Tuesday, September 30, 2008

DATES AND ANJEER KARANJI

Ingredients
For outer layer
Refined flour (maida) 1 cup
Semolina (rawa) 2 tablespoons
Ghee 2 tablespoons
Milk ¼ cup
For stuffing
Seedless dates, chopped ¾ cup
Dried figs, (anjeer), chopped ¾ cup
Cashewnuts, crushed 15-20
Pistachios, crushed 15-20
Green cardamom powder 1 teaspoon
Roasted poppy seeds (khus khus) 1 tablespoon
Milk 2 tablespoons
Ghee, melted 2 tablespoons
Method
1.Take refined flour in a bowl. Add semolina, ghee and milk and knead into a semi soft dough. Divide into equal portions and shape them into pedas. Keep them covered with a damp cloth.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
3. To make the stuffing take dates and figs in a bowl. Add crushed cashewnuts, pistachios, green cardamom powder, roasted poppy seeds and mix. Mash lightly with fingers and add a little milk.
4. Roll out a dough peda. Place it in the karanji mould. Put a small portion of the prepared filling in the hollow. Apply a little water on edges, close the mould and press firmly.
5. Remove the excess dough and use again. Similarly make the remaining karanjis.
6. These can be made without the mould too.
7. Place the karanjis on a greased baking tray. Brush them with a little ghee and bake at 180°C for twenty to twenty five minutes. Cool, store in an airtight container.

Monday, September 29, 2008

KAJU KATLI

Ingredients
Cashewnut powder 3½ cups
Sugar 1 1/3 cups
Liquid glucose 2 tablespoons
Ghee 1½ tablespoons
Silver warq as required
Method
1.Cook sugar and one and one third cups of water together till the syrup reaches three string consistency and 118?C. Add liquid glucose and stir well.
2. Remove from heat and add cashewnut powder stirring continuously. If necessary add one tablespoon of water and keep stirring till the temperature comes down to 65?C. Add ghee and mix well.
3. Knead lightly to make a soft dough. Roll out on a flat greased surface to one centimetre thickness.
4. Rub a butter paper over the surface to smoothen it evenly. When it cools down to room temperature, apply silver warq and cut into diamond shapes. Store in an airtight container.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

BESAN LADDOO

Besan Ladoo
Ingredients:
200 gm ghee
350 gm besan (gram flour)
175 gm castor sugar
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp dried fruit
1/4 tsp saffron strands soaked in 1 tbsp water

Method:
1.Heat ghee in a large pan. Add besan and cook on a slow flame, stirring continuously.

2.Remove the pan from the flame when the ghee separates and the besan colors. Cool.
Stir in sugar, spice, dried fruit and saffron.

3.Prepare even sized ladoos and serve decorated with extra dried fruit and silver leaf.
This is a traditional Indian sweet.

Friday, September 26, 2008

CHURMA LADDU

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (200 grams) whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta), coarsely ground
1/4 cup grated dry coconut (copra)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (til)
3/4 cup (150 grams) jaggery , grated
2 tablespoons ghee
Other ingredients
ghee for deep frying
poppy seeds (khus khus) for coating the laddus
Method
1. Make a stiff dough of the whole wheat flour using 1/2 cup of water. Knead very well.
2. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions.
3. Shape the portions into the shape of your fist and press with your fingers in the centre of each portion to make an indentation.
4. Heat ghee in a large kadhai and deep fry the dough portions on a very slow flame for approximately 25 to 30 minutes until they are golden brown in colour.
5. Drain on absorbent paper and allow them to cool.
6. Pound in a mortar and pestle to coarse pieces. Grind the pieces further in a food processor to get a fine powder (churma).
7. Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee in a pan, add the grated coconut and sesame seeds and saute for about 2 minutes. Remove and keep aside.
8. Heat the jaggery with the remaining tablespoon of ghee and 1 tablespoon of water on a medium flame till the jaggery dissolves. Cool slightly.
9. Mix the ground churma, coconut and sesame seeds with the melted jaggery.
10. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
11. Divide into 10 portions and shape into rounds. Roll each laddu in poppy seeds.
12. Store the laddus in an air-tight container.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

KAJU BARFI

Ingredients

2 cups cashewnuts soaked in water for 2 hours

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. Ghee

1/2 tsp. cardamom powder

Silver Varak (silver leaf) for decoration

Method

1.Drain and blend the cashewnuts to a fine paste. Use as little water as possible when blending.

