Khajoor Ka Halwa.. Dates Halwa.

Khajoor Ka Halwa is an a very yummy sweet dish, which can be made easily at home and relish with vanilla ice cream. The combination of dates and dry fruits are to die for and can be stored in the fridge for a week or 2. All you need is just a handful of ingredients to make this delicious halwa. Do try and let me know.

Ingredient's.

1/2kg dates (dry one's)

1+1/2 cup of sugar

1 cup dry fruits (almond,cashew,raisin)

1/2 ghee.

Cooking Method.

Soak the dates over night. Then de seed them and grind to a course paste.

In a deep frying pan add the ghee, when the ghee is hot, fry all the dry fruits to golden brown and set it aside.

Now in the same deep frying pan add the ground dates paste and fry till it becomes dry, then add sugar and dry fruits, again fry the halwa till it becomes completely dry and ghee starts floating on top..

Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Almond Biscotti.

Almond Biscotti. I have tired baking this in India also many times but when I baked the same biscotti again here I don't know some how they taste better and they look better may be because of the different oven. My hubby surprised me by finishing it all in 2days even I ate more then 3 and it was tasting awesome. He was telling me that I have wasted so much of money buying cookies, biscuits from outside, this taste better then that and I would love to have this in my lunch box as a evening snacks... Omg I was on the could nine when he told me that because it is little hard to convince my H when it comes to food.. This yummy and crunchy biscotti which goes very well with tea or a coffee..

Ingredient's.

2 cups of plain flour

2 large eggs

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1tsp baking powder

1tsp vanilla essence

1tsp orange zest

3/4 cup roasted alomnds

1/2 cup black raisin.

Baking Method.

Pre-heat the oven 180c for 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl add flour and baking powder and mix them nicely. roughly chop the alomonds and mix it with flour and set it aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar beat untill light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, vanilla essence and orange zest beat for another 2 to 3minutes

Then mix in the dry ingredients and beat untill the dry ingredients are well mixed.

On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a log about 14 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Transfer to baking tray and bake for 30-40 mins. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 mins.

Then cut into slices 1/2 inch thick diagonally and arrange evenly on baking tray. Bake for 10 mins on each side (until they are firm). Remove from oven and cool.

Store them into airtight container.

Kesar Shrikhand. (Low Calorie Yogurt Dessert)

Kesar Shrikhand is healthy Indian dessert made from strained curd. This is a low calorie, rich and creamy yogurt. Shrikhand is generally flavoured with saffron, cardamom and dry fruits even it is served with fresh fruits or as a standalone dessert... I was not knowing what is shrikhand and how it taste, I had heard about it but never tasted before I meet my H, I still remember that day when he had got a pack of Haldiram's shrikhand and I told him that why did you get such a expensive curd, you should have just bought a pack of curd which will not cost more then 10rs. He look at me and said you don't know what is this? and I told him yes ofcourse I know this some weird color curd. He started laughing and said this is shrikhand my dear and I can't belive you have still not tasted this and my reaction was ohhh this is shrikhand from then I know what is shrikhand and how it taste like..

I made this dessert last week and it tasted better then the store bought and I did not get the perfect color of saffron while I was taking pictures and I did take the pictures soon just because I knew that it will be over and I was not sure when I will make this dessert again.. After 2 hours I had got the perfect saffron color and it was looking beautiful... Do try this wonderful low fat dessert and serve as you like...

Ingredient's.

2 cups yogurt

1/2 cup powdered sugar (add more if you like)

10 to 15 saffron strands

3tbsp finely chopped dry fruits (pistachio, almond, raisin and cashew)

2tsp milk

Pinch of cardamom powder.

Method.

Spread clean muslin cloth on a big plate. Place yogurt in the center. Wrap and tightly tie muslin cloth.

Hang yogurt for 2 to 3 hours or until all water is drained off from yogurt. It should become very thick.

After that untie muslin cloth and transfer thick strained yogurt to bowl.

Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix well until smooth.

Dissolve saffron in milk and add it to the yogurt mixture and mix well. Then refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hour before serving.

Garnish it with dry fruits nuts and serve chilled.

Choba Ki Poori..(Diwali Snacks)

Choba Ki Poori.. You can call them as a (Big Gujia). choba ki poori method is same as gujia but without khova and they are big in size. This is muslim family recipe, they cook this on special occasions like marriage. From a bride side they have to cook this and send it to the grooms house before the day of marriage.. There are many other occasions we cook this if I start then I don't think one post will be enough to tell every thing.

