Monday, November 12, 2012

HAPPY DIWALI TO YOU ALL

DIWALI WISHES
The festival of lights bring you joy,
prosperity and good luck through the rest of the year.
Happy Diwali to you all.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

COCONUT BURFI | THENGAI BURFI |EASY DIWALI SWEETS RECIPE

Coconut burfi
 Thengai burfi | coconut burfi is a very easy and simple sweet made mainly with just two ingredients. If you are opting to make an easy recipe for Coconut burfi just follow this recipe which i tried from Rak’s Kitchen. Will post my version of Thengai burfi later. Check out my complete list of diwali recipes

Friday, November 9, 2012

MIXED NUTS CHIKKI | DRY FRUITS BRITTLE| EASY SWEETS RECIPES

   Though mixed nuts chikki is not a recipe which we make for diwali at our home but i have heard from few of my friends that they make this during Diwali  of Holi. This one sounded very easy to me and so i made with the dry fruits which I had in my hand. Go ahead to make this easy mixed fruits Chikki for this Diwali. Also check out my

Mixed nuts chikki
INGREDIENTS: ( YIELDS 15 PIECES APPROX)
MIXED NUTS 1 CUP
SUGAR 3/4 CUP
LEMON JUICE 2 TSP
SAFFRON A PINCH
WATER 2-3 TBLSP
Chikki 3
METHOD:


  • Dry roast the mixed nuts (I used cashew nuts, badam,peanuts )in a pan for 2 minutes in a medium flame without getting it burnt.
  • Keep it aside and Chop them roughly.
  • Before start with the sugar, grease a butter paper with ghee | butter and grease the rolling pin too.
IMG_0238 IMG_0224
  • In a pan, add sugar and add 2-3 tblsp of water.
  • When the sugar starts melting add the saffron. Keep the flame low.
  • Add lemon juice to this. The addition of lemon juice is to avoid crystallisation of sugar.
  • Saute till the sugar gets caramalized and you see a light golden color.
IMG_0239 IMG_0240 IMG_0241
  • Now add the dry roased mixed nuts to this and give it a quick stir and transfer this to the greased butter paper. At this stage for me it is difficult for me to handle the camera in one hand and do the stirring too.Sad smile
  • Spread them evenly using the greased rolling pin and when it is warm cut them into desired shapes. You have to just put the lines .After it is completely cool you can break them into pieces according to the marks u made.
IMG_0243
  • Store them in airtight containers and enjoy these chikkis.
Mixed Nuts chikki
Note:
  1. Do not add too much lemon jiuce as it will make the chikkis sour.
  2. Do the entire process in low flame.
  3. I actually took it little early as i had a fear that it will get burnt, so the chikkis look pretty pale.
  4. You can add pistas, raisins too in the chikki.
  5. I used unsalted de skinned peanuts.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

AVAL MIXTURE | CHIVDA RECIPE | DIWALI SNACKS RECIPES

Poha chivda | aval mixture with video

Poha Chivda is a low fat snack made with aval | poha , a less oil and not a deep fried mixture. Though i already posted South Indian Mixture recipe, i have a few request from readers for a healthy diwali recipe which they can make for their parents | in laws, this poha chivda immediately came to my mind. So if you want to try something healthy this time, make this poha mixture | aval mixture. I learnt this recipe from my friend Janani, long back when we met for a evening tea .
Aval Mixture 2

Aval mixture | poha chivda

  Preparation Time : 5 mins | Cooking Time : 10 Mins |Serves: 3-4

     Poha| aval  1 cup 
     Green chili  2
     Raw peanuts  4 tblsp
     Roasted gram dal | pottukadalai  4 tblsp
     Sugar  1 tsp
     Salt  as needed
     Mustard seeds  few
     Dry coconut (kopra)   1 tblsp
     Turmeric powder  1/4 tsp
     Oil   1 tblsp
                                               Video of How to make Poha chivda 
              
              
     


Method with step wise pictures: 

Aval Mixture 3

METHOD:
  • In a pan,  roast the poha , with 1 tsp of oil ( use medium thin poha) till it turns golden brown.
  • Be careful not to make it burnt.
  • Keep it aside. In the same pan add oil and add mustard seeds and slit the green chillies and add to it.
  • Powder the sugar in a mortar and pestle.
  • Add the roasted gram, peanuts and powdered sugar and salt to this.
  • When the peanuts,and dal turns golden brown switch off the flame and mix it to the roasted poha. 
  • Mix this nicely.
  • Store this in a airtight container . Enjoy with hot tea | coffee.
Aval Mixture1 
Note:
  1. You can add a few tablespoons of roasted cashew nuts also.
  2. Few curry leaves can be added while adding the mustard seeds.