2.In a heavy saucepan put sugar and paste. Cook on a medium heat.

3.Keep on stirring continuously till a soft lump is formed.

4.Add Ghee(clarified butter) and cardamom powder and mix well. Spread on a clean greased work surface.

5.Roll lightly with a rolling pin, to a desired thickness.

6.Apply the silver varak. Cool and cut into diamond shaped burfis.

This sweet is generally made during diwali period.Do not make in an aluminium or iron kadai,It will turn dark in colour.Make in non stick pan for brighter colour.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

FRUIT AND CHOCOLATE GATEAU

Ingredients

1 recipe chocolate cake

For the Chantilly cream

1 1/4 cups (250 grams) fresh cream
4 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

To be mixed into a soaking syrup

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons fruit juice
1/2 cup water

For the filling

1 1/2 cups seasonal fruits (apples, melon scoops, cherries, kiwis, strawberries,
peaches, mangoes etc.)

For the garnish

dark chocolate curls

For the Chantilly cream

1. Combine the cream, sugar and vanilla essence in a clean and dry bowl and whisk till
soft peaks form.

2. Keep refrigerated till required.

How to proceed

1. Slice the chocolate cake horizontally into 3 equal parts.

2. Soak the bottom layer of the chocolate cake with the soaking syrup.

3. Spread 1/3 of the Chantilly cream on the soaked layer of the cake.

4. Place 1/2 cup of fruit on top and sandwich with the second layer of chocolate cake.

5. Soak with the soaking syrup and spread 1/3 of the Chantilly cream on the soaked
layer of the cake.

6. Top with 1/2 cup of the fruit and sandwich with third layer of the chocolate cake.

7. Soak with the remaining soaking syurp and spread the remaining Chantilly cream on top.

8. Garnish with the remaining fruit and chocolate curls and refrigerate.

9. Serve chilled.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

KULFI

Ingredients

Milk 6 cups
Mawa 1½ cup
Cream 1 cup
Cornflour 8 tablespoons
Castor sugar 1¾ cup
Keora essence a few drops
Almonds & pistachios a little
Cardamoms 4, powdered


Method

1.Dissolve the cornflour in the milk to from a paste.

2. Boil the rest of the milk and add the cornflour paste and cook till the mixture thickens.

3. Remove from fire and add the powdered cardamoms, almonds and pistachios and cool.

4. Cool it in the fridge for 8 hours to set after pouring the mixture in kulfi moulds.

Friday, September 19, 2008

PEACH JAM

Ingredients
4 cups peaches, roughly chopped
1½-2 cups sugar
2 cloves
25 mm. (1") stick cinnamon
juice of ½ lemon
Method
1. Mix together the peaches, sugar, cloves and cinnamon along with 1 tablespoon water in a non-stick or a heavy bottomed pan.
2. Allow the peaches to simmer in their own liquid, over a slow flame for about 20-25 minutes till the mixture thickens (this preserve will thicken without any additives ).
3. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
4. Cool and store refrigerated in an air-tight container.
This lasts for a month.When peach is in season you can make jam and if you want it to last till next season you should add preservative to it.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

BLACK BEAUTY

Ingredients
4cups mild black tea
1cup chopped apple
1tsp fresh grated ginger
1/2tspcinnamon powder
1/2tsp clove powder
sugar to taste
2-3 tsp honey
1cup black grape juice
1tsp vimto syrup (optional)
2tsp lemon juice
basi sprigs for garnishing
METHOD
1)Boil black tea, apples, clove and cinnamon powder for 10mins.
2)When cool, add lemon juice, honey, black grape juice and vimto syrup.
3)Chill and serve with ice cubes. garnish with basil sprigs.

