Til Gajak

This is one sweet which you can prepare in no minutes and its cherished in every household , likewise it used to be our favourite sweet too, you can use til, groundnuts, any nuts in this recipe, here I have used Til / sesame seeds which is such a good source of iron that one should incorporate in one's daily diet. Greasing the parat or a plate well in advance is very important as  once the mixture is prepared it just hardens really quickly. 

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups of  white roasted til / Sesame seeds

1 cup Jaggery (I have used Chikki Gud) if you find it hard to get hold of it then use Jaggery 

1 tsp ghee

1 tsp Green cardamom powder

2 tbsp water

1/4 tsp Soda Bi Carbonate / Cooking Soda

Method

• First Grease a thali or board and smear with ghee and keep it ready.
• Take a Deep pan add water then add jaggery and let it melt then lower the heat and allow jaggery to bubble. 
• Now add in White Sesame seeds and mix well. Add in Elaichi / Green Cardamom powder add in soda and mix well till becomes a mass.
• Pour on a Greased Thali  , grease a rolling pin and press and roll the mixture and and with the help of the greased knife just give it diamond shape cuts . 
• Store and Enjoy !!

 

Biscoff Cheeesecake

 

This is my absolute favourite dessert , whenever I crave for something sweet this is the one I prepare to satiate my taste buds . take a bite ...hmm it's heaven in a bite :D , absolutely love it , if you do you fancy something sweet for this festive season  then do try this , you will surely love it :D , So here it is NO BAKE BISCOFF CHEESECAKE recipe 

Ingredients 

1 pack of store brought Biscoff biscuit (20 -25 biscuits )

1/2 cup butter

1 cup Cream cheese 

1/4 cup Biscoff spread (easily available in stores)

1 cup whipped cream (whip the whipping cream with the help of an electric beater till it forms peaks)

1/4 cup biscoff spread to top the cheese cake

Method

• Crush the biscoff biscuits in a food pro till fine crumb add in melted butter and mix well till it starts to resemble like a wet sand.
• Take a deep cake tin and press down this mixture till it forms a crusty base and cover and refrigerate for an hour till it sets
• In mixing bowl add in whipped cream , Biscoff spread, cream cheese and mix in till well incorporated.
• Layer this mixture on the biscuit base and top it with a generous layer of biscoff spread and refrigerate for about 4-5 hrs until firm and set.
• Cut into portions you desire to serve, I am sure you too won't settle with just one slice :D 

Jackfruit Mulik

 These are traditional seasonal delicacy which is a wow ! I had learnt this recipe from my mil thanks to her for sharing such age old classic recipe with me the actual recipe calls for ground rice flour/ Idli Rawa but in this recipe we have added semolina to make it a little healthier , in case you need to follow the traditional way please do go ahead and swap semolina with idli rawa , it is amazing sweet and traditional one and very dear one to my heart as I have grown up seeing my mom preparing it whenever Jackfruits are in season . Do try this and let me know how did you find it to be :)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 Cup Jackfruit pieces (10 - 12) (deseeded)

1/4 cup Jaggery (can add more if needed depending on the sweetness of the Jackfruit)

1/2 cup semolina

1/4 cup coconut use fresh or desiccated

1/2 tsp ground elaichi powder / Green cardamom powder

Oil to deep fry the fritters 

Method 

• Grind Jackfruit pieces with jaggary to a fine paste (My tip is to grate jaggery and then whizz it.
• Take semolina in a bowl and add this jaggary puree little by little and blend it to make a semi thick batter.
• Add Green cardamom powder and mix well and keep aside.
• Now heat oil wet your hands pinch a small portion of the batter and deep fry in oil till golden .
• Serve as a tea time snack and enjoy with masala tea absolutely a bliss !!!

Chanadal and broken wheat khichidi

Simply love this Authentic Sweet recipe I learnt it from my mom , tasty , good and absolutely melt in the mouth . Simply serve this sweet pudding drizzled with warm clarified butter /ghee it's lovely and a perfect treat for a sweet craving .

Ingredients

1/2 cup Bengal gram dal (Chana dal)
3/4 cup broken wheat (Lapsi)
6-7  green cardamom pods (deseed and powder them)
1/2 cup sugar (add more if you prefer)
1/2 cup grated coconut 
7 tbsp ghee
a few raisins
10-12 fried cashew nuts
1 Banana (cut into roundels)

Method

• Dry roast chana dal  for 2- 3 mins on a simmer flame till they turn aromatic then transfer them to a pressure cooker add water cook for one whistle such that when u feel grains must be perfectly cooked , but not mashed. keep it aside.
• Dry roast cashews and raisins in a little ghee and keep aside.
• Take 2 tbsp ghee and add in broken wheat and keep frying on a slow flame for 2 mins then add around 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 1 whistle .
• Now add sugar, cooked chanadal and cook till the sugar melts and everything gets incorporated very nicely and it comes to a boil (you can add more water if you feel it's too thick.
• Add the grated coconut and mix well till it thickens.
• Finally add the remaining ghee and powdered cardamom
• Mix well. 
• Garnish it with fried cashewnuts and raisins and serve with sliced banana roundels.

