Event Round Up : CELEBRATE SWEETS~HALWA

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,
I am very happy to do this round up as I got 65 wonderful (including mine)  Halwa recipes for this event. 

I want to thank all my blogger friends for their loving support and encouragement. You all did it. 
Please correct me if I am wrong anywhere as, it is my first event.
Before going to check all the entries, please accept the PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATE:

Please feel free to post my certificate in your blog and make me happy.

I am posting the entries as I received in my inbox. Please check your entries. If it is missing, let me know. I will add it(I have tried to follow all the recipes and put them in).

First entry is from Padma of Padma's Recipes. She has sent the healthy  Ragi Halwa which is prepared with ragi or Nachni and she says the texture of the halwa is so soft that it melts in your mouth. And I think it is the best for toddlers and kids.

Swarna of  What's cooking today? has sent this very easy  Microwave Bread Halwa Recipe. She says its a real treat for unexpected guests.This is first time she is sending any entry for a event and she is more enthusiastic to participate in more events. Wishing her all the best and looking forward for more recipes from her.

  

Jagruti of  Joy of Cooking has sent two entries 

First one is Pistacho Halwa  which is a real treat for a person having sweet tooth.

Second one is Chocolate Halwa with which her travelling experience is connected.

Muskan of  A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine   has sent 3 entries :

Carrot Halwa / Pudding is prepared on HOli with colors of love and piece. The photo speaks so much love.

Sooji Halwa / Nuts & Semolina Pudding  : She has written that its one of the handy, super easy and quick to make semolina pudding for any occasion in my house and is liked by everyone and she loves the holy taste of this super delicious halwa.

Beetroot & Oats Halwa / Pudding : she says " it ecxatly taste like carrot halwa, with just a twist of adding oats to give nice chewy, sticky texture to it with the benefits of having oats in a different way...."

Mina of Authentic Vegetarian Recipes has sent this step by step recipe for Semolina Halwa or Seero(made-desi-style)

And One more from her blog is,

 CARROT HALWA OR GAJAR HALWA : which she prepared using the carrot pulp after she finished making Carrot juice. She is happy to use the pulp to make such a delicious halwa.

N S of My Experiments With Food has sent this recipe Oats~Strawberry Halwa : N S  says that she tried this oats halwa when she wanted to have something sweet immediately and she thought to use oats instead of sooji and made this delicious oats strawberry halwa and believe me, my better half didn't even notice that he was eating oats.

Next is from Srivalli's of Cooking 4 all Seasons, 
Pineapple Halwa: being Valli's favorite fruit, she enjoys this beautiful golden sweet. She says she enjoys cutting Pineapple(that shows about her patience and she has more than that!). She enjoyed this halwa prepared by her Athamma. 

And one more from her blog, Sooji ka Halwa prepared in Microwave and you will enjoy the step by step photo learning. 

The third entry is Carrot Halwa ~ A First Love | How to make Carrot ...  She tried this in Microwave and you will enjoy the steps in photos.

She has colorful and wonderful 15 halwa recipes. Visit her for more food and her intelligent and wonderful posts on other issues also.

Kiran of SUMADHURA has sent this different Apple-Pineapple-Ginger Halwa Balls from Juicer Pulp where she has used to fruit pulp after preparing the juice. And I am sure that you will enjoy the ginger taste in this halwa. And even she has step by step photos to make this halwa.

One more from her blog is Water melon juice halwa : She is happy that she tried to make halwas now.

Priya of priyaeasyntastyrecipes has sent Wheat Flour Halwa where she writes "I loved this delicious halwa and the whole cooking process take less than an hour and tastewise we guys loved it and enjoyed each and every bite of this halwa... "

Shama of EASY2COOK RECIPES has come with three halwa recipes :

BOTTLEGOURD HALWA : A healthy halwas, which she prepared it on her husband's birthday.

The second one is APPLE MILK HALWA , adding turmeric powder to Halwa is new to me, but I think it gives different taste.

