Microwave Mango Halwa (Food Remake)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

All of you know that I have a sweet tooth (sets of sweet teeth!!! ). And Mango is my favorite fruit(who does not like mango??????   ). 
When I was going through Srivalli's   Mango Mela ...   I got this recipe from Priya of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes, I could not wait to make it. Immediately I tried it!!! (Thanks Valli for holding such wonderful events that one can access to many blogs with variety of food from one place)

And!!! I got it right!! It tasted divine!! It tasted like Mango flavored  Sohan Halwa (which we get in Market or sweet shops). I finished it within half a day, (gave little to mom, and my kids do not like sweet). 

Click Mango Halwa for the recipe.I am also giving the details.

Mango pulp - 1 cup (Sweet mango is better)

Sugar - 1/2 cup

Ghee - 1 tbsp to 2 tbsp

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp 

Finely chopped almonds - 1 tbsp

Transfer the Mango pulp and sugar in a microwave safe bowl. Keep it on HIGH for 10 minutes, keep stirring in between. Add ghee and cook in microwave for another 2 minutes. Now add half of chopped almonds, cardamom powder and cook for one more minute.

Spread remaining chopped almonds in a bowl. Add the halwa in that bowl, press it nicely, and turn upside down on a serving plate.

The Halwa is ready to eat!!
THIS CAN BE PREPARED ON THE GAS STOVE ALSO.COOK IT IN A THICK BOTTOMED PAN. COOKING IT THE SAME WAY WE DID IN MICROWAVE, BUT KEEP ON STIRRING ALL THE TIME AS IT MAY GET BURNT. IT GIVES THE SAME TASTE.

Thanks Priya for so wonderful recipe.

Keep Smiling,

Aamras!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Mango Season!! Is there anyone who does not fall for mango!!! We can prepare many dishes with mango. Already many of my blogging friends have posted the recipes with mango. I am also here with Aamras or shikarni ( ಶಿಕರ್ಣಿ), which is famous in summer season. You can have it with Rice poli, Puran poli, Puri or chapati. Tastes great with anything.

This time, Mangoes are very less seen in the market. My husband got it from a village. He got the Aapus variety. Actually, Kalmi variety is used to make the Aamras, but as he did not get it, I managed to prepare it with Aapus only. We have to cut and eat Aapus variety mangoes.

He likes Puri with aamras. so, It is for him!! Puri Aamras is a great combination!!

I am giving the recipe for Aamras. 

Juicy mangoes - 3 to 4

Jaggery - 1 cup, crushed(adjust the quantity according the the sweetness of mango and jaggery)

Cardamom powder - 1/4tsp

Ripe banana - 1, sliced into small cubes

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Wash the mangoes and keep in water for some time. Remove from the water and peel the skin. Squeeze the mangoes and take a pulp in a big bowl. Keep the mangoes in another bowl. When all the mangoes are over and kept in a bowl, add little warm drinking water. Squeeze these mangoes again in a first bowl to take out all the pulp! 

Add all other ingredients and blend it with a blender only for few seconds. Keep it in the fridge, till you prepare the puris. Click here for puri recipe.

Keep smiling,

Eggless Chocolate Pudding on my Birthday!!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Today is my birthday and I turned 37 years! Nothing more to say about me!!

Today, I thought I will try some baking in the microwave oven, which I never did before. I have prepared rice, sambhar, vegetable and sweets, but I am always scared to try baking a cake, pie or pudding or jelly!! I remember once, I tried dates cake from shilpa of Aayi's Recipes. It came out good, but I was not happy with that.

 I was searching for some quick and easy recipe, and I got THIS one. This site does not have photo. So I thought of taking pictures. 

I have kept all the ingredients in the photo, except GHEE. 

It came out very good!

But, what I thought was If we keep the ready mix for some time before adding cocoa powder it will be good, as I felt, the semolina is still not cooked full.

Mom prepared PURI, POTATO DRY SABJI AND SEVIYAN PAYASAM. 

Planning to celebrate my birthday with my elder daughter's which falls on March 30.

Keep Smiling,

Biscuit Poli for Holi

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi all,

In North Karnataka, there is a tradition that during the Holi festival, people prepare poli or stuffed sweet paratha or (ಹೋಳಿಗೆ in Kannada). My mom wanted to make puran poli. But last week, I saw 2 packets of Complan Biscuits in the box, (which I bought 2 months back for my kids). I was thinking what can I make with that. Then, few days back I prepared Chocolate Halwa which I got from Srivalli ( here is the recipe ). There was little condensed milk left with me. So I thought of making poli using biscuit and condensed milk.

It was fun preparing as my mother also joined me and helped me to do this.

I had one Chocolate cream biscuit and one orange cream biscuit packet. First I thought I will mix both the biscuits. But my mother told me to make separate as both taste different. It was good that I listened to her.(I seldom do that!!! :-( ). 