This is my Husband's first Diwali away from home and I don't want him to miss anything because of that only I'm trying my best to make him not to miss anything. I cook gujia very often as he loves to eat them , but this time I wanted to try out something new for him so I thought of this recipe and it turn out to be tasty and he loved it. This is not the only thing, I have lots of plans and many dishes to cook. Hoping for the best :-)

Happy Diwali to my all blog readers and to my friends. May god bless you all with lots of happiness and many more years like this with your family and friends :-)

Ingredient's For Filling.

100gm dry coconut

1+1/2 sugar

1/4cup dry fruits (almonds, raisin, pistachio and cashew)

Ingredient's For Poori.

2 cups of maida

2tbsp ghee/oil

Water (to make a dough)

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method For Filling.

Grate the dry coconut.

Chop the almonds, cashew and pistachio into vertical small pieces.

In a vessel, add sugar, grated coconut and all the dry fruits. Give them a nice mix and set it aside. 

Filling is ready.

Cooking Method For Poori's.

Mix maida and ghee. 

Now add water and make dough.

Take small amount of dough and make a small chapatti, put the filling, apply water to the corners of chapatti and fold it giving a semi- circular shape. Press the corners of the puri with your nails.

In a deep frying pan heat oil, and deep fry the pooris to golden brown. Take out on to a paper towel.

Choba Poori is ready to serve.

Store them into Airtight container for more then a week..

Lauki (Bottle Gourd) Kofta With Tangy Yogurt Curry.

Lauki Kofta With Tangy Yogurt Curry!! I have cooked the lauki kofta curry with yogurt for the first time and it turn out to be the best and yummy curry.. I usually cook any rich gravies by adding cream or a milk but adding yogurt to this curry it gave a very nice texture and tangy taste and it was going very well with hot rice.. i simply love it... Every time i cook any kofta curry in my family everyone loves it, even i feel good because i don't have to cook any other side dish, this will do both the job, we can eat with Roti's and Rice too..

 

 

This recipe is adopted from Anjana Ji from Mayeeka. She is wonderful cook and i love her almost all the recipes. This was one of the best dish and i have followed her almost all the steps and the curry was delicious...

 

 

Ingredient's.
For Kofta

Grated bottle gourd/Lauki-2 cup
Ginger-1/2 tsp
Raisins-2 tsp
Gram flour-1/2 cup
Cornflour-1bsp
Turmeric -1/4 tsp
Chilli powder-1 tsp
Salt- as per taste.

 

 

Ingredient's.

For Gravy
Tomato-3
Ginger-1/2 tsp
Yoghurt-6 tbsp
Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
Turmeric-1/4 tsp
Chili powder-1 tsp
Salt-as per taste
Water-1.5 cup.

 

 

Cooking Method.

Pressure cook bottle gourd with 1/ 2 cup water for 1whistle only.
Drain and let it cool down,then squeeze the water from the bottle gourd (reserve the water to use in the gravy).
Take bottle gourd in a bowl and add gram flour, corn flour, salt, chili powder, pinch of garam masala, 1/ 2tsp grated ginger, and chopped raisins.
Mix well and make walnut size smooth and round balls.
Deep fry in hot oil on medium flame till golden in colour,drain and keep aside.

 

For The Gravy.
Grind the tomatoes with 2 green chilies, ginger and make a smooth puree.
Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds,when start crackling then add tomato puree and saute for approx 2- 3 minutes on medium flame.
Now add turmeric, chili powder, salt, coriander powder and mix well and cook for few seconds.
Blend yogurt with 1.5 cup water and add in the gravy.
Cook for approx 5 minute on low flame, now add koftas and cook for a minute.
Add fresh corinader and serve hot, garnished with Rice Or Roti's.

Bread Pudding!!!

Bread Pudding.. Like every sunday, today also i woke up at 10am and made ginger tea. Then i woke my husband, with the tea and news paper... Before reading main news paper, i always read the Times Life first in Sunday edition. I was just reading and looking all those glossy pictures of beautiful homes. Then suddenly i saw a coloum about Terrance Lewis, Choreographer. It talked about his childhood days and his favorite cuisine etc. During his childhood days his mom use to bake bread pudding on every Sundays lunch, and this is his favorite pudding and he loves to eat every time.

 

 

The picture was looking so appealing and it tempted me to bake it right away... I have never baked a bread pudding before and this recipe was very simple and easy. With no preparation i baked this bread pudding as i had all the ingredients at home and that made my job easy and filled me with lot of joy after seeing the result.. Simple to bake and delicious to eat... Here goes the recipe.

