GAJAR HALWA/ CARROT PUDDING

The season of carrots , yes, it's winter season , and we get the sweetest of carrots in this lovely weather .
And since childhood I hv been eating gajar halwa , especially in winters .
So, when u tell ur mom , kuch meetha khana hai(I want something sweet to eat) , she might bring this halwa to ur savior if there are ample of carrots lying in the refrigerator.
Today I made my moms recipe , this is one such recipe that Neva fails , and is always a wonderful treat for ur taste buds.

Recipe:
Ingredients :
(Serves 7-8 ppl)
Carrots - 1 kg(peeled and grated)
Sugar - A little less than 1 cup (can adjust according  to your taste buds)
Milk - 1 liter
Khuskhus(poppy seeds) - 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 2 tsp
Ghee/clarified butter/oil - 70 to 80 ml
Almonds - few chopped

Method:
In a deep vessel, add ghee, add carrots , cook for 5-8 mins.
Now add the milk ,poppy seeds and cook till al the milk is well blended into the carrots .
Now add sugar and cardamom powder , cook the mixture on complete low flame till the sugar dissolves and you see the ghee on the sides .
Now the carrot halwa is ready , garnish with almonds and serve.
Happie cookin.

SABUDHANA VADA / SAGO FRITTERS

It is a traditional deep fried snack from Maharashtra , India . It is often served with spicy chutney and along with hot tea and is best eaten fresh. Sabudhana vada are the best option to have when fasting. These are crunchy and simply melt in the mouth leaving the stomach full and the tongue craving for more.

Recipe:
Ingredients :
1 cup - sago/ sabudhana
3 - Medium sized potatoes(boiled and mashed)
1/2 cup - peanuts( roasted and crushed )
2 - green chilies finely chopped
1 tsp - cumin seeds
Salt - to taste
Oil - to deep fry the vadas
Method :
Soak sabudhana in water for at least 3 hours or overnight. Drain of all the excess water.
In a mixing bowl take soaked sabudhana, crushed peanuts, green chili, Cumin seeds, mashed potatoes and salt.
Divide into small balls, flatten between palms of your hands.
Heat oil in deep pan and deep fry all vadas in hot oil till golden brown.
Be careful while frying , they some time pop because of moisture.
Serve hot sabudhana vadas with sweet yogurt or peanut chutney.
Happie cookin.

GARLIC FISH CURRY

One flavorful dish, every fish lover will enjoy.
Quick , easy and super delicious .

RECIPE:

Ingredients :

• Fish - 250 gms (with less bones)(I used Rawas fish)
• Onion - 1 medium (fine chopped)
• Tomato - 3 medium sized(grind into paste)
• Garlic - 8 to 9 cloves (fine chopped)
• Fresh green garlic - 2 tbsp (fine chopped )
• Fresh green coriander leaves - 2 tbsp (fine chopped)
• Green chillies - 2 (fine chopped )
• Curry leaves - 5 to 6 leaves
• Kashmiri redchilli powder - 1 ½ tsp
• Corriander powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Oil - 2 to 3 tbsp
• Salt - to taste

Method:

• Clean the fish , rub little salt and keep aside.
• Take a pressure cooker ; add oil, add the onions and garlic.
• Once it is getting light pink, add tomato paste, green chilies, curry leaves and all spice powders . Allow to cook till the raw smell goes; once oil leaves the sides of the pan, add chopped fresh green garlic, fresh coriander, salt (the fish is already rubbed with salt , so add more salt accordingly ) and fish.
• Now cook the fish in this mixture , so that is completely soaking the flavors, say for 4-5 mins.
• Now add 1 to 1 1/2 cup water , as per your need , and give 2 whistles.
• Now simmer for 3-4 min and switch off the flame .
• Allow it to rest for some time , 2-3 mins, then open the lid and serve .

Notes:

• Adjust the water quantity and spice level according to your taste.
• Any fish with less bones / fish fillets are suitable for this gravy.

Happie cookin.

NO BAKE CHOCOLATE TARTS

Happy Valentines Day to all of you.
This is by far the most heavenly dessert I hv made , even while taking the pictures , me and my sister were done eating 3 tarts , and these tiny babies are to die for.
Make these for ur loved ones and it's definitely going to spice up your Valentine's Day .

If you’re craving food that is pure pleasure, pure passion, pure indulgence – then you may want a dessert for sure,  you can express love and romance, through food. It is an eternal affair of love and food.

And when its a special occasion , you feel to enhance the charm of that moment, and chocolate is a pure sin in playing that role.

It is making that winning dessert, to satiating your senses and maybe that of a special someone, on this one-of-a-kind day.

The chocolate filling is extremely moist, gooey, and just perfect.

RECIPE BELOW
(Makes 8 small tartlets)
INGREDIENTS:

Crust

• 150 gm Digestive Biscuits (finely crushed)
• 50 gm Butter(melted)

Chocolate Filling

• 125 gm dark chocolate, chopped(can use dark + milk too)
• 100 ml heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon expresso powder
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder

Topping

• Whipped cream
• White chocolate chips/ shreds
• Cocoa powder(for dusting on top)
• Any nuts(I used pistachio )

DIRECTIONS:

• Mix al the ingredients under the crust section , you will get a texture of a wet sand .
• Now take 2 tbsp of the mixture into one tart mould and cover the sides and bottom entirely using your fingers, use more if needed, but perfectly cover the tart mould , so that wen u de-mould, it does not hv cracks or break. Chill in the freezer for 30 mins.
• Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan until just before boiling.
• Add in your chocolate , expresso powder , red chili powder and stir until smooth and completely dissolved.
• Pour the chocolate filling into the tart crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Once done , demould carefully .
• Decorate with whipped cream, cocoa powder, white chocolate shreds/chips and pistachio.
• As this crust is a no bake one , you cannot keep these tarts outside at room temp, let them be in the refrigerator as soon as your done decorating .
• And pop it out when you are serving it.