Ingredients :

Chocolate cream biscuit - 1 packet (10 pieces were there in one packet)

Orange cream biscuit - 1 packet

Condensed milk - 3 tbsp for each biscuit

I crushed the biscuits(one by one)  and put it in a blender to make it a powder. Transfered in a plate and added condensed milk to the powder to make a dough.(you can see in the photo). Make small balls to stuff and keep it ready.

 For dough

Wheat flour - cup 

(for healthier reason, I used wheat flour, you can use all purpose flour or maida also)

Pinch of salt

Oil - 1 tsp

Mix together in a bowl and prepare soft dough and keep it aside for half an hour.

Take small ball of wheat flour dough and roll little. Keep one biscuit ball in the middle and cover the dough properly.

Roll it to make a circle. And fry it both the sides. Repeat with other balls.

I could make 4 polis from each flavor. (total 8 polis!)

My elder daughter enjoyed the Chocolate poli and my neighbor loved the orange poli. It tasted really great! I really recommend everyone to try this, especially for the kids.

I hope all of you enjoyed the colorful festival Holi. My both daughters had a blast. Here are the photos : 
  

                     

Keep Smiling,                   

Beetroot Halwa (Sending my Heart to My Valentine!!!)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Valentine's Day! A day of love!!!

I am missing my husband for this day, as we always celebrated together. Last time, he bought  3 roses, one for me, two for our daughters. This year we are far from him, but still very near in our heart. Hoping that,  next year we will celebrate together this day!

This beautiful red heart is for him!

A very simple sweet, my husband loves it! And me too!So thought of making it on this day of love!

Beet Halwa:

Beet root - 2 big

Sugar - 3/4 cup of grated beetroot

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Cinammon powder - 1 tsp

Ghee - 1/4 cup

Fresh cream or milk powder - 2 tbsp

Crushed almonds - 8 to 10

Split almonds - 10 to 12 for decoration

Peel and grate the beet. Measure the quantity. Take 3/4th cup sugar of measured beet.

Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a thick bottomed (must) kadai. Add beet into it and keep on frying till it looks dry or the water is almost gone from the beet. Add one more tsp ghee mix well. Now add sugar and mix it well. Fry it without leaving for 3 to 4 minutes.(if you are adding milk powder,add it now) Add crushed almonds. Once it starts leaving the sides of kadai, add cardamom powder and fresh cream(if you are not adding milk powder). Add Cinammon powder.

Put some more ghee if you feel its very dry. Mix well and transfer it to a plate. Give desired shape and serve it with garnished almonds.

Even though it is not everyone's favorite in my family, but me and my husband loves it~! And this is dedicated to him and only him! (Am I getting more bollywood!!! No! Missing him!)
So I thought of sending this to the event(breaking the rules of the event!):

This heart is going to 

FAMILY'S FAVOURITE FOOD EVENT -- VALENTINE'S DAY S..

held by Shama Nagarajan. 

AND

This is going to 

Priya 's  Announcing Hearts For St Valentine's Day Event

Keep smiling,

Polished wheat halwa (ಗೋಧಿ ಹುಗ್ಗಿ ) for new year!

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Starting my first post in this year with traditional sweet called Godhi Huggi or polished wheet halwa. This is the heaviest sweet which is common in most of the functions in North Karnataka. It is not for weight watchers, as it has lot of dry fruits, jaggery and cups of ghee in to it. And its like, some medicines have instructions written  "not to drive when you take the medicine". You will feel drowsy and lazy after you have this.

Again, one of my favorite sweet.

Here is the recipe,

Polished Wheat : 200gm (Available in Indian store)

Chana dal - 4 tbsp

Jaggery - 200gm, powdered

Cardamom - 4 to 6 crushed

Nutmeg powder - 1 tsp

Poppy seeds - 4 tbsp

Dry desiccated coconut - 1/4 cup

Salt - 1 tsp

Ghee - 1 cup

Water depends on the wheat.

Soak the wheat overnight. In the morning, soak chana dal for an hour or two. Mix wheat and chana dal in a cooker with double the water of soaked wheat. Give 10 to 12 whistles. Yes, wheat takes time to cook. Once cool, open and check the wheat, I mean, take one seed in the hand and press it. If it breaks into pieces then its done. Otherwise you have to grind it to coarse paste.

Once this is done, add powdered jaggery, salt and 1/4 cup ghee and mix well with hand or churner. Keep it on medium heat to boil, keeping in mind to stir in between. once it starts boiling, check the sweetness of the dish and if you feel you need more sweet add some more jaggery(because, it has different taste always, depending upon the sugarcane)

If you feel the sweet is fine, add salt, poppy seeds and coconut. Mix properly and allow it to boil for few more minutes. Now add cardamom powder and nutmeg powder with 1/4 cup ghee. Let it boil for 10 minutes with stirring it often. 

