the vegetable and keeps you feeling full at least till your lunch.

• The wonderful broccoli: This drink has as its ingredients- broccoli, a fuji apple,lemon and peppermint. Two veggies and the goodness of a fruit makes this drink  high in antioxidants! This broccoli concoction  is advisable to consume before meals as it helps absorb the different nutrients in our food that would otherwise go waste.

• Kale apple love: Kale is rich in minerals, vitamin C and B6 and is instrumental in maintaining a healthy heart. Apple on the other hand, is one of the best antioxidants and helps the process of detoxification. So, put them in your blender and give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of this potion.

• The green detox drink: This green drink is well-known for aiding the weight loss process. It has for its ingredients- green apples, stalks of celery, cucumber, kale, lemon and mint. It helps in reducing your cholesterol, improves your skin, lowers your blood pressure and has plenty other benefits.

These are just some of the popular green drinks but there are plenty of green drinks recipes if you search the internet. The best part about making such drinks is that you do not  have to follow a particular set recipe. You can try your hand at mixing different ingredients and the result might surprise you as well. Make your own green drink and raise a toast to health!

Unlike cocktails such as margaritas and mojitos, which are quite popular, Moscow mule does not figure in most people’s favored cocktail lists. Despite it being relatively unknown, the Moscow mule is one of the simplest cocktails that requires a pretty minimal number of ingredients: vodka, ginger beer, and lime.

The Moscow mule is an all-weather drink. With the zesty-ness of lemon and coolness of beer, it makes for a perfect refreshing summer drink, while the heat of vodka and ginger makes it good enough to warm you up during the winters. Here are five Moscow mule recipes. We have the classic Moscow mule recipe and four variations to add an interesting spin to this no-frills drink.

• Classic Moscow mule: In a cocktail shaker, squeeze the juice of half a lime. Pour one ounce of vodka and four to six ounces of ginger beer. Shake it for 15 minutes. Pour the drink in a copper mug. Serve this classic Moscow mule in the mug with a slice of lime wedge placed on the rim.
• Gin mule: This Moscow mule recipe is quite common in the UK. The reason? Gin and ginger beer are the favorites among people in that region. This variation of Moscow mule uses gin instead of vodka. The rest of the ingredients and the method to make this cocktail is the same as the classic mule recipe.
• Mexican mule: This variation of Moscow mule works great as an alternative to your regular margarita. Replace vodka with tequila and add ginger beer. Squeeze fresh lime juice and shake everything together. Voila! Your tequila-spinned Mexican mule is ready.
• Skinny mule: This is a lighter version of the classic Moscow mule recipe. The skinny mule does not require ginger beer, instead you use freshly grated ginger. Add about one-eighth to    one-fourth freshly grated ginger with lime juice. Pour vodka and stir it. Add ice and sparkling water to have a light and refreshing skinny mule.
• Citrus mule: This is quite a versatile variation of the Moscow mule recipe. You can use different citrus fruits to make your own version of the citrus mule. Take half an ounce of fresh lime juice and fresh lemon juice, add one ounce of orange liqueur with two ounces of ginger beer and vodka and stir everything together. Add ice and garnish with grapefruit and roughly chopped mint. You can use blood oranges, clementines or Meyer lemons as per their availability and your preference.

Moscow Mule with its signature copper mug has an interesting story. In 1939, the owner of The Cock ˜N’ Bull bar in Hollywood, Jack Morgan and the owner of Smirnoff, John Martin, collaborated to promote the bar’s house ginger beer and Smirnoff vodka. The result was the Moscow mule. Served in copper mugs, this cocktail has been successful in keeping alive both the brands after so many years.

There is also a story behind how the Moscow mule came to be served in copper mugs. A Russian immigrant, Sophie Berezinski, had made the original copper mugs in her father’s workshop back in Russia. When she immigrated to California, she brought along with her 2,000 copper mugs she had designed. Reluctant to throw them away, she started looking for opportunities to sell her mugs. Fortunately, she came in contact with The Cock ˜N’ Bull team who were looking to promote their latest cocktail. That’s when Moscow mule came to be served in its typical copper mug and the beverage got its name: Moscow mule.

A professional bartender may have a fancy way of making the Moscow mule. However, you can use this simple recipe to to make this classic cocktail of vodka and beer at home. A Moscow mule recipe is pretty simple and minimalistic. It has just two major ingredients: vodka and ginger beer. Check out these five easy steps to the Moscow mule recipe.

Step 1: Take half a piece of lime and squeeze the juice into a copper mug. Drop the spent lime shell into the mug.

Step 2: Drop in two to three cubes of ice, as per your requirement.

Step 3: Pour two ounces of vodka over the ice cubes and lime.

Step 4: Fill the mug with four to six ounces of cold ginger beer or ginger ale, if you prefer.

Step 5: Shake it for fifteen minutes.

