KESAR BADAAM KULFI

Hello everyone

With holi , summer is also knocking at our door. And for kids it's season for more and more ice creams and chilled desserts. So my kids also demanded for the Desi ice cream, which we call kulfi with love and is much much better in flavor than any other ice cream. To make it even more healthier I added lots of almonds to it . Along with adding health , it also increases kulfi's flavor to many folds. So for this holi , prepare this super yum and simple kulfi and please your guests in chilled way. 

Step wise recipe is given below, do try and don't forget to tell how's it turned out for you😊

KESAR BADAAM KULFI

Serves: 14-15 ( depend on mold size)

Time: 25 mins ( leaving freezing time)

Ingredients 

1 Lt milk
1/2 tin condensed milk , nearly 200 ml
1/2 cup roasted almonds
10-12 threads of saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp corn flour
2 tbsp Sugar or as per taste

Method:

First of all coarsly grind roasted almonds. Don't over grind as we want small chunks of almonds not powder. Keep aside for later use.

In a heavy bottom wok, boil milk till it remain 3/4th. Now add condensed milk and mix well. Let it boil again.

Now add corn flour in some warm milk and add in boiling milk , slowly and stirring constantly to avoid lump formation. Also add sugar and soaked saffron to it. Cook it stirring constantly till it become nice thick like custard . 

Always keep flame minimum after adding corn flour to avoid sticking to the bottom of pan. Now switch off the flame and add crushed almonds to it. Mix well and let it cool for 10-15 mins. 

Then pour in desired molds and keep in freezer for atleast 5-6 hrs or overnight. 

Then demold and serve chilled.

This delicious kulfi is loved by everyone, even my fussy eater loves to relish on it. I am so happy that In this way I can feed him some almonds. 

You can make any flavor of kulfi, this way. Substitute almonds with pista for pista kulfi, add any other dry fruit of your choice or add any other flavor of your choice. 

This kulfi always turned out superb for me and hope you will also love it. So please don't forget to share your experience with me, your valuable comments and suggestions are precious.

Happy cooking....

BASBOUSA ( A MIDDLE EASTERN DESSERT)

Hello everyone 

Today I am here with one more scrumptious middle eastern dessert, Basbousa. It's more like a semolina cake but with a distinct flavour. So tempting and delicious one for all sweet tooth to taste at least once. I bet you can't stop yourself from taking more and more. The most interesting thing is that it's so easy to prepare too. Recipe is given below, just try and relish on these heavenly beauties.

BASBOUSA 

Yield : 25-30 pcs

Time: 50 mins

Ingredients 

2 cup semolina ( sooji)

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup thick curd ( yogurt)

1/3 cup ghee or refined oil 

For syrup:

1 cup sugar ( I took 3/4 cup , as kept mild sweet)

3/4 cup water

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp orange essence or rose water

Method:

Mix all ingredients except for syrup ones, together to a smooth mixture. It will be neither crumbly nor liquid, just like nice wet dough.

Now evenly spread it in a greased baking tray . Let it rest for 5 mins then with the help of wet knife make cuts of your choice and decorate with almonds or pistachio. 

Now bake it in a preheated oven at 180degree C for 20- 25 mins till nice golden top appears. If you don't get golden top after 25 mins then either shift your tray to top most rack in oven or increase its temp to max and bake for another 5-10 mins or till nice golden top appears. Mine took exact 35 mins, 25 mins at 180C and 10 mins at 230C.

In meanwhile prepare sugar syrup. Add sugar and water and let it boil till sugar get dissolved. Switch off the flame and add lemon juice, let it cool. Once cool then add rose water or orange essence. Keep it aside.

Once baking is done, keep out the tray and pour cool syrup all over the hot cake ,evenly. Let it cool properly then cut though pre made cuts and serve.

Your simplest and yummiest dessert it ready to make it way to your plate. Just enjoy these palatable beauties first with eyes then gobble them one after other.

You can add more sugar in syrup if like more sweetness, I kept it mild.

Hope you all will like these easy peasy middle Eastern delicacy, please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

SESAME SEEEDS JAGGERY SPICED BANANA WALNUT LOAF

Hello everyone 

My sweet tooth daughter always used to ask why healthy stuffs are not yummy and what we like to eat are always comes under unhealthy category 😕😕. Actually my whole family is sweet tooth and also having great tendency to get fat too easily😭 , so to avoid extra calories in our diet we have to make a reasonable distance with sugary and fatty stuffs😰. 

But this is also like a boon too me, so that I can experiment with healthy stuffs and turn them to interesting healthy cum yummy dishes. I made this on the occasion of makar sankranti that's why added sesame seeds to it and it was total worth , just created an awesome combination of rustic memories in a new look.