The sweet is ready to eat with more ghee on the top with some spicy chilly and sandige.

Wishing everyone a very happy, prosperous and beautiful new year.

Keep Smiling,

Sweet Coconut Rice

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

As I have told before also, I llllllovve sweets! 

When ever I go to my aunt's house(Father's sister), every time I get something new to eat!!Last month, when I went to her house, she gave me this sweet! As usual,  it was very delicious. Even though it was not new to me, but I had it after long time. She makes very tasty and variety of food. 

This sweet is very common in South canara, and I think even in Maharashtra, they call it as Naaral bhaath.

I wanted to try this sweet, and Today I got the time to make. I called her, and asked her in the phone about the recipe.(  usually, we both share the recipes). I noted down the ingredients and prepared in the evening. 

         Here it is in front of you all, with my little creative decoration.

It is very easy recipe, if you have some unexpected guests and you want to serve them some sweet!! As the ghee is must in this, I thought of sending this to Sanghi 's  FIL - Ghee for this season and Spicy delights!!.

Coming to the recipe,

Rice(any variety which stays firm after cooking,) - 1 bowl (cooked)

Sugar - 3/4th bowl

Fresh coconut - 1 bowl(grated)

Ghee - 3/4th bowl

Cashew nuts and raisins - 6 each cut into pieces

Salt - a pinch

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp

Heat 1 tbsp ghee in thick bottomed pan. Fry the nuts and keep aside. In the same pan, add coconut. Fry for a minute. Add sugar. Mix well and let it cook till the sugar is dissolved with coconut. Add half of the ghee.Do not let it boil. Once, both are mixed properly, add the cooked rice immediately. You should be  always with the dish, stirring it always on medium flame. Now add some more ghee, salt and cardamom powder. Cook it only for one minute. Remove it from the fire. Add fried nuts. Mix it nicely and transfer in to serving bowl. If you delay, then it will become hard.

The sweet coconut rice is ready to serve.

The sweet is going to take part in 

Sanghi 's  FIL - Ghee for this season and Spicy delights!!.

AND

Festive rice event by  Torview

Keep smiling,

Basundi(Milk kheer)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all

Milk is my favorite. I always loved to have a glass of milk before going to bed(Very good girl I was!!!). Now also I have the habit. And my favorite sweet is always all Bengali sweets as they are made of milk.

Basundi or milk kheer is favorite sweet of my mother and she never misses the chance to have it(She is diabetic patient, taking insulin everyday!!) She makes it only with milk and sugar, or with Dharwad pedha, which gives unique taste and flavour to the sweet.

My husband likes it with puris. It is one of his few favorite sweets. When I prepare this, he loves to experiment, eating the basundi with puris or jalebis or bread or chapati.

I like to drink it just like that chilled or hot!!!

In the photo you can see the Mathura pedhas which mom brought from Delhi. So I thought of making basundi with the same. As it had more cardamom, I did not add extra.

Here is the recipe,

Milk - 1 litre

Sugar - 1 cup

Elaichi(cardamom) - 1 crushed powder,(if you are using Dharwad Pedha)

Mathura pedha - 2 to 3(It is more sweet and strong flavoured)

or

Dharwad pedha - 3 to 4

Take the milk in a thick bottomed vessel in which milk should not get burnt easily.

Boil the milk till it becomes 1/4 th less. It takes around 20 minutes. Now add sugar, keep on stirring in between. After 5 minutes, add crushed pedhas. Mix it properly. Keep stirring in between as it should not get burnt. Boil till the milk is reduced to half.

Adjust the sweet at this stage.

Serve it hot with puris or serve chilled.

It is going to participate in Sanghi's event:

I want to dedicate this to two persons, one is my mother and other is my husband!!!

Already written about them in the beginning.

Keep smiling,

Instant coconut halwa

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi all,

As I told before, I am always ready for sweet. After meals, I must have some sweet. So this one is the quickest sweet I can make and I love to sit and eat very slowly, enjoying each bite. Here is the recipe,
Fresh grated coconut - 1 cup
Jaggery crushed or powdered - 3/4 cup
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
nutmeg powder - 1/4 tsp(optional, but defintely gives unique taste)
Mix altogether nicely, and keep in microwave oven for 1 minute. Take it out, mix again and keep in oven again for two more minutes.
Coconut halwa is ready to eat.

I am sending this one to Mahima's(http://spicesetc.blogspot.com/) event ,
http://spicesetc.blogspot.com/2009/04/15-minute-cooking-spieces-etc.html

This sweet is going to PJ's Let's Go Nuts! - Event Announcement (for the month of July 09) which is the brain child of Aqua.

