Sooji ka Halwa...

.... or sooji ka prasaad is an absolute classic and very easy to prepare sweet-dish! Here's my personal (and twisted) version of the recipe.

Sooji (Semolina) - 1/2 cup

Ghee- 1/3 cup

Sugar- 1/2 cup

Water- 1 1/4 cup

Small green Cardamom - 2/3

Saffron strands - few (optional)

Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, raisins) - optional

Salt - a pinch (optional)

Put water for boiling. Add saffron and crushed green cardamom. Once boiled, keep it aside.

Dry roast sooji in a non-stick heavy bottomed pan for a minute or two. Add ghee and roast it till it's golden brown. Keep stirring continuously. Add nuts and let them roast along sooji.

Turn the flames down/off and pour the boiled water very carefully to the mixture in the pan. It will splutter so cover it with a lid. Let the added water get absorbed in sooji. Next, on medium flames stir the halwa vigorously for a min or two. Now add sugar and keep stirring until everything mixes nicely together. Saffron mixture can also be added now. cook for 5-7 minutes. Turn the flames off. Cover it with a lid and let it sit and steam cook for 3-5 minutes. It's ready to dig in ! 

Variations :

1. Cloves (2 no) and a small cinnamon stick can be added to water to give halwa a distinct taste.

2. Along with sooji, a tablespoon each of whole wheat flour and besan flour can be added.

3. A pinch of salt can be added at the end to enhance sweet taste of halwa.

4. Salted Butter used in place of ghee gives halwa a rich taste.

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Let's welcome 2014..

..with our authentic pahadi Urad dal pakode, which are made on all auspicious celebrations ! Along with that let's make a quick Ice-cream-rasgulla sweet dish as well !

Ingredients :-

Split Black gram ( Urad dal )  -  250 gram

Turmeric powder ( Haldi ) - 1 tsp

Red Chilli powder (optional ) - 1 tsp

Salt  - as per taste

Asafoetida (Heeng) - 1tsp

Sesame seeds - 2 tbsp

Oil  - for frying

Method:-

Soak dal overnight. Grind it into the fine paste with as less water as possible. Add turmeric, salt, chilli powder and heeng to it . Mix well. Make small ball on wet palm and flatten it . Make a hole in the middle with index finger. Stick sesame seeds on top. Deep fry till golden brown.

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Icecream-rasgulla pudding

Ingredient :-

Vanilla Ice cream - 1/2 kg box

Rasgulla - 8/10

  Nuts - assorted finely chopped

Strawberry slices/ chocolate chips - optional

Creative variations - optional  /  plenty

Method

Squeeze sugar syrup from Rasgulla, cut them in halves with a knife and keep them aside. keep vanilla ice cream out for a while and let it melt. Layer a flatten dish with icecream. Top it with a layer of halved Rasgulla. Then goes in sprinkling of nuts and strawberry pieces. Repeat the layers and garnish it with nuts and chocoloate chips. Chill it for 4-5 hrs or overnight in chiller . Relish !

Jhangore ki Kheer

Jhangora (Barnyard millet ) kheer is a traditional and a very 

delicious, nutritious and yummiest gharwali dessert . This healthy 

and finger-licking dessert can be prepared in a jiffy to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Washed and soaked Jhagora

Ingredients :

 Jhangora - 2 tbsp

Milk - 1 kg

Sugar - as per taste

Cardamon (Eliachi) powder  - a pinch

Dry fruits - (optional) /as per taste

cinnamon powder - (optional)/ a pinch/1 tsp

Saffron strings - (optional) / few

Method:

 Wash and soak Jhangora for 1/2 an hour.

Add it to the boiling milk and  keep stirring it. 

Let it cook for 15-20 min in low flames.

Sugar can be added once the consistency becomes thick.

Mix in optional ingredients to give it a richness.

Relish the dessert hot or cold as per the preference. 

P.S  For the cooks :-Transfer the kheer in a bowl. Garnish it with nuts and keep it aside. To taste the authentic part of the kheer, take the empty pot in which the kheer was cooked. Sit down comfortably. Now devour scrapings of the dessert stuck in the pot. Grab a spoon and scrape through the residue ! :-)

Welcome Back !!

Welcome Back after a long two-year hiatus !
We will make a collective effort to keep this place interesting and informative.
Keep visiting us !

Love
Kuriyals daughters-in law and daugters !