The third one is the rich CASHEW BADAM HALWA  

Sangeetha of   Sangi's Food World has come out with this 3 combi halwa with her hubby's new idea to add carrot and they enjoyed this halwa which has the natural yellow and orange color.

Priya  Mitharwal from Mharo Rajasthan's Recipes has sent the whole set of halwa recipes which has brought more color to my event :
Gajar Aur Mawa Ka Halwa : This is not for weight watchers, but they will really miss the royal taste of this halwa!!

This Bread Ka Halwa is inspired by  Ash's as it was very tempting. But Priya has reduced the quantity as for her requirement.

 

Ananas Kesari : One of my favorite desert too. She tasted it first time in Bombay and now she learned to prepare at home.

Aate Ka Halwa : Priya prepared this on Valentines day, as it is their favorite sweet  and can be prepared in 5 minutes.

Sooji Ka Halwa: She prepared it on 9th day of Navarathri for prasad.

 

      
Aate aur Seb Ka Halwa :  The healhy desert for kids as it has wheat and apple in it! 

 Reshmi of Rasoi has sent 2 healthy halwas :
Dudhi Halwa (Bottle Gourd/Calabash halwa) : She prepared this halwa when she was in mood of having something sweet  but light! She says its refreshing and very yummy.

Apple Halwa : She prepared this halwa and surprised her unexpected guests with its super taste.

Vidhya of Sweet Karam Kapi :) has sent this very different  Kasi Halwa which is usually prepared on auspicious functions. 

Deepti from A Hint of Spice has sent the prasad which is served in Gurudware and is famous as Gurudwarewala prashad. She has few tips also with this.

From PJ of   Seduce Your Tastebuds is Banana Halwa : Bananas disappear from her dining table within no time. But this time she managed to make this yummy halwa.

Namitha of COLLABORATIVE CURRY is here with Carrot Halwa after she is back from her vacation.

Ashalatha from  "ASRA"...ASHAON KA has sent BREAD HALWA (Bread Pudding)!!!!! : She has sweet memories with this Halwa, where she tried it first time and an incident with her mother and her new sister in law! 

And here,  Nithu from Nithu's Kitchen is with 6 recipes for Halwa.

Rice Halwa : her mother's recipe which is quick and easy

Beetroot Halwa : Favorite desert of her father and father in law.

 Mixed Fruits and Bread Halwa : She has used whole wheat bread and assures you of the great taste.

Carrot and Bread Halwa : She prepared it on Tamil New year day. The carrot gives different taste to the normal bread halwa.

 Tapioca/Cassava Halwa : She tried this halwa with hesitation about the taste but it turned out great it seems. 

Asoka Halwa: A famous halwa from Tanjore district and is famous as "Thiruvaiyar Halwa"  and  is  a definite desert in the marriages.

Sooji Halwa : This was her 100th post  and her first event announcement. Her mother calls it "Ukkarai".

Sanyukta of Creative Sanyukta has sent 2 entries 

Carrot Halwa : You will love the details about carrot and cardamom with this delicious halwa she has given.

Suji ka Halwa : A very simple and tastiest halwa. Again You will know about semolina. She got patience to search it. 

Srividhya of vidhu's kitchen is with 4 Halwa recipes:

Microwave 5 in 1 Halwa : She tried this halwa first time and she enjoyed the amazing taste.

Wheat Halwa : Looks different and it is with less ghee but I think the taste is  yummy.

 Papaya Halwa : Very easy and tasty Halwa when papaya is around you.

Bread Halwa : One more recipe for Bread Halwa but with a different ingredient used in this. She has used green camphor or Pachai Karporam!

Neethu of  Kitchen Express has sent three lovely recipes,

BEETROOT HALWA : lovely color of this halwa will tempt any person who does not like to eat beetroot.

GAJAR KA HALWA : She prepared with her friend for their friend's marriage anniversary and were happy that her friend was surprised!

OATS HALWA :A very healthy halwa and easy to make too.

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen has sent Nenthrapazham halwa/Plantain Fudge : After trying to make maida halwa, she prepared this guilt free halwa  which got over immediately. You will love the step by step photos.