Keep smiling,

Sesame seeds poli(ಎಳ್ಳಿನ ಹೋಳಿಗೆ)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

Here is the recipe for a sweet, which is common in North Karnataka. It is good in Winter as it is made of Sesame seeds(Til or ಎಳ್ಳು). It can be stored for a week also. I use it often in South Indian curries.

In UAE, we get Tahina (i.e sesame seeds paste) paste in super markets, which is used to make humous. It was regular in my house when I was back in UAE.

Not only are sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber.Read more on this, in http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=84

Here goes the recipe,

Sesame seeds - 1 cup

Jaggery - 1 cup(or 3/4 cup, if jaggery is very sweet)

Cardamom - 2

Wheat flour - 3/4 cup

Maida - 1/4 cup

Fine rawa(Suji) - 2 tbsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Salt a pinch

Mix the Wheat flour, Maida and Fine rawa with 1 tbsp oil, salt and water to make dough. (Little softer than we make for chapati.)

Keep it covered aside for 2 - 3 hours.

Roast the sesame seeds on a very slow flame, till nice aroma comes. After it is cool, grind it with jaggery and cardamom.

Now make small balls of dough(small lemon size). Take one ball, spread on the palm, and fill it with ready powder.

Roll it in to small puri size. Roast like chapati. No need to put oil. Repeat for other balls.

Sesame seeds poli(ಎಳ್ಳಿನ ಹೋಳಿಗೆ) is ready to eat. It tastes very delicious with Ghee spread on it.

I am sending this to

PJ's(seduceurtastebuds@gmail.com)

this month event,

OPEN SESAME!!who signed up with Sunitha .

Keep smiling,

Sago(Sabudana) kheer

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All

Sago kheer is one of favourite sweet dish of my husband. He likes to have it with puris.

And Today is my husband's birthday. Missing him on his great day and this sweet is for him. Waiting for him to join us as soon as possible.

It is must on Hanuman jayanthi in our home.(No particular reason for that!!) Its easy to make and as I am not soaking the sabudana, its done whenever we feel like having.

Even though its very common sweet, its taste is different.

Here is the recipe.

Sago - 1 cup

(Smaller size will be fine, as we are directly cooking without soaking it)

Sugar - 3/4 cup

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp

Milk - 1 cup

Water as per required.

Take the pan with thick bottom, keep it on fire. when its hot, add ghee and add sabudana. Fry till they are almost double in size. If they don't turn into double size, its fine, fry till nice aroma comes. Remove and keep aside. Add milk in the same pan. When it starts boiling, add the fried sabudana. Let it cook for 5 minutes or till its cooked 3/4Th. Now add sugar and 1/4 cup water. Let it boil till sabudana is cooked full. It may take 10 minutes approx. Now add cardamom and boil it for a minute.

Sago kheer is ready to serve hot. Or keep in the fridge and have cold kheer.

I am sending this to Srivalli's Announcing Mithai Mela ~ Celebrating 2 years!

Hope all will like it.

Keep smiling,

Carrot burfi

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi all,

Today I thought of posting the recipe for Carrot burfi.My hubby and me got sweet tooth. Especially for me, after food, I must eat something at least one spoon.So sometimes what I do is, can you guess!!! I go to kitchen take Boost and eat one spoon. He he!!! or if I have condensed milk in the fridge I eat one spoon. One spoon is also enough for me but I must have sweet after food. So sinful for weight watchers!! So I am labelling it in "A sinful D(W)ish".
This is one sweet you can make anytime, and its quick also.
Here is the recipe
Carrot- 2cups grated
Sugar - 1 1/2 cup(If you are using condensed milk, add 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup condensed milk) Milk - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Almonds - 8 to 10 crushed
Ghee 2 tbsp
Churn the grated carrot in the grinder just one round.
Heat 1 tbsp ghee in thick bottomed pan. Add carrot and fry it for sometime, till the raw smell goes.
Take it in a plate, and in the same pan add milk and let it boil. When it starts boiling add sugar and carrot.
Let it cook for sometime. Now add Cardamom powder. When It starts becoming little solid add condensed milk and crushed almonds.
Keep on stirring or it will get burnt.
When the carrot starts leaving the pan, add one more tbsp ghee and transfer it to greased plate.
Spread it evenly on the plate. Cut with the knife in desired shape.
Once it is cold you can cut and serve.
Or enjoy it hot.

As I have just come back to India, still not reached to my place. But I am in Pune, at my brother's place, enjoying my vacation. Even though, not getting much time to sit in front of computer, I always make it sure to visit all my favourite blogs.

Today I had time, as my both daughters went down to park with my sister in law, I thought I will re post this sweet and send it to Srivalli's event,(I had kept in my mind, as soon as I get time, I will do this!!).

So here goes the recipe to Srivalli's Announcing Mithai Mela ~ Celebrating 2 years!

Keep smiling