Monday, September 15, 2008

DATES AND ANJEER KARANJI

Ingredients
For outer layer
Refined flour (maida) 1 cupSemolina (rawa) 2 tablespoons
Ghee 2 tablespoons
Milk ¼ cup
For stuffing
Seedless dates, chopped ¾ cup
Dried figs, (anjeer), chopped ¾ cup
Cashewnuts, crushed 15-20
Pistachios, crushed 15-20
Green cardamom powder 1 teaspoon
Roasted poppy seeds (khus khus) 1 tablespoon
Milk 2 tablespoons
Ghee, melted 2 tablespoons
Method
1.Take refined flour in a bowl. Add semolina, ghee and milk and knead into a semi soft dough. Divide into equal
portions and shape them into pedas. Keep them covered with a damp cloth.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
3. To make the stuffing take dates and figs in a bowl. Add crushed cashewnuts, pistachios, green cardamom powder,
roasted poppy seeds and mix. Mash lightly with fingers and add a little milk.
4. Roll out a dough peda. Place it in the karanji mould. Put a small portion of the prepared filling in the hollow. Apply a
little water on edges, close the mould and press firmly.
5. Remove the excess dough and use again. Similarly make the remaining karanjis.
6. These can be made without the mould too.
7. Place the karanjis on a greased baking tray. Brush them with a little ghee and bake at 180°C for twenty to twenty five
minutes. Cool, store in an airtight container.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

SIZZLING BROWNIES

For the brownies
1 cup plain flour (maida)
¼ cup cocoa powder
¾ cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon soda bi-carb
½ teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons curds
5 tablespoons milk
5 tablespoons melted butter
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
To be mixed together for the marinated fruits
1½ cups mixed fruits (strawberries, grapes, cherries etc.)
1 tablespoon rum
1 teaspoon castor sugar
½ teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
½ teaspoon lemon rind
For the marbled chocolate sauce
1½ cups grated dark chocolate
½ cup cream
Other ingredients
2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream
For the brownies
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 C (350 F).
2. Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl using a wooden spoon, making sure there are no lumps.
3. Pour this mixture into a greased and dusted 200 mm. x 200 mm. (8" x 8") baking tray.
4. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Cool and cut into 50 mm. x 50 mm. (2" x 2") pieces. Keep aside.
For the marbled chocolate sauce
1. Keep aside 2 tablespoons of the cream and pour the rest into a pan. Bring it to a boil and remove from the fire.
2. Add the chocolate and mix well till it is of a sauce like consistency. Keep aside.
How to proceed
1. Lightly heat 2 sizzler plates till they are hot(but not red hot as for other sizzlers) and place them on their respective wooden trays.
2. Pour some of the chocolate sauce over 1 sizzler plate and drizzle some fresh cream over.
3. Using a toothpick, streak the cream into the chocolate sauce to create a marbled effect.
4. Place half the brownies and then the marinated fruits on the sides. (Reheat the brownies if cold).
5. Serve hot with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and the chocolate sauce.
6. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make another sizzler.
7. Serve immediately.
Though it is a lenghty recipe it is worth trying.

Friday, September 12, 2008

CHOCOLATE MILK SHAKE

Method
1.you can make mlik shake with chocolate.
2.Take any chocolate like 5star or dairy milk etc.
3. Melt chocolate in a low flame. add milk and sugar according to ur taste.
4. Mix the milk shake in the mixer,and put the milk shake in the fridge.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

KAJU KATLI

KAJU KATLI
Ingredients
Cashewnut powder 3½ cups
Sugar 1 1/3 cups
Liquid glucose 2 tablespoons
Ghee 1½ tablespoons
Silver warq as required
Method
1.Cook sugar and one and one third cups of water together till the syrup reaches three string consistency and 118?C.
Add liquid glucose and stir well.
2. Remove from heat and add cashewnut powder stirring continuously. If necessary add one tablespoon of water and
keep stirring till the temperature comes down to 65?C. Add ghee and mix well.
3. Knead lightly to make a soft dough. Roll out on a flat greased surface to one centimetre thickness.
4. Rub a butter paper over the surface to smoothen it evenly. When it cools down to room temperature, apply silver
warq and cut into diamond shapes. Store in an airtight container.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

FRUIT CANDY

Ingredients
Mangoes, 1 cm cubes 2
Fresh cherries, stoned 10-15
Orange juice 2 cups
Sugar ½ cup
Mango pulp 1 cup
Lemon juice 2 tablespoons
METHOD
1. Take orange juice in a pan, add sugar and cook till sugar is dissolved.
2. Take mango pulp in a bowl. Add the orange juice and lemon juice.
3. Add mango cubes and cherries and mix.
4. Pour the mixture into the candy moulds and place them in the deep freezer to set overnight. 5. De-mould and serve immediately.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