Happie baking.

BISCUIT CAKE

‪
Valentine Special.

A soft, easy, no mess, no fuss , one bowl cake .
Sometimes, going the easy way makes you happy and when the result is as per your expectations , u feel delighted ...
Yes, I thought of the same , too many add ons, too many different procedures , was something I wasn't willing to do , so tried this cake , and , without any doubt , you should try too... ...
This cake is classy on its own , no need for any frostings, just a scoop of vanilla/coffee icecream will do, obviously , we al love icecreams...
I adapted this recipe from one of my very good dear friend who is a mother of a lovely gurl.
And I made this specially for my lovely younger sister , who can eat cakes al day...    

Recipe:
Ingredients :

• Parle-G biscuits - 20 biscuits
• Hide and Seek Biscuit - 20 biscuits Granulated sugar - 6 tbsp
• Milk - 1 cup (lukewarm)
• Eno/Fruit Salt - 1 pack(plain-non flavoured)
• Walnuts- 8-10(crushed into small
• pieces with hands only) -optional

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees, for 10 mins.
• Crush the biscuits and the sugar in the food processor until blended wel and powdered.
• Now take a mixing bowl, add the biscuit sugar mix, add eno, add milk, add some walnuts and reserve some for sprinkling on top and mix with a whisk/or a spoon/spatula .Don't take too long, mix wel quickly and transfer the batter into baking mould , sprinkle the walnuts which u reserved earlier on the top . Grease the baking mould with butter before putting the batter .
• Now pop it into the oven and bake for 25-30 min or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean .
• Once done , let it rest for 5-8 mins before demoulding , and then serve warm or preserve for later .
• You can keep this cake in an air tight container for not more than two days , as it contains milk.

Hope you guys enjoy making it.
Happie baking.

PINWHEEL POPS / CUTE SANDWICH ROLL UPS

A very cute and easy recipe, kids friendly , and an amazing party appetizer .
A no cook recipe, takes maximum 15 mins.

...

Recipe :
(Makes 12 bite size pops)
Ingredients:
Bread slices - 4
Green chutney - 4 tbsp
Carrot - 3 tbsp(grated )
Cucumber - 3 tbsp(grated)
Capsicum -2 tbsp (fine chopped)
Fancy toothpicks - 12(optional)

Method:
Cut the edges of the bread slices.
Take a single bread slice , the edges are already cut , now roll it flat using a Rolling pin, do the same with other bread slices , keep aside .
Now in bowl, combine grated carrot and cucumber , and chopped capsicum . If u feel there is moisture in the vegetables , just press with hand and remove al the excess water that is released .This is the filling for these pops.
Now on the rolled bread slice , apply green chutney one tbsp, spread evenly , now keep a little amount of the filling on one edge of the bread , and roll it tightly .
Make sure your green chutney is thick and not watery , else the breads will be soggy and will break while rolling.
Now repeat the same with other breads.
Once done, keep al the rolls in the aluminum foil, cover nicely and keep in the freezer for 5 mins.
Remove from the freezer , cut into three pieces , insert a toothpick , and serve ...

Notes:
You can use chapati or tortilla instead of bread too.
I have not used any seasonings , as the green chutney has it al and is quite flavorful .
If u want u can add a bit of Chaat masala / black salt in the filling.
In the green chutney I added (coriander+mint+chili+curry leaves+onion+salt +lemon), blended everything until fine paste .

Happie cookin.

LAYERED FUDGE BARS

I Am a fan of recipes that are quick , easy and requires no hard work.
This is a dessert , ‪‎valentine special , something that u can make before hand , and later spend time with your loved one.
This is not very sweet , ...
Minimum ingredients ,
A delicious one.
A no cook one too.
Includes the basic ingredient of romance- CHOCOLATE 

Recipe :

(Makes 6-7 medium size bars)
Ingredients :

• Plain biscuits - 10-12 no.(I used Marie biscuits)
• Chocolate biscuits - 10-12 no.(I used hide and seek)
• Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
• Powdered sugar - 2 tbsp
• Butter softened - 4 tbsp
• Condensed milk/milkmaid - 4 tbsp.

Method :

• Crush the biscuits separately and keep aside .
• Mix chocolate biscuits with cocoa powder , half of sugar , butter and milkmaid .
• Mix well and spread it as a layer in a greased tray and refrigerate for 10 mins.
• In the same manner mix the remaining sugar , butter and milkmaid with white biscuits .
• Mix well and spread over the chocolate layer and keep refrigerated for 20 min.
• Remove from fridge , cut into squares And serve.

MIX MATCH SALAD

Yes, it's a mix of fruits , vegetables , and nuts .
So thought of giving this name .
Wel it's a very easy and quick one. ...
Just mix everything and it's ready .
‪

‬

Recipe:
(Makes one serving)
Ingredients :
Corn kernels - 2 tbsp(raw)
Carrot - 2 tbsp (fine chopped)
Cucumber - 2 tbsp (fine chopped)
Tomato - 2 tbsp(deseed and fine chop)
Pomegranate - 2 tbsp
Nuts - 1 tsp each (cashew , almond, pistachio , raisin , walnut )
Method:
Mix al the ingredients and pop into a container and refrigerate for 10 mins ...
Then serve , can even directly serve without refrigeration .
You can even add this salad to a bowl of curd/yogurt , it tastes divine.
Happie cookin.