This cake is the best example of taste with health. I used all healthy alternatives to usual ingredients of a cake, which lead to this super yummy healthy sweet treat. Now no need to take just one bite of your sweet crush to satisfy your craving. And the second best thing is , it's best and yummy way to use your over ripe bananas. Spices added in this cake,  boosted its flavor to another level. You can say it a perfect combo for your cup of tea. A happy dessert to health conscious fellows.

Step wise recipe is given below, hope you will enjoy this tasty, yummy and healthy treat. sure give it a try , you will never regret.

SESAME SEEDS JAGGERY SPICED BANANA WALNUT LOAF

Serves: 5-6

Time: 1: 15 hrs

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour/ all purpose flour 

2 big bananas, ripe

1/2 cup jaggery, grated

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup thick yogurt( curd)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 

1/8 tsp salt

2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds ( black and white)

1 inch ginger, grated

1 tsp vanilla essence 

10-12 walnuts, roughly chopped 

Method:

First of all grease a loaf pan and dust it with some flour, keep it aside.

Mix well  flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon powder, walnuts and salt together, keep it aside for later use.

Now mash bananas with a fork till they become a lump less puree. Add grated jaggery , vanilla essence and curd in it and mix well till jaggery gets dissolve. Now add grated ginger and oil , again mix well. 

Add flour mixture and fold it to make a lump less smooth batter. Finally add sesame seeds and fold in. Pour in greased loaf pan. Sprinkle some sesame seeds all over the batter.

 Bake in a preheated oven at 180degree C for 40 - 50 mins, or till tooth pick inserted in it comes out clean. Mine took 50 mins, so keep an eye on it after 45 mins as different oven take different time. Time also depends on baking pans, size and shape.

Let it cool for 5 mins then invert on a wire rack.

 Let it cool completely before slicing, to get neat slices.

Your super yummy and healthy cake slices are ready to go with your cup of tea.

Enjoy these guilt free scrumptious sweet treat any time. It's good for kids tiffin and mid meal hunger sprang.

You can use any spices and any dry fruits of your choice. But surely try this combo too as ginger , sesame seeds and cinnamon let this cake to another level.

You can increase or decrease the quantity of jaggery as per your taste and sweetness of bananas, but this one is for perfect sweetness😊.

You can also use any shape of baking pan, but then baking time may change, so be cautious while baking and keep checking in between.

Hope you all will definitely try this guilt free yummy loaf and please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Hello everyone

I know , I am a bit late for this post but no worries new year is coming so why not give it a try to cherish our new year celebrations. Anyhow there is no particular time to gobble up your favorite cookies , isn't it☺️. I tried this recipe using my mix and match of ingredients and it turned out definitely superb. This is so easy to prepare and have tendency to fascinate not only kids but elders too. I was always thinking to try this atleast once but after tasting it in a mall at Christmas celebration , I started craving for it. And finally tried and succeeded to , not exactly replicate, but near to the original one. Step wise recipe is given below, hope you will try it and let me know , how it turned out for you😊.

Recipe inspiration: spiceupthecurry 

EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Yield: 18-20 cookies

Time: 30 mins ( leaving chilling time)

Ingredients 

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter/ margarine ,at room temp.

2 tbsp oil

1/3 cup brown sugar or jaggery

1/4 cup molasses or honey or maple syrup or dates syrup

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 pinches baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1/8 tsp nutmeg powder

1/8 tsp clove powder

For icing:

1 tbsp hot milk

1 tsp sugar 

3-4 tbsp milk powder

1/4 tsp molten butter/ghee

2-3 drop vanilla essence

Edible colors ( optional)

Method:

First of all take butter/ margarine, oil and brown sugar/ jaggery in a deep bowl and beat till nice fluffy. 

Now add molasses/ substitutes and again beat to incorporate all well. 

Now in a separate bowl add all dry ingredients together and mix well or sieve together.

 Now add flour mix to butter mix in batches and keep mixing. When all flour is mixed , it will look like bread crumbs. 

Now using your finger make dough without applying much pressure. Now roll the dough in 1/2 cm thick chapatti. 

Cut cookies using cookie cutter. If you find your dough delicate to handle then let it chill for 30 -60 mins in fridge then roll and cut. In this way cut all the cookies by repeatedly rolling , cutting and collecting scraps. 

Now place cookies in a baking tray lined with butter paper. Keep all cookies at some distance as they expand a little while baking. Now cover it with cling wrap or plastic sheet to avoid drying, and keep it in fridge for 2-3 hrs or in freezer for 30-40 mins before baking. Now bake it in preheated oven at 180degree C for 8-12 mins. Keep an eye on it after 8 mins , as soon as its edges start to change color,keep it out and cool on a wire rack . 

If you like more crunchy cookies then let it bake for little longer as mine are little soft yet crumbly, the perfect texture for ginger bread men cookies. Let it cool completely before icing. 

For icing : 

Mix sugar in milk and stir till dissolve. Now add essence,butter/ ghee and stir. Now add milk powder little by little and stir to mix properly and without lumps. Use as much milk powder as needed to form a smooth batter that can be piped easily, neither too runny nor too thick . 

