Nivedita's Kitchen: 1/9/11

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Happy Makara Sankranti

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Wishing every one a very happy Makara Sankranti. I know I am late to wish here. But wanted to wish you all with my special Sankranti food.

My many blogger friends have already posted about the importance of this wonderful festival which is first festival of the new year.

Enjoy the reading in,

Nitya's

Pongal / Sankaranthi Celebration

Srivalli's

Nuts Poli for Sankranthi Special | Traditional San...

and

Jagruti's

Celebrate Makar Sankranti with Mixed dry fruits an...

Here is the food which is must on this day and I wait for this for the whole year. The same food never tastes so good on any other day.

Here goes the menu:

First is the traditional 'YELLU BELLA' (Sesame seeds and Jaggery) which is a mixture of dry coconut pieces, roasted sesame seeds, small pieces of jaggery, roasted peanuts. This we exchange in the evening with all the relatives and friends. We take blessings from the elders.

Second is the crispy Bajraof Sajji rotti : which is specially prepared for this and these rottis are thinner than a paper.

Third is Avarekalu pallye or Surti paapdi masala

And fourth one is Badanekai bajji(Baingan ka bharta) which is prepared adding boiled carrot, fresh green chana to the normal baingan ka bharta

And the sweets we prepare for this festival:

Maadli or Maaldi ; Maadli or Maaldi(Powdered Chapati and Jaggery)

Sesame seeds poli : Sesame seeds poli(ಎಳ್ಳಿನ ಹೋಳಿಗೆ)

Enjoy the day and have a wonderful year ahead. May God bless you all with the best things in your life.

Wishing one more time a very happy Makara Sankramana to everyone.

Keep Smiling,

Khandvi ~ A tempting Snack from Gujarat! for ICC

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

I am angry with Srivalli because of the recipe for this month's Indian Cooking Challenge.

Just kidding, actually I am thankful to her for making me try Khandvi ! again and test my patience and cooking passion. I The recipe I followed is the first one from Lataji'.

It was 4th time before I tried in the past and all the 3 times it was a super failure. But this time I did it, I took the challenge and was succeeded half. My only mistake was I spread it thick.

But when I saw Lataji's photo, I felt my spread was also good.

The taste was too good to enjoy as an evening snack, or morning breakfast.

Ingredients: are very simple, easily available at home, and very fast snack for unexpected guests. Just be careful when you are spreading the batter.

Gramflour - 1/3 cup

Curds or yogurt - 1/3 cup

Water - 1 cup

Hing a pinch

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Ginger and green chilli paste - 1 tsp or more(if you like it spicy)

Sugar - 1 tsp

For tempering :
Oil- 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1 tsp

For garnishing:
Fresh coconut - 2 tbsp(grated)
Fresh Coriander - 1 tbsp, cleaned, washed and chopped
Keep the greased thali ready.

Method:

Mix gramflour, curds, water, salt and ginger chilly paste in a big bowl.
Mix well and remove lumps. I used bare fingers to remove the lumps.
Add hing, turmeric powder and sugar and mix well again.

Take a thick bottomed kadai, make it hot.
Add the batter, keep on stirring continuously. Cook it till the raw smell goes and it gets cooked. You can see the color change and it starts shining. I kept on stirring for almost 15 minutes and my hands started paining :-) But do not stop.
Immediately transfer the batter on the greased thali and spread it thin and evenly.
Cut into thin strips. Wait till cool.

Roll each strip into small rolls and keep in a serving plate.
Heat oil in a small vessel. Add mustard seeds and when they splutter add sesame seeds.
Remove form the heat.
Allow it to cool.
Spread it on the ready Khandvis.
Garnish with fresh coconut and coriander.

I enjoyed it making and going to try it again very soon.

Keep Smiling,

Friday, January 14, 2011

Marie Biscuit Chocolate balls (Food Remake)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Chocolates..... Who does not like chocolate?? And home made chocolates??? Yes, we all love anything thats home made and as I say we are magicians in the kitchen to turn simple things into amazing mouthwatering and yummy dishes.

This time, its not me, I have followed the recipe from Sailu. She has made it very simple and tasty. I kept her recipe in my drafts since long time, but never got a chance to make it. But now, when I was checking the recipes, my daughter saw the photos in her blog and was behind me to make it NOW itself. Even I wanted to make something for 2 events.

And here I am with it. But I did not allow my daughter to eat more as she is down with fever.

The original recipe is here.

Ingredients: (I used)

Marie biscuit - 12

Butter - 1 tbsp(I used 2 Amul cubes)

Cocoa powder - 1 1/2 tbsp

Condensed milk - 90g(A small tin)

Vanilla essence - 1 drop

I love this!!!

Method:

Break the biscuits in to pieces and powder them in a mixi. Sieve it to get the fine powder.
Beat the butter for a minute.
Add all the ingredients to the butter and mix well to make a soft dough.
Divide the dough into equal balls and give desired shape.
Decorate the choco balls with dessicated coconut or sugar granules or stuff it with some almonds. Or serve it just like that.

Sending these to two events:

One is Jyoti's (The Veggie Hut )

Lets Celebrate Sweets - Chocolate! An Event Announ...
which is started by Me.