Dryfruits Ladoos(Balls)

With kids it's very hard to make elaborate Indian sweets and sometimes when you have guests coming on short notice,this can be a life saver. I normally make these Ladoos during Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali.
I assure you that you won't just settle for one,it uses simple ingredients and are ready in a jiffy.
It's laden with good fat( nuts),so you won't feel guilty if you are even eating couple of them.

Ingredients:
Ghee or unsalted butter: 2-3tbsp
Cashew pieces: 1/2 cup
Whole Almonds:1/2 cup
Sugar(granulated): 1/2cup
Coconut Flakes : 3/4 cup
Milk: 3-4 Tbsp
Saffron strands: 4-5 (optional)
Cardamom Powder : 1 tsp

Method:
In a bowl mix milk and Saffron,keep it aside.
Blend Cashew pieces and Almonds coarsely. Now in a heavy bottom Pan or kadhai add ghee or unsalted butter. when the ghee/butter is warm add the cashew-almonds powder. Keep Stirring for 7-10 mins on low Medium heat.The mixture will change it's color to light brown and will have a fragrant smell.
Now add coconut flakes,Cardamom Powder and keep stirring it for another 2-3 mins. After that add sugar and incorporate everything,make sure there are no lumps. If you want to add more sugar,you can add it now.
Now let it cool for 5-10 mins.
Take the milk and with a spoon just crush the saffron around the edges of the bowl.
Now take the almond-cashew mixture and put small amounts of milk and make small balls with hands.
Keep them aside for an hour or so and they will be firm.
Store in a air tight container and enjoy whenever you have a sweet craving.

Mint Lemonade

Lemons are your best friend in summers to keep you chilled and cool. Who doesn't like a glass of cool refreshing lemonade on a hot sizzling day.Here is my version of Lemonade or Nibu Pani as we used to call it back in India. It's one of the favorite drinks not only with my family,but also with my friends.

Ingredients:
Water: 2 Cups
Lemon Juice: 1/8 cup
Sugar:1/4 cup
Rock salt: 1tsp (you can find rock salt @ any Indian grocery store)
Regular salt: 1tsp
Cumin powder: 1tsp
Mint leaves: 8-10
Crushed ice: 1/2 cup (optional)


Method: Blend water,mint leaves,lemon juice and sugar in the blender and strain in a glass pitcher.
Now add rest of the ingredients and mix everything well.
Add crushed ice just before serving

Low Fat Garbanzo Beans Salad

Garbanzo beans have been a staple in our house, partially because i like them a lot,also because you can use them in so many different ways.
They are also part of low fat diet.
Here is one simple salad with Asian touch.

Ingredients:
Boiled Garbanzo beans :2 cups
Tamarind paste: 2-3 Tbsp
Garlic and Ginger paste: 1-2tsp
Turmeric: a pinch
Red/green Bell peppers: 3/4 cup
Green chillies: 1(optional)
Low cal sweetener( splenda) :1 pkt
Spring onions or red onions: 3/4cup
salad leaves( lettuce,spinach whatever you fancy): 4-5
Lemon juice: 2Tbsp
Cumin Powder: 1 tsp
Salt and Black Pepper: Acc to taste
Tomato sliced: for garnish

Method: When boiling Garbanzo beans add Turmeric powder,ginger and garlic paste. If using canned beans, rinse nicely and add the turmeric and Ginger Garlic paste and microwave it for 2-3 mins.cut the salad leaves into small pieces.
Now add Tamarind paste,bell peppers, green chillies,green onions,Sweetener lemon juice,cumin powder, salt and black pepper and mix everything nicely.

Garnish with tomatoes and enjoy a healthy fulfilling meal.

PS: if you do not want to use sweetener ,you can use sugar also.

Corn Halwa/ Dessert

This is one delicacy which needs bit of patience,but worth the wait. It's a rich Indian delicacy made on special occasions and festivals.

Ingredients:
Corn : 4 husks removed (if using fresh corn or 3 cups of frozen corn thawed and washed.
Ghee or Unsalted Butter: 3 Tbsp
Sugar: 1 cup approx
Milk: 1 1/2 cups
Cardamom : 2-3
Almonds :5-7(sliced) Optional

Method:
Remove the husk and clean the corn. Use a knife to peel the corn. Now in a blender, blend the corn nicely to make a fine paste , make sure there are no lumps.
Now Steam the corn paste in a pressure cooker for approx 15 mins
Take a heavy non-stick pan and pour the ghee/butter. Let it warm and now add the corn paste.Keep stirring it. Keep the flame on low medium and keep stirring it. After one hour or so,add milk and incorporate the milk. Once the milk is all evaporated,it is almost done.
It will take approx 2-3 hrs for it to get a rich flavor and you have to stay close and keep stirring it. . you will have a fragrant smell and the color of the corn paste will change to a much darker shade. Now add Cardamom powder( take the cardamom seeds and crush it with a mortar and pestle to make a fine powder) and now add the sugar and keep stirring it until all the sugar is mixed nicely. You can adjust the amount of sugar by adding more or less according to your taste.
Garnish it with Sliced or slivered almonds and enjoy the royal treat.

Low Fat Grape Nut Flakes savory Chiwda (snack)

Here is a fusion Snack, because it has Indian Spices and the western morning must Cereal.
It's is very filling and guilty free snack, great with Hot Tea or Cold Lemonade.

Ingredients :
1.5 Cup: Post Grape Nut Flakes Cereal
1 tsp : Red Chili powder
1/2 tsp: Garam Masala( you can find it in any Indian Grocery Store)
4-5  :Curry leaves
1/4 tsp: Dry Mango Powder
1 tsp Salt( adjust it more or less according to your taste)
1-2 Tbsp: Oil
A handful of Raisins and Cashews

Heat oil in pan , when it's hot add curry leaves, and cashews now turn the gas to slow and add red chili powder and the Cereal .Mix them nicely. Now add Dry Mango Powder,Garam Masala, and salt.
Incorporate all the spices stir until everything is mixed well..Now add  raisins.
Keep stirring it for 4-5 mins and turn the gas off.
Let it cool a bit and store it in a Air-Tight Container.
Enjoy it whenever you are hungry.


"The cook was a good cook as cooks go; and as cooks go, she went."
HH Munro

Raw Mango Marmalade

Summer is the best time to enjoy Mango and there are enormous ways to make Mango do Tango.
One of the easy and kids most favorite delicacy is Murrabba or Marmalade.
you can use it as jam on bread or on top of Paratha.
This is my son's favorite and it will be a favorite of yours also.

Ingredients:
One Raw Mango (firm)
Cinnamon Stick: one
Cardamom Pods: 2-3
Cloves: 5-6
Saffron Threads: 8-10

For Sugar Syrup:
Sugar: 2cups approx
Water 1 1/2 cup

Procedure: For Sugar Syrup mix water and Sugar together and boil until you get a single thread consistency.One way to see if the syrup is ready is take a drop of syrup and between your fingers and see if it pulls like a thread.
Once the sugar Syrup starts getting thick, you can put Cinnamon Stick, Saffron,Cardamom(peel the cardamom and use the seeds),cloves.
Meanwhile peel the raw Mango and grate it. Put a pot of water on the stove to boil, there should be enough water ;that the grated mango gets submerged. Boil for 5-7 mins on high.
Strain the mango and put it in sugar syrup.
Mix well, you can adjust the amount of sugar,now is the time to add sugar,if you think it needs more.
Pour into clean glass bottles and refrigerate it.