Charitha of womens Era2008 has sent Bread halwa/Doble ka meeta : She is participating first time in any event. This Halwa can be stored in refrigerator for few days.

                                                      

Umm Mymoonah from  Taste Of Pearl City has sent  Black Jaggery Halwa which is new to me!  I must try it for its new taste. She has two reasons to make this. Visit her to read about it.

One more from her blog is,

Rich Badam Halwa  which is really rich in taste and economically too, she did not wanted waste the skin which is rich antioxidant. 

Lata from Flavours and Tastes has sent this sweet and tangy Amla Halwa. I think everyone must try this unique halwa to have a real taste.

Satya from Super Yummy Recipes has sent again a different halwa(at least for me!) This is her 50th post.It is from her mom's kitchen and she has childhood memories with it. I love the color.

Next is Veena from veg junction with  DOODHI KA HALWA just for me : Check the letter on it!! It was her daughter's idea!

Priti of Indian Khana has sent 3 recipes for halwa:

 Ashok Halwa: First time,she prepared this Halwa with a thought that its tough to make. But she was happy its quite easy and tastes delicious.

Broken Wheat Halwa with Jaggery :  She prepared it on 2nd year blog anniversary. 

Third one is : Cashew & Banana Halwa which was an accidental desert. She started making something else and ended up with this delicious halwa.

                                                      

Denny from Oh Taste n See   has sent these two recipes Bread Badam Halwa : which is quick, tasty and flovorful and was prepared for the pot luck party. 

Pineapple Kesari :  With less ghee she prepared it for her special friends.

Rachana from Sizzle N Spice  sent her  Kelyacha Halwa/ Banana Halwa  is a traditional Maharashtrian/ Goan recipe. This is typically made from special bananas called rajali keli/ bananas. But she couldn’t find these in any Indian grocery stores near her house. So  She Prepared it with regular ripe yellow bananas and she was happy that  it came out super delicious. 

Shabitha from  My Home Kitchen has sent the recipe for  Apple Banana Halwa : She tried this as she wanted to cook entire food in Microwave and she wanted to something interesting. 

Next is Jay from Tasty Appetite who has sent two lovely entries :

Gajar Ka Halwa : She has prepared this Halwa to celebrate her 200th post. 

Beetroot Halwa  : She prepared this lovely recipe to celebrate her first award she received.

The last but not the least entry is from Remya of Yummy Tastebuds. Lets welcome her with sweet smile as she is new to the blogging world. Her Rava Kesari (Kesari Bath) which she tried it first time. It was very good and everyone in the family enjoyed it. 

(I thought for a minute, whether to accept her entry as the end date for the event was over! As even this is my first event, I do not really know to strictly follow the rules or not! Then I thought, its time to celebrate the sweets and lets celebrate together.)

The below are my entries for the event :

 Banana Peel Halwa

Ginna (First Milk Halwa)

Carrot and Orange Halwa

Sending my Heart to My Valentine!!!

Polished wheet halwa (ಗೋಧಿ ಹುಗ್ಗಿ ) for new year!

Instant coconut halwa

Carrot burfi

Now, its time for me to return what I got! I am thankful to all my friends here for such a lovely support and  encouragement. And I got two friends who pushed me to take this event in my hand and go ahead. 
I still remember the last day of my last event! I was depressed so much and it was Srivalli who supported me with her kind words and made me feel better. She offered me to go ahead with Microwave event also, but I was not ready at that moment.
When the idea of holding this event came in my mind, I was hesitating to conduct it, just to avoid the failure. Then came Jagruti, who encouraged me to go ahead and she went on mailing me about my progress. She dedicated her first event to me! That was a surprise for me and I was really touched. 
SO this special Thank you card to both of them and dedicating the event to them(its my turn now!)

Its time to celebrate again. This time it is Jagruti who is CELEBRATING PEDA
Please visit her blog and again start celebrating the sweets.
And
Wait for my next new event announcement, this weekend. 


Once again with lot of love and thanks,
Keep Smiling,

Ghee(Clarified Butter)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Can I write here I love Ghee!!! I love it, I can drink it. It is a basic ingredient in Indian food. It gives royal touch to the food. It is a main thing in auspicious functions.

