Sakara Pongal

Pongal is celebrated across the nation in different names. Pongal / Sankranti / Uttarayan / Lohri / Maghi etc...  Basically its a festival dedicated to nature and praying god before harvesting..  In south Sakara Pongal is a mandatory sweet made on this day... Tomorrow being pongal, I thought it will be nice to share the recipe of sakara pongal with you all...

Ingredients:

Rice -  1 Cup

Moong Dhal - 1/2 Cup

Jaggery - 1 Cup

Water - 2 Cups

Milk - 1 1/2 Cup

Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Cashewnut / Almond / Raisins - 3 tbsp

How to make:

1. Wash the rice and moong dhal nicely under water and drain. Add the Rice and moong dhal to the pressure cooker.

2. Add water and milk to it and pressure cook for 4-5 whistles.

3. In a separate pan boil half cup of water and add jaggery to it. Once the jaggery is completely dissolved, strain it and keep aside.

4. In a small kadai, heat little ghee and roast nuts and raisins and keep aside.

5. Once the pressure is released, open the cooker lid and add the jaggery to it  and cook  for 8-10 mins until most of the water content is evaporated.

6. Finally add cardamom powder, ghee and roasted nuts and give it a nice blend.

7. Hot hot Sakara Pongal is ready...!!

P.S. I have added few strands of saffron. Its absolutely optional.

Milk Peda ( Microwave)

As I told in my previous post, here is one more sweet recipe for Diwali.... Milk Peda... Made in microwave in jiff of time... If you are running out of time to make some quick sweet, this is the answer for you.. In microwave it just takes 5 mins for cooking time. But you can make on gas stove as well.. Then also it takes not more than 10-12 mins. I have used cookie cutter to make these shapes. If you don't have a cookie cutter just make a round ball  and flatten with your palms (as shown in the upper right corner picture).

Ingredients:

Milk Powder - 2 Cups

Butter (Unsalted) - 100 gms (1 stick)

Condensed Milk - 1 Can (390-405 gms)

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Saffron (soaked in 10 ml of warm milk) - 4-5 strands

Food colour - your choice  (Optional)
Chopped / Full nuts - For decoration

How to make:

1. Melt the butter in microwave by keeping for 30 secs. Add condensed milk, milk powder and blend well. Make sure no lumps are not formed.

2. We will have to cook in microwave for 5 mins. But after every min, we have to remove and give a vigorous stir, so that it forms a smooth peda.

3. After 4th min while giving stir, add cardamom powder, milk with saffron  and keep for the last min.

4. Now you can divide the mixture and add food colour to it and mix well. To check if the consistency is right, take small quantity in hand try to make ball out it. if the ball is formed the consistency is achieved.

5. Allow it to cool down a bit and while it is warm, grease the rolling pin and roll it to the desired thickness and cut into desired shape. If you don't have a cookie cutter just make a round ball  and flatten with your palms (as shown in the upper right corner picture). You can decorate with nuts of your choice. I have used only almonds.

P.S: You can also make layers with different colors and cut into shapes (as shown in upper left corner of the picture).

Berry Blast

Last weekend when we went to buy vegetables, we bought all kind of berries.... So I was all geared up to make drink out of it.  And there comes the berry blast with black berry and blue berry... A thick shake which is heavy and fills so much. Needless to say, very tasty too...

Ingredients:

Black Berry - 5-6 no.s
Blue Berry - 10-12 nos.
Vanilla Ice cream - 2 scoops
Milk - 250 ml
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Ice cubes - 3-4 nos.

How to make it:

1. Put all the ingredients in blender and blend it for 2-3 mins.

2. Serve it chilled.

Pasta Augratin

Oh here again one of my favorite dish..... I love anything that's made with bechamel sauce / white sauce.... Many don't like as its blunt in taste... But I just love the creamy cheesy taste.... The same dish when prepared with just vegetables, its Veg au gratin.... Since I added pasta to it, i named it pasta au gratin.... You can use any type of pasta... I have used Corni pasta...