KESAR RASMALAI

For the rasgulla discs
1 recipe chenna
1 teaspoon plain flour (maida) for dusting
For the sugar syrup
5 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
For the saffron flavoured milk
1 litre full fat milk
1/4 cup sugar
a few saffron strands, dissolved in milk
1/4 teaspoon cardamom (elaichi) powder
Other ingredients
2 teaspoons plain flour (maida)
For the garnish
2 tablespoons slivered pistachios
For the rasgulla discs
1.Divide the chenna into 16 equal portions and gently shape each portion into a flat round (disc) of 25 mm. (1”) diameter and 6 mm. (¼”) thickness. Take care to see that there are no cracks on the surface.
2.Dust back of a flat plate lightly with flour and place the chenna discs on it.
For the sugar syrup
1.Combine the sugar and milk with 3 cups of water in a large pan approximately 200 mm. (8”) in diameter and 150 mm. (6”) in height and heat while stirring continuously till the sugar dissolves. When the syrup comes to a boil, the impurities in the sugar will begin to float on the surface, forming a grey layer.
2.Heat over a medium flame to allow the grey layer to float. Do not stir at this point as the layer will break and it will not clarify the syrup.
3.After about 5 minutes, slowly drizzle 1 cup of water from the sides of the pan with the help of a ladle. Water added at this stage will bring down temperature of the sugar syrup and will not allow it to boil and break the grey layer.
4.Continue to simmer the syrup over a medium flame for about 10 minutes and then gently remove the grey layer using a slotted spoon.
5.Bring the syrup to the boil once again and then slowly drizzle another cup of water from the sides of the pan using a ladle. Remove all the remaining impurities from the syrup, again using a slotted spoon.
6.Increase the flame and boil vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. Keep aside.
For the saffron flavoured milk
1.Heat the milk in a broad non-stick pan and bring it to a boil. Add the sugar, saffron milk and cardamom powder and mix well.
2.Remove from the fire.
For the rasgulla discs
1.Mix 2 teaspoons of the plain flour with ¾ cup of water to make a flour solution. Keep aside.
2.Heat sugar syrup in a deep pan over a high flame and allow it to boil vigorously.
3.When it boils, sprinkle half the flour solution in the sugar syrup and then add the chenna discs by upturning the plate on which they are kept. (Do not touch the chenna discs at this point as they are fragile).
4.When the flour solution is added,a frothy layer is formed on the surface of the syrup.
5.If the frothy layer begins to subside, sprinkle the remaining half portion of the flour solution.
6.After this, keep on sprinkling water (mini 1 cup) on the surface of the sugar syrup. Ensure that the syrup froths all the time while cooking the rasgulla discs.
7.Cook for about 15 minutes,continuously sprinkling water to enable the froth to form.
8.Check if the rasgullas are cooked. This is determined by touch. If the rasgulla springs back and retains its shape when pressed, it is cooked. Another way of checking is to drop a rasgulla disc in pan of cold water. If it sinks to the bottom, it is cooked.
9.Remove from the fire.
10.Transfer rasgullas to a bowl with 2 ladles of sugar syrup and 1 cup of water.
11.Cool and chill for approximately 3 to 4 hours.
How to proceed
1.Remove the rasgulla discs from the sugar syrup and squeeze out the excess syrup
2.Place the discs in a serving bowl and top with the hot saffron flavoured milk.
3.Chill for at least 2 hours.
Serve garnished with slivered pistachios.
VARIATION1.MANGO RASMALAI : In the above recipe, add ¼ cup mango purée to the saffron flavoured milk. Garnish with fresh mango slices.
2.ANGOORI RABDI : Divide the chenna into 36 equal parts and shape each portion into a ball. Proceed as per the above recipe. Also use “Quick Rabdi” instead of the saffron flavoured milk.

Monday, September 8, 2008

WINTER DELIGHT

Ingredients
2 cups orange juice.
6 cups pineapple juice.
8 cloves.
A cinnamon stick.
4 tablespoons honey.
1.Heat the orange juice, pineapple juice, honey, cloves and cinnamon stick in a pan.
2.Give it one boil and then let it simmer for 20 minutes. Strain out the cinnamon and cloves. 3.Serve hot steaming mugs of this unique concoction.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

SANDESH

Ingredients
500 grams paneer
4 to 5 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice
2 drops orange essence (optional)
2 drops orange colour (optional)
For decoration segments of 2 oranges
4 almonds, blanched and sliced
4 pistachios, blanched and sliced
Method
1. Knead paneer thoroughly with sugar.Add orange juice, orange essence andorange colour and mix well. Spread half this mixture to form a 125 mm.square on a plate or dish. Arrange half the orange segments on top.
2. Cover with the remaining paneer mixture, spreading it evenly on top chill. Tips Decorate with the remaining orange segments, almonds and pistachios.