The ghee is prepared by butter. The butter is prepared by cream. The cream is by milk, the milk is by cow.....

Hehe, this is what I teach my kids. I always use it in their food, with chapati or rice or bread. A tbsp ghee everyday keeps you healthy. 

I always like to have home made ghee as its aroma makes me hungry! And it tastes really good. I missed making home made ghee when I was in UAE. Now again I started making it at home.

Most of the blogs too have a recipe to make this ghee. Here is my share,

To get the cream, the milk should be very thick. 

The milk should be boiled on very low flame to get thick layer of cream. Cool the milk and then remove the cream. 

Collect it in a steel or glass jar or box with lid. Boil the milk two or three times in a day to get more cream.

Always store this cream in the refrigerator as we need to keep it for a week.

After second day, add 1 tsp of curds or yogurt. Mix properly. Keep on storing the cream for a week. Mix the cream every alternative day.

After one week or when the jar is full,

Transfer it into a deep, round with narrow mouth. Add 1/2 cup of sour curds. Mix well. Keep it outside for 12 to 15 hours.

Its always better to make the butter early in the morning. 

Before, I always had wooden churner to make the butter. But now a days I use hand mixer. Its easy and quick way to get the butter. Stop in between while churning or using hand mixer. Other wise, the heat produced will melt the butter which is forming. After 5 minutes, you will see the cream turning into small balls. Keep on mixing in between to join those small balls into big one. Take little butter in between in your fingers and rub it. If you feel its soft and smooth, then the butter is done. Or continue churning for some more time.

Keep it in the fridge for 15 minutes. 

Remove it out. Gather the butter in to a ball shape. 

Put it in good water. Wash it twice to remove the sour taste.

Transfer into a thick bottomed steel vessel.

Keep on medium flame till it melts fully. Then on low fame till it stops bubbling and giving out a nice aroma.You will see the burnt cream(which failed to turn into butter). 

Remove from the heat. 

Keep it covered for few minutes. 

Sieve it into a glass jar after when it is warm. Do not make it cold or else you can not sieve the ghee.

The ghee is ready. You can store it for 15 days if kept outside. And for a month(If it remains) if stored in Refrigerator.

Sending this to 

 Back to basics  held by Jaya of  Desi Soccer Mom . 

Keep Smiling,

Are you ready? New Event Announcement - "COOK AND CLICK"

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 

Hi All,

Being a person who eats anything edible, I always look into cooking section in any magazine I open to read. Thats how I had collected the pages from the magazine FRIDAY which comes with GULF NEWS on every Friday. And my friend too had collected the pages from many years. She got it binding in a printing press with thick cover. We both used to try those recipes. Before she left for India, she gave me all the books as the books weighed almost  10 kgs!! I was there for longer time and I too tried many recipes. But!!!!

Before I shifted back to India, by mistake that whole box with my few other study books got misplaced somewhere !! I literally cried when I did not get that box. It was a treasure for me. After that I stopped collecting the recipes.

But when I came back to India, I saw my mother's book rack is  full of recipes which she had collected from old Woman's Era and few Kannada Magazines!

 Till today I have not tried any recipes from those pages as I am swimming in the ocean of recipes. (I can name it THE BLOGGERS OCEAN)

Last week, when I went to my other friend, she gave me few old cook books from which she has tried most of the dishes. The books are old, but have a great collection of recipes. One of you might be having those books in your personal library. 

Now when I was just going through those wonderful recipes, a thought came to me about this event. But I remembered an event from some blogger (I am extremely sorry, I am not getting her blog now) which was same like this. She used to give some recipes and one should prepare it and send it to her with the photo. It was 2 years before when I started my blogging. IF ANY ONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS EVENT OR IF YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAD THIS EVENT, please let me know.

I want to start this event in a different manner:

Every week I will post 2 recipes , the ingredients and the source magazine (if possible). All you need is to choose one or both(if possible), prepare at home, click and send me only the photos.