Ingredients:

Pasta - 1 Cup

Carrot and Capsicum (cut into thin strips) - 1 Cup

Onion (Sliced) - 1/2 Cup

Sweet Corn - 1/2 Cup

Cheese Spread - 1 tbsp (optional, it gives more cheesy taste)

Mozeralla Cheese - 1/2 Cup

Chili flakes - 1 tsp (you can adjust according to your taste)

For Bechamel Sauce

All purpose flour (Maida) - 1 tbsp

Butter - 1 tbsp

Milk (boiled and warm) - 500 ml

Garlic cloves (crushed) - 2-3 nos.

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Oregano - 1 tsp

Bay leaves - 1-2 no.s

How to make:

1. Boil 800 ml of water with 1/2 tsp of salt and add the pasta to it. Allow it to boil for 8-10 mins so that the paste is cooked well. Drain the water and keep the pasta aside.

2. In the mean time we can make the bechamel/white sauce. In a pan melt the butter and add the flour to it. In simmer keep roasting the flour in the butter.  Make sure the colour is not changed.This is our thickening agent and its called "Roux" in french.

3. After 2-3 mins nice biscuit flavour aroma comes out from  the roux. Now add the milk little by little. make sure no lumps are formed.

4. Add crushed garlic, bay leaves, salt and oregano now. Keep in simmer for 5-6 mins stirring often. Finally add the chili flakes & cheese spread and off the stove.

5. Half cook the vegetables and mix with the pasta. and arrange in baking tray. Pour the white sauce on top and give it a blend. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.

6. Bake this in pre-heated oven at 180` C for about 15-20 mins. Or keep in microwave for 5-6 mins in half temp.

Mango Banana Smoothie

Mango season now... Who doesn't love mango....  And banana is one fruit which will be available in all the house most of the time. This thick shake will be heavy such that you don't even feel hungry for next 2 hours...

Ingredients:

Mango - 1 no.
Banana - 1 no.
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Milk - 2 Cups

How to make:

1. Peel the mango skin and chop it roughly. Cut the banana also into small pieces.

2. Add all the ingredients in mixer for 2-3 mins.

3. If you want to have it immediately, you can add some Ice cubes, otherwise refrigerate and serve chilled.

Beetroot Kheer

Beetroot is one vegetable even most of adults don't prefer. But this is one easy way to make people go gaga over beetroot. This kheer is similar to Carrot Kheer, but the twist is the rose syrup and flavour and colour of this syrup makes you forget that it is beetroot.

Ingredients:

Beetroot - 3-4 nos.

Sugar - 1/2 Cup (Little Lesser)

Cashewnut - 8-10 nos

Almonds - 12-15 nos.

Milk - 750 ml

Rose Syrup - 5 tbsp (adjust your sugar accordingly as rose syrup has sugar)

How to make:

1. Soak Cashew nut and almonds in warm water for atleast 1 hr.

2. Peel the skin and roughly chop beetroot and pressure cook it without adding water. Grind the nuts and carrot to smooth paste.

3. In a thick bottom pan, add milk and bring it boil. Add the ground paste to it and boil in simmer for 8-10 mins. Keep stirring in between.

4. Add sugar and keep in simmer for another 2-3 mins. Switch off the flame.

5. Now add the rose syrup and mix well. Cool it and refrigerate and serve it chilled.

Carrot Kheer

I have been posting only snacks, main course and sweet... Summer is on... S thought I should post some interesting chilled beverage/juice, drinks also..... Here comes the first chilled healthy drink for the summer.....  Carrot Kheer.... Its got Carrot, Almonds, Cashew, which is very healthy for kids and they will love it.... Try it...

Ingredients:

Carrot - 3-4 nos.
Sugar - 1/2 Cup
Cashewnut - 8-10 nos
Almonds - 12-15 nos.
Milk - 750 ml

How to make:

1. Soak Cashew nut and almonds in warm water for atleast 1 hr.

2. Roughly chop carrot and pressure cook it without adding water. Grind the nuts and carrot to smooth paste.

3. In a thick bottom pan, add milk and bring it boil. Add the ground paste to it and boil in simmer for 8-10 mins. Keep stirring in between.