Monday, November 5, 2012

MILK PEDA |PAAL PEDA RECIPE | EASY DIWALI SWEETS RECIPES

MILK PEDA WITH MILK POWDER AND CONDENSED MILK

Milk peda
  Milk peda | Paal peda |Dhoodh peda  is a very simple and easy dessert made with milk. If you are running out of time but still wanted to try out an easy sweet then this milk peda is the exactly perfect sweet for you. The entire process can be done in Microwave oven but since i don’t have microwave oven i made it in the stove top. It took less than 10 minutes for me for the entire process. Check out my badam peda recipe . See my full collection of diwali recipes

Sunday, November 4, 2012

OMAPODI RECIPE | DIWALI SNACKS RECIPES

Omapodi is an easy snack made  during diwali . My mom mostly make it to mix it with South Indian Mixture but in my in laws place they love to eat it as such too. and both my kiddos love to have omapodi . Apart from mixing this in mixture this can be used in chaat recipes for garnishing too.
Check out my

Omapodi
INGREDIENTS:
BESAN | KADALAI MAAVU | GRAM FLOUR 1 CUP
RICE FLOUR 1/4 CUP
OMAM |AJWAIN SEEDS 1 TSP
WATER 1/4 CUP + 2 TBLSP
SALT AS NEEDED
BUTTER or OIL 2 TBLSP
OIL FOR DEEP FRYING
RED CHILLI POWDER 1/2 TSP (OPTIONAL)
Omapodi 3

METHOD:
  • Sieve the gram flour and rice flour for even mixing.
  • Dry roast the omam in a pan and soak this for 15 minutes in 1/4 cup of water.
  • Keep the water aside and grind this in a mixer using the soaked water.
  • Normally the omam will not get grind smoothly as it is in a very small quantity.
  • Even if it is slight coarse also ok. Using the remaining soaked water extract the omam water by mashing the ground omam with your hands . filter it using a tea strainer.
  • Use this water to mix the water. If u don’t want to discard the omam nicely mash with hands and add half of it to the flour to make the dough.
step 4 step 6
  • Make a sticky dough by adding 2 tblsp of soft butter or hot oil . add salt to taste. If adding chilli powder add while kneading the dough.
  • Use the small dotted hole one for making omapodi and keep a portion of dough inside the presser and start pressing it into the hot oil by making circles.
step 3 step 7
  • Flip it after sometime . Take out and drain in a kitchen towel when the oil sound subsides.
step 8 step 10
  • When it is cool, break it into pieces and store it in an airtight container.
Omapodi recipe
Note:
  • Do not add too much omam as it will give a bitter taste to the omapodi.
  • If the dough is kneaded tight  or kept open for a long time it will be difficult for you while pressing.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

RAVA LADDU RECIPE |RAVA LADOO | DIWALI RECIPES

  Rava laddu or Rava ladoo is a simple and exotic sweet made with Semolina or sooji. Though i attempted this for the first time, i have tasted this many times. But i always like the texture to be smooth and not the grainy rava texture. I just followed my Besan ladoo recipe replacing rava instead of besan. Try this easy and yummy Rava ladoo for this Diwali. Check out my collection of Ladoo recipes.
Rava ladoo recipe

INGREDIENTS: Makes 13- 14 ladoos

RAVA | SOOJI | SEMOLINA 1 CUP
SUGAR 3/4 CUP
MELTED GHEE 1/4 CUP
CASHEW NUTS FEW
CARDAMOM POWDER A PINCH(OPTIONAL)
Rava ladoo