Friday, September 5, 2008

MARIE FUDGE

Ingredients
1 packet marie biscuit
desicated coconut 200 grms
4 table spoon cocoa powder
3/4 tin milkmaid
Method
1. Break biscuits in to medium sized pieces.
2. Add desicated coconut,cocoa powder.
3.Add milkmaid little mix well add again milkmaid little.Quantity of milkmaid will depend upon how much sweet you can afford to eat.
4.The mixture will be bind because of milkmaid.Make rolls out of the mixture.
5.Keep those rolls in freezer for 1/2 an hour to set.Once it sets cut slices of the rolls and keep in the fridge(not freezer).
6.This lasts for about 7-8 days.
This recipe is specially for Zankar.This fudge lasts for 7-8 days but it does not remain for so long ,before that it gets over.Quick and easy recipe but watch your calories.Nice to make for diwali or any festival.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

MODAK

Ingredients
1 cup rice flour
1 cup water
1 teaspoon oil
oil for greasing
a pinch of salt
For the filling
1 cup grated jaggery (gur)
1 cup greated fresh coconut
½ teaspoon cardamom (elaichi) powder
1½ tablespoons ghee
Method
1. For the filling, in a non-stick pan, add grated coconut and jaggery and cook over a slow flame till the jaggery melts and
the mixture comes together. Add the cardamom powder and mix well.
2. In another non-stick pan boil the water. Add 1 teaspoon oil and a little salt in the boiling water and stir. Reduce the
flame, add the rice flour while stirring continuously.
3. Whisk well so that no lumps remain. Cover with a lid and keep aside for about 5 minutes.
4. Grease your palms with a little oil and knead the dough while it is still warm; if the dough cools it will get lumpy, if it is
not kneaded. You could even use a hand blender to knead the dough.
5. Make even size small balls of the dough (2 inch in diameter) using oil. Then roll each of them into a round shape, 3½"
in diameter.
6. Make 8 to 10 folds in rolled dough with 1 cm. distance in between. To make a fold pinch the outer line of rolled dough
a little bit ahead making 1-2 mm thick fold.
7. Add a spoonful of the filling into the dough.
8. Bring all the ends together and press to seal. Prepare a steamer by adding water, a teaspoon of oil and heat it till the
water comes to a boil. While the water is simmering, place the modaks on a greased steamer plate and steam for 6 to7
minutes.
9. Once the modaks are cooked they will turn translucent. Serve hot drizzled with pure ghee.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

WINTER DELIGHT

2 cups orange juice.
6 cups pineapple juice.
8 cloves.
A cinnamon stick.
4 tablespoons honey.
Method
1.Heat the orange juice, pineapple juice, honey, cloves and cinnamon stick in a pan.
2.Give it one boil and then let it simmer for 20 minutes. Strain out the cinnamon and cloves and serve hot steaming mugs of this unique concoction.
Serve instesd of dessert in winter.Guests would love it.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

MELON TANGO

Ingredients
2 cups muskmelon (kharbooja), cubed
juice of 2 oranges
2 cups tender coconut water
2 teaspoons sugar
a pinch black salt (sanchal)
For the garnish
A few mint leaves
Method
1. Blend the melon in a liquidiser. Strain it.
2. Combine all the ingredients and mix well.
3. Serve chilled, poured into glasses and garnished with mint leaves.
This is a good appetizer.Good in summers to beat the heat.

Monday, September 1, 2008

SANDESH ORANGE

Ingredients
500 grams paneer
4 to 5 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice
2 drops orange essence (optional)
2 drops orange colour (optional)
For decoration segments of 2 oranges
4 almonds, blanched and sliced
4 pistachios, blanched and sliced
Method
1. Knead paneer thoroughly with sugar.Add orange juice, orange essence andorange colour and mix well. Spread half this mixture to form a 125 mm.square on a plate or dish. Arrange half the orange segments on top.
2. Cover with the remaining paneer mixture, spreading it evenly on top chill. Tips Decorate with the remaining orange segments, almonds and pistachios.
It is very low fat sweet.