 

 

Serves-3

Preparation Time-5 to 10 minutes

Baking Time-40 minutes

Ingredient's
4 slice of bread
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2tsp vanilla essence
1/2tsp cinnamon powder
3tbsp sugar
2tbsp raisins
1tbsp butter.

 

 

 

Baking Method
Pre-heat the oven to 175c.
Slice bread into small pieces (any shape you want) and place them into baking dish (I have used rectangular baking dish). Drizzle melted butter and some raisins over them.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly press down with a fork until the slices are completely covered and soaked in the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.
Serve Hot or Warm.

Merry Christmas!!!! Eggless Mini Bundt Cake.

It's Christmas time again. Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends and readers. Do lots of shopping, cooking and enjoy your holidays... I have made this bundt as i had made the pound cake with little bit of change in ingredient's.. And this bundt also had come out very spongy, this year i'm doing lots of baking, there are many more recipes yet to come, u'll all see it very soon :)

Ingredient's

1+1/2cups all purpose flour

1/2cup butter, room temperature

1/2cups sugar

1cup plain yogurt

1/4cup milk

1tsp vanilla extract

1tsp baking powder

1tsp baking soda

4tbsp dried black grapes and raisin.

For the icing

2tbsp icing sugar

1/2tbsp warm water.

Baking Method

Preheat oven at 350F/180C for 10minutes. Grease and flour the mini bundt cake tin.

In a small bowl blend together the, milk, yogurt and vanilla extract.

In another small bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until it’s light and fluffy. To this mixture, add the liquid ingredients in 3 additions, beating well after each addition.

Now combine the dry ingredients and blend well. Stir in the black grapes.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. I made 6 mini bundt cake from this batter.

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. You will be able to remove the cake from the pan in about 10-15 minutes. Keep the cake on the wire rack and let it cool completely.

After the cake completely cooled pour the icing on it..

Suji Ka Ladoo

Though quick and easy to cook, this Indian dessert is very tasty and also hugely popular. It's perfect to make when time is short but you still want a special dessert. These ladoos can also be prepared on the occasion of any festival. These ladoos are very delicious and can be stored for even 15 to 20 days.

Ingredients:
500 gms Sooji/ Rava
6 tbsps ghee
300 gms sugar
500 ml milk
3/4 cup mixture of cashews, almond, raisin and dry cocnut

Preparation:
Heat a deep pan on a medium flame and when hot add the ghee. When it melts, add the cashews, almond and rasins and fry for 2-3 minutes. Drain with a slotted spoon and remove onto paper towels. Keep aside for later. In the same ghee, add the Sooji and mix well. Roast the Sooji (stirring frequently) till it begins to turn a very light golden color and give off a faint aroma. Add the sugar and mix well. Now gently add the milk, stirring all the while to prevent lumps from forming. If any do form, make sure to break them with the back of the stirring spoon so you get a smooth paste-like consistency. Cook the mixture till it is thick and begins to come away from the sides of the pan. Add the dry fruits and dry coconut now and mix well. Turn off the fire and allow the mixture to cool till you are able to comfortably handle it. Now form the mixture, a little at a time, into lime-sized balls (Laddoos). Press gently but firmly with lightly greased palms to ensure they have no cracks and are firm and smooth. Arrange the Laddoos on a lightly greased platter as you prepare. The Laddoos will become firmer if left alone for approximately half an hour. They are now ready to serve or store for later. Keep in an airtight container for upto 1 week.

Raisin Bread

I love fresh made bread. You can make all sorts of great bread but a recipe I particularly like is a good raisin bread. I could eat a whole loaf. Anyway here is a great raisin bread recipe that you can make it easily... I must thanks to Priya for telling me how to bake bread.. First time i baked bread and thank god it came out very well..:)

Ingredient's

1tbsp active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup scalded milk
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten

Preparation
Dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine raisins, butter, sugar, salt, and hot milk, stir to dissolve the sugar. Let mixture cool to lukewarm. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the flour, beat well. 

Add yeast mixture and the beaten eggs, mix to blend well. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft but stiff dough. 

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl, turning once to grease the surface. 

Cover with a clean dish cloth, let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. 

Punch dough down and divide into 2 portions. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Shape into a round. and place it in a baking tray. Cover and let rise again for about 45 to 60 minutes, until almost double. apply some butter on the dough. 

Bake at 175 degree for 25 minutes in a pre heated oven, placing foil over loaves the last 10 minutes, if loaves are getting too brown. Remove loaves from pans and let cool on racks.

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