METHOD:
  • In a pan add 1 tsp of ghee and roast the cashew bits and keep it aside.
step 2
  • In a same pan roast the rava till it for 5 to 10 minutes in a medium flame. Do not get it burnt or the change the color.
  • Allow this to completely cool.
  • Grind this into a fine powder along with sugar.
step 4 step 6
  • Add cardamom powder(if adding) at this stage and pulse once for even mixing.
  • Transfer this mixture to a wide bowl.
  • Add the roasted cashew also to this and mix well.
  • Melt the ghee and add this to the rava sugar mixture.
step 8 step 9
  • Mix well with a spoon and make it into round balls.
  • The mixture will be easy to handle only. If you feel that you can’t make balls, just sprinkle 1 tblsp of milk .
step 10
  • This can be stored in a air tight box for 4-5 days in room temperature.
Rava ladoo recipe
Note:
  1. If you want to make it with less ghee you can add half of ghee and half of milk too.
  2. But if u do this this has to be consumed in a day.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

MYSORE PAK RECIPE | DIWALI SWEET RECIPES| SOFT MYSORE PAK

Recipe of Mysore pak with Video

Mysore pak recipe
This is the first time i am making Mysore Pak , but to my surprise it turned out extremely well and tasted exactly like Krishna Sweets Mysore pak. I made few batches and packed for my friends when i visited them during Navaratri. When i was searching in google for mysore pak recipes most of the recipes which i have come seen involves 2-3 cups of Ghee. And i finally i landed in here . Go ahead to try this delicious soft Mysore pak for this Diwali and surprise your family and friends.
Check my traditional Mysore pak recipe too. Check out the post on consistency of sugar syrup.    

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

KARA SEV RECIPE| DIWALI SNACKS RECIPES | DEEPAVALI RECIPES

Kara sev recipe without garlic, video recipe

Kara sev is a easy savoury recipe which can be made in a jiffy. As Deepavali is nearing i will posting deepavali recipes in my space till deepavali. Karasev i tried for the first time and it turned so well . We all enjoyed the peppery flavored karasev with filter coffee on a rainy day evening. So go ahead to try out this easy karasev for this diwali . This recipe i adapted from my hand written cook book which I copied from my grand mother before my marriage.
Also check out my

Kara Sev recipe

INGREDIENTS:
BESAN | KADALAI MAAVU 1 CUP
RICE FLOUR |ARISI MAAVU 1 CUP
BLACK PEPPER 2 TSP
SALT AS NEEDED
BUTTER(SOFTENED) 2 TBLSP
OIL TO DEEP FRY
ASAFOETIDA A PINCH
Video of karasev


Kara Sev recipe

METHOD:
  • Sieve both the flour ( besan and rice flour ) together for even mixing.
  • Add salt and add the softened butter.
  • Pound the black pepper in a mortar and pestle or a mixer coarsely.
  • Mix it well and knead it into a pliable soft dough by adding water to this slowly.
  • Do not add too much water and do not make it too stiff also.
Step 2 step 3
  • Heat oil in a deep pan. Check the oil by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil. When it comes up immediately then the oil is in the right consistency.
  • Take a small  of dough and press it into a murukku presser using the thenkuzhal achu.
Karasev 4
  • Do not over do. Just make 2 rounds.
  • Flip this after few minutes.
step 5 step 6
  • When the oil sound sizzles take it out from the oil and drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel.
  • Repeat this for the rest of the dough.
  • When it is cool , break them into small pieces and enjoy karasev with hot coffee as we did.
Kara Sev recipe
Note:
  1. You can add 1 tsp of black pepper and 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder.
  2. Do not add too much butter as it will make the karasev break while making itself.
  3. Instead of butter hot oil can also be added.
  4. If you want to add garlic, just pound this nicely with black pepper.
  5. Do not make the black pepper slightly big. It will get stuck while pressing them in the achhu.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

WITCH FINGER COOKIES | EGGLESS COOKIES| HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Recipe updated with Video

My kids were on the back of me to make some cake or muffin for Halloween, but i refused  totally as i am busy with diwali recipes. But after they left for school, though i was packed with lot of work today i made these witch finger cookies , to surprise them tomorrow. I didn’t have any idea of posting this, but Varsha will be very happy if I post this.
Witch finger cookies

I followed my  Eggless Choco Chip  Cookie recipe  and  the method of how to make Witch fingers from this you tube link. You can choose any cookie recipe of your choice.