How to Beat the Heat - Rose Lassi
Poet and Flower sat slumped on the bench. It was hot, very hot. After a rainy spring, the weekend turned out to be warm and sunny. It sounded like the perfect day to spend outdoors, running around and burning off all that little kid energy. But nobody was prepared for the heat.
We decided on the zoo, a place we find ourselves often. G voted for the museum, but the majority rules, and much to his disappointment, he was outvoted. We were not the only ones with this idea and found ourselves waiting in a long line simply to get in. The line was long, and the sun was hot. The Indy zoo's downside is there is no place to hide in the shade. It's a beautiful sprawling zoo, but the shade is elusive. We ducked into the forest only to find that the bears and monkeys might have tall trees and shade, but we did not. The kids pulled on hats and soon began to lag.
A small kid walked by with a giant jar filled with a red, icy slushie. The kids squealed in joy and immediately wanted slushies. I loved slushies as a kid and would often get them at our local 7-Eleven. We don't have 7-Elevens here in the midwest, but I remember them fondly. G remembers slushies at his local Wawa, his local convenience store.
You walk past the groceries, and in the back, there would be a little sandwich counter and the giant slushie machine. The clear machine would have a giant paddle that would swirl this delicious pink or blue slush in methodical circles. The person behind the counter would pull an oversized lever and empty the slushie into a giant cup. It came complete with a big straw and a little paddle spoon at the end. The first sip was perfect, cold, sweet, and immensely satisfying.
And so we set out looking for these magical slushies. Poet suggested very sweetly that we should simply ask someone. Good advice. So the next family walking by, we asked. They pointed the way straight ahead, behind the birds, and next to the flamingos. Poet and Flower ran on eagerly only to find another very long line. But this one was worth the wait.
The kids picked out their flavors and waited patiently. Two high school students behind the counter worked diligently. The line slowed when they ran out of the giant cups, but we had waited so long that a little longer seemed ok. And finally, the kids got their giant slushies. They sipped them happily. A little bit of icy goodness on a hot day.
My mother would make sweet and savory lassis on hot summer days. She remembered drinking them in her youth in India. You can find recipes for a pumpkin lassi here. I am partial to sweet lassis, a delicious blend of yogurt blended with ice and sugar. The blender makes it light and frothy. I made a rose lassi this week, flavored with just a little rose syrup. It's slightly floral, sweet, and delicious. I love to think of it as summer in a glass.
We weren't quite prepared for summer this time around. But summer is right around the corner. We are looking forward to more slushies and lassis. We'll be ready with hats and, maybe next time, a little fan.
Rose Lassi
Lassi is a refreshing Indian drink. It can be savory or sweet. This sweet lassi is made with yogurt, water, rose syrup and sugar. The rose syrup gives the drink a sweet floral note that is perfect on a hot afternoon.
Serves 2
- 1 1/2 cups yogurt (nonfat or whole)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons rose syrup
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ground pistachios (for garnish)
- edible rose petals (for garnish)
- Combine the yogurt, water, ice, rose syrup and sugar. Blend in a blender until smooth.
- Pour into tall glasses and garnish with ground pistachios and rose petals.
The lassi should not be too thick, it should be thin and frothy. In between a smoothie and sherbet.
You can find rose syrup at an Indian or Asian grocery store.