Add desired color and mix well ( I skipped). Now fill the icing in icing bag and with thinner nozzle make designs of your choice.

 Let it dry for atleast 1/2 - 1 hr, then store in an airtight container.

Your yummy kids friendly cute ginger bread men cookies are ready to serve.

You can use any substitute mentioned in recipe but then it may make a difference in taste, but be sure in every way it will taste great. I used jaggery and dates syrup in my recipe. 

If you don't like spices , then substitute it by cocoa powder to get chocolate flavored ginger bread men cookies. As small kids generally don't like spicy flavours in their cakes and cookies, like my younger one😐.

Though these cookies are Christmas special delicacy but you can make and enjoy these any time and at any occasion specially at kids birthday party, as kids love to relish on these beauties any time.

Hope you all will give it a try and definitely love it. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EGGLESS SPARKLING SPRINKLES FOR CAKES AND COOKIES

Hello everyone

Today I have a very easy but interesting decoratives recipe for cakes and cookies. Who don't like cakes, cupcakes or cookies decorated with sparkling glittery sprinkles. Specially kids love to relish on decorated stuffs more than naked ones. But in market these decoratives are too expensive and generally available with eggs. So why not give it a try at home also, with easy available ingredients, eggless and in minimum time and effort. Today I am sharing glittery sparkling colored sugar sprinkles recipe, many more are coming in further days. Till then try and enjoy these super easy and attractive sprinkles at home and win your kids heart. Hope you all will definitely give it a try. 

Stepwise recipe is given below, do try and let me know how it turned out for you.

EGGLESS SPARKLING SPRINKLES FOR CAKES AND COOKIES

Yield: 2+ tbsp 

Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

2 heaped tbsp fine granulated sugar

1/4 tsp edible liquid color ( your choice)

2 drops vanilla essence ( completely optional, I skipped)

Method:

Mix sugar, colour and essence well. 

Spread in thin layer on a baking tray lined with butter paper .

Now bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree C for 10 mins.

Now break all the lumps formed in sugar with oven mitt when it's still warm. Or you can also use rolling pin to separate sugar granules. But use light hands to avoid powdering your sprinkles. Once cooled , keep it in airtight containers.  I made six colors red, blue, green, yellow ,orange and purple by mixing red and blue colors. Your glittery sparkling sprinkles are ready to use. 

You can use any color of your choice or can also mix and match different colors to get different shades of your choice.

Try to use fine granules sugar, neither powdered ones nor too big granules, to get nice glittery texture.

Avoid adding too much of color, it may make lots of lumps and also ruin taste of sprinkles.

You can prepare these in bulk and store properly to use later whenever needed.

Now decorate your sweet treats with these sparkling beauties and see the eyes of your munchkins glittering with happiness. 

You can also use these on your puddings, ice creams or others sweet dishes to add extra attraction and crunchiness.

Hope you all will love this eggless sprinkle recipe and please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EASY MALAI LADDOO

Hello everyone 

Festive season is on its peak these days one after another , festivals are knocking every other day. And without sweets, festivals are incomplete. Today I have a very easy yet super yummy sweet which I made with cuddled milk. Accidentally one litre milk got cuddled and I thought why not to try something new with this and suddenly dimag ki batti jali and the outcome is tempting delicious malai laddoos. These are so easy to make that even an amateur can make it perfectly and also is perfect use of cuddled milk. This is a perfect tasty and eye treat to sweet tooth.

Step wise recipe is  given below, hope you will definitely try this.

EASY MALAI LADDOO

Yield: 12-15 pcs

Time : 20 mins

Ingredients 

1 cup fresh chhena ( crumbled cottage cheese made of 1lt milk)

3/4 cup milk powder

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp ghee 

1/2 tsp kewda essence ( optional)

12-15 strands of saffron (kesar), soaked in 1 tsp warm milk

Method:

Heat a nonstick wok at low heat and add chhena. Let it be warm then add sugar, ghee , milk and milk powder.

 Mix well and cook till it become little dry and starts leaving edges of wok and not leaving water trail behind it. Switch off the flame and let it get warm. 

Now add kewda essence and mix well. 

Grease your hand with some ghee and Make laddoos of desired size . Now garnish it with saffron strands and serve.

 Your delicious sweet is ready in minutes. Whenever you have cuddled milk at your home and wondering what to do, then try this and win praises. 

Make sure to use fresh chhena to make this sweet . As moisture of fresh paneer is must for a perfect malai texture of the sweet. While straining whey from chhena don't squeeze hard . 

You can increase or decrease sugar as per your taste. 

Kewda essence can also be replaced by cardamom powder.

This is a perfect festive sweet, as takes minimum time and is much more delicious than store bought ones. 

Hope you all will love this delectable sweet recipe and definitely love to try once. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....