IF ALL OF YOU SUPPORT ME WITH THIS EVENT, I AM SURE, IT WILL BE GREAT FUN AND TOGETHER WE CAN LEARN MANY OLD RECIPES.

I WILL WAIT FOR THIS WEEK FOR THAT BLOGGER IF SHE READS THIS AND COMES OUT. I JUST DO NOT WANT TO BE A PLAGIARIST. (I do not fully remember that event and its rules.)
If I come to know about that previous event, then lets see! you are the one to decide!

WAITING FOR YOUR REPLIES. 

Keep Smiling,

Ajwain flavored flat bread(ಖಾರಾ ಚಪಾತಿ)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

Are you all wondering what has happened to me? I am going on posting the recipes like as if its end of  my life!!

No, two days left for many events to end, and I want to participate in every event.

Now its time for some Indian flat bread , guessed the event? Check it at the end!

Ajwain is a seed which has strong odor and used in very little quantity. Its very good for indigestion. I used to eat or chew the ajwain and blow it into my kid's naval when ever they had indigestion problem or stomach pain!It works.

Read more  here about Ajwain which is commonly known as carrom seeds also.

Now coming to my recipe, this was common breakfast when we were young! Mom used make it often, but most of the times she used to fry it in hot oil and store it for evening tea or while travelling.

Being a health conscious person I make only chapatis and eat. My elder daughter loves it.

Ingredients :

Wheat flour - 2 cups

Whole grain flour - 1/2 cup(if available)

Gram flour - 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder a pinch

Red chilly powder - 1 to 2 tsp

Ajwain seeds - 1tsp, crushed

Oil - 1 tbsp

Water to make dough

Oil to roast chapatis

Ghee to spread on chapatis

Take all the ingredients except water in a big bowl or plate. Add water to make smooth dough.

Keep the dough for half an hour.

Divide the dough in to small balls.

Roll into desired size with medium thickness.

Roast the chapatis both the sides.

Remove and spread 1 tsp of  ghee. It keeps the chapati soft. And good for kids.

Repeat with other dough.

Perfect for lunch box for kids.

Sending this to 

Announcing Global Kadai - Indian flavoured flatbreads ! by Sandhya of Sandhya's Kitchen

Providing the link back to Cilantro's page as per the rule.

AND

Pari's 'Only' Kids Delight

Keep Smiling,

Masala Paapad (Microwave)

Tried and tasted by Nivedita 

Hi All,

Are you wondering why am I posting so easy recipe? Because its the favorite snack of my family. We love it any time. Earlier I used to fry the paapad in the oil or used to roast it on tawa or direct flame. But the fried paapad is not good for health and the roasted on tawa is not that tastier. Then I switched to Microwave. 

When ever we go out to have food in restaruants, we always order this one. But now a days often I make it at home. The advantage of making it at home is you can try different combinations in masala. 

Going to the recipe,

Paapad - 2 big size (I use Lizzat urad dal paapad, but the choice is yours)

Oil - 1 tsp or 

Water 

For Masala,

Onion - 1 small, finely chopped

Tomato - 1 finely chopped

Carrot - 1 medium, grated

Fresh coriander - 1 tbsp finely chopped

Lime juice - 1 tsp

Sugar - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Mix all together and keep aside.

Chilly powder - to sprinkle on paapad

Brush the paapad with oil or water,(choice is yours) Both tastes different but good.

Keep the paapad  in Micro Wave on HIGH for one minute.

Repeat with other paapad.

Keep the paapad on serving plate.

Sprinkle the chilly powder evenly.

Take the ready masala and spread it on paapad. 

Serve immediately.

In my house before I finish spreading on the second paapad, the first one will be over!!

VARIATIONS FOR MASALA:

ADD FINELY CHOPPED CUCUMBER, PARSLEY, SPROUTS, BOILED POTAOTES, SEV..... 

Sending this to 

PJ's Microwave Easy Cooking -Event Announcement (linking it to Srivalli;s MEC announcement page.)

And 

Srivalli's 365 days of Microwave Cooking! event 

Keep Smiling,