4. Add sugar and keep in simmer for another 2-3 mins. Switch off the flame. Cool it and refrigerate and serve it chilled.

Gajjar ka Halwa (Carrot Halwa)

Yipee..... This is my 50th post and I'm so excited... Thanks to all my friends who have been encouraging me, which push me to do more... .... As a celebration I wanted to post something sweet and delicious. So presenting you the carrot halwa... Its one of the easiest recipe again, not much of strain other than grating the carrot. I used microwave because its takes much lesser time than cooking on gas.

Ingredients:

Carrot (grated) - 2 Cup

Milk - 1 Cup

Sugar - 3/4 Cup

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Cashewnut - 10-15 nos. (broken into small pieces)

Raisins - 15-20 nos.

How to make:

1. In a microwave bowl add the carrot and milk. Put this in microwave for10 mins...

Incase you are cooking on gas, pressure cook the grated carrot with milk in cooker for 20 mins.

2. Now add the sugar, stir well and keep for another 5 mins.

In a thick bottom pan, add the cooked carrot and sugar and cook till the sugar dissolves and is completely absorbed by the carrot.

3. In a small bowl, add 1 tbsp of ghee and cashewnuts and raisins, keep for about 1-1 1/2 mins...

4. Add this to the carrot hawa and the balance ghee. Keep for another 2 mins.

5. Hot hot gajjar ka halwa is ready... Serve it hot with vanilla ice cream.... !

Rice Kheer

One of the delicious dessert for any festival. Simple to make and taste is just ecstasy... I will share the simple way to make super kheer without any condensed milk, but tastes like heaven.... ;-)

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice - 1 Cup
Milk - 4 Cups
Sugar - 1 Cup
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Cashewnut - 2 tbsp
Raisens - 1 tbsp
Water - 1/2 Cup

How to make:

1. Soak the basmati rice in water for 20-30 mins.

2. Crush the rice with your hands and put in pressure cooker. Add the milk, sugar and pressure cook until 1 whistle. After that cook in sim for another 10 mins.

3. In a small pan, heat ghee and add the cashew nut and raisens and fry till becomes golden brown.

4. Once the pressure is released, add the cardamom powder and fried nuts.

5. Serve it hot or cold as you prefer !

Beetroot Halwa

Beetroot is something most of them don't like.... but I'm sure this halwa will definitely be a treat to you all.... and specially when this is so easy to make, you will really love it. tasty halwa within 15 mins... Both my husband and son loved this....

Ingredients:

Beetroot - 1 cup (Grated)
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Cashew/Almonds - Few

How to make:

1. In a bowl mix the beetroot and milk. Put this in microwave for 12 mins...

2. After 5 mins is over, add the sugar and continue (the balance 7 mins)...

3. Add the ghee and cashew/almonds and keep for another 2 mins...

The super tasty beetroot halwa is ready...!

Mal Pua

Sweet to start is the traditional in India... So let me start the first recipe with a sweet...

Mal Pua.... Its a very simple sweet to make and very delicious as well...

Ingredients:

All purpose flour (Maida) - 1 Cup
Condensed Milk (Milkmaid) - 4 tsp
Cardamom - 2-3 nos
Water - 1/2 cup
Ghee for Shallow frying (you can use oil also)
Almonds/ Pista for garnishing

For Sugar Syrup

Sugar - 2 Cup
Water - 1 Cup

How to make :

1. First lets make the sugar syrup ready. Add the sugar and water and boil  for about 10 mins. The syrup should be in 1 string consistency.

2. In a bowl mix the flour, condensed milk, crushed cardamom and water. It should be in pouring batter consistency.

3. Heat the ghee in a shallow pan and pour the batter with a tbsp. Fry it till it turns dark golden brown.

4. Remove it from the ghee and soak in the sugar syrup for 1-2 mins..

5. The tasty Mal Pua is ready to serve now... Garnish it with chopped Almonds/Pista...