Your classic Moscow mule is ready!
This Moscow mule recipe is so simple that you don’t need any specialized skills or specialized cocktail shaker. The Moscow mule is the perfect summer cocktail.  With these 5 easy steps, you can make Moscow mule for your house party or even just for yourself as you are winding down for the day. If you are in the mood for a nightcap when you invite your date home or are having friends over for the evening, you can make this light cocktail in a jiffy. Make sure to stock up on enough vodka, beer and lime. In case you cannot find ginger beer, you can use grated ginger as well.

Smoothies have come to replace breakfast for a lot of people. The reason is pretty simple, morning is the busiest part of everyone’s day. You rush around getting ready for work and to start your day. Most often, the one thing that takes a beating and that is often neglected is breakfast. So, if you find yourself missing on some solid breakfast, despair not. Grab some yogurt and make some smoothie for yourself to have it on-the-go.

Many smoothie recipes call for yogurt. This is because yogurt smoothies are the healthiest of the lot with their rich probiotic content. Also, when you add your preferred fruit or vegetable, you get all the vitamins and energy essential for your body. Yogurt smoothies can also help you get rid of your hunger pangs and cravings. You can gulp down on these delicious yogurt smoothies. Use these awesome yogurt smoothies recipes to make something healthy and take it along with you.

• Spicy blueberry smoothie: This yogurt-based smoothie has a hint of spice along with the tangy-ness of blueberries. Combine half cup blueberries, one teaspoon ground cinnamon, one cup yogurt and one cup milk (low-fat, if you prefer). Add ice and sugar if you desire. To make the smoothie thicker, add one more cup of yogurt and reduce milk by half.
• Fruity yogurt smoothie: In the blender, blend one banana, one cup strawberries, half cup yogurt, one-fourth cup pineapple juice, one teaspoon of orange juice and milk  and one teaspoon of sugar (if preferred). You can use any berries, if strawberries are not available.
• Pineapple banana smoothie: This yogurt smoothie recipe needs one medium banana, one cup of crushed pineapple, one cup yogurt, and one cup orange juice. Blend everything together until you get a smooth consistency.
• Shot of spice smoothie: Blend together one cup chilled apple cider, one cup milk (low fat, if preferred), one cup yogurt, one banana, half cup sliced blackberries, two teaspoons honey, one-fourth teaspoon of ground cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom and nutmeg each.
• Cinnamon bun smoothie: This smoothie is as satisfying as having cinnamon rolls. In a blender, process half a frozen banana, half cup almond milk, half cup water, one fourth teaspoon of ground cinnamon, one fourth cup oats, and half cup of yogurt. Add ice cubes if desired.

Since mornings are rushed, you can make these smoothies at night and store in the fridge. In the morning, grab some yummy yogurt smoothie on the way as you go about your day.

Smoothies are one of those beverages that fill your stomach up without compromising on taste or health. With yogurt as the base, you can play around with any fruit or vegetable ingredient to make your own smoothie recipe. Smoothies are the best ways to beat the occasional hunger cravings.

Imagine you are working at your desk. You look at the clock and see that there are still two hours more to go until you have your dinner. But you are already feeling those pangs of hunger. Or perhaps you are craving to fill your stomach and there is a pack of chips lying next to you, you reach for it and your brain comes up with warning signs: fats! cholesterol! calories! You restrain yourself as your stomach grumbles.

Oh wait. Didn’t you see some yogurt in your refrigerator? Well, you are in for luck! Grab your yogurt and blend your own healthy and delicious yogurt smoothie from these easy-to-make recipes.

• Sweet green smoothie: To make this smoothie, you will need two cups of spinach, a cup of yogurt, one ripe pear, a handful of red or green grapes, two tablespoons of avocado (chopped) and one tablespoon of lime juice. Blend everything until smooth to have a sweetish tangy yogurt smoothie.
• Peach green tea smoothie: In a blender, combine one cup chilled green tea, one cup chopped peaches, half a banana, half cup plain yogurt, and two tablespoons honey. Add a few drops of vanilla essence. Add ice if you want a frosty smoothie.
• Cantaloupe coconut smoothie: This yogurt recipe for smoothie requires more than the basic ingredients that would be available in your kitchen. To make this smoothie, you will need one cup coconut water, half cup of light coconut milk, half cup plain yogurt, two cups of frozen cantaloupe cubes, two teaspoons of honey, a pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom powder, and a pinch of salt. Blend everything together and serve by sprinkling some toasted coconut on the top.
• Very berry smoothie: This is the simplest among the smoothie recipes. You need half cup each of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Blend these with one ripe banana, one cup of yogurt, and two tablespoons of oats.

You can have these wholesome protein-rich yogurt smoothies on-the-go, for your breakfast or at any time in the day to satiate your cravings. Depending on your taste preferences, you can make them sweet or savory. Either way, you will have healthy and flavorsome smoothies that will turn off the warning signs in your brain the next time you feel like grabbing a snack between your meals.