• 

Hayagreeva

Hayagreeva is very popular and traditional sweet of southern part of India especially Karnataka,  which we usually prepare during any auspicious days or festivals at home as 'Naivedyam' . It's not only tasty but very easy to prepare , it's protein rich sweet which is a good for all ages  . It's prepared mainly with coconut , Jaggery and not to forget chanadal. I know as per today's lifestyle where we are all health conscious we do try to omit sweet from our daily routine but it's good to have it once in a while especially during festival days and whenever I prepare sweet I tend to prepare sweets which has got Jaggery in it cause of so many various reasons like it's good for blood purification , detoxes the liver too . Now moving to the recipe here is the way I prepare this sweet ..Hope you and your family love it too :) #

Ingredients 

1 cup Chanadal

1/2 cup Jaggery

large pinch of haldi

1/2 cup desiccated coconut or dry coconut (kobri) ( have used desiccated coconut here)

2 tbsp ghee +1 tsp to fry nuts

1 tbsp Khus Khus (poppy seeds)

2 tbsp cashews 

2 tbsp raisins 

1 tsp crushed cardamom powder

Method

• Pressure cook Chanadal with haldi for about 3 whistles and then simmer for 2 mins. (Make sure chanadal is cooked) it shouldn't be mushy but grain must break easily when you press one grain of chanadal. ( Don't discard the water and you can make yummy Rasam out of it .
• Heat  1 tsp Ghee and fry khus khus and keep aside. Now in a same pan add nuts and raisins and fry till golden and keep aside.
• In a Deep pan melt Jaggery adding 1/4 cup water , when it melts well and comes to a boil add in cooked chanadal, desiccated coconut and fry till all the Jaggery mixes well with the chanadal and it starts leaving the pan add in ghee , fried khus khus, fried nuts, cardamom powder .
• Give a final mix and serve with love :)
  

Poha Ladoo

Are you looking for a easy sweet this Diwali this is one sweet I came across which was shared by my dear friend Raji sujith it took me less them 10 mins to make it ..was very tasty too ...Do try this easy sweet it's a lovely treat for this festive season :) ...here is the recipe do drop in your feedback if you loved it :)

Ingredients

2 cups Poha (thick flattened Rice flakes)

1 cup finely grated coconut /Kobri (dry coconut) / Desiccated coconut

1/2 cup Jaggery ( Can reduce or increase as per your taste buds)

1/2 tsp green cardamom powder

2 tbsp roasted nuts (cashews, chopped almonds)

1 tbsp ghee to roast the nuts

2 tbsp roasted black til / sesame seeds

Method

• Take poha in a non stick pan when it heats up add dry roast poha on a medium flame till crisp .
• Take it out in a mixer grinder and keep aside.
• Drop in desiccated coconut or fresh coconut in a same pan and roast on a very low flame for 5 mins till it gets light brown .
• Now add in roasted coconut, roasted poha, green cardamom powder, Jaggery as per your taste and give a good whiz.
• Now remove it from the mixer grinder add roasted nuts ( Roast chopped nuts in ghee) add in black sesame seeds in a clean plate and bind them to form a ladoo. 
• Serve in a air tight container. 

Kele Harshale

Harshale is a very simple dessert and is always the best tasting too , well atleast for me :)....  There is no heating involved in this dessert so u should consume it quickly as it wouldn't stay for more then 1 day so though it's my family favourite I always do it in a small quantity . This is one of the main sweet which we always prepare for Janmastami , it is said that Lord krishna loved Poha and this is a traditional dish which mom used to prepare on ashtami and I have followed this tradition too  ....So blogging this traditional recipe for my reader's reference :D

Ingredients 

1 cup coconut milk 

3 -4 tbsp grated Jaggery 

4-5 green cardamom seeds (crushed in a motor and pestle) 

1 banana (sliced , cut into quarters add a few and reserve a few to be added at the time of serving )

1/4 cup Paper thin Poha 

2-3 cashews (finely chopped) (opt)

Method 

• Grind freshly grated coconut say about 1/2 cup add 1 cup warm  water and grind to a fine paste.Extract the thick coconut milk with the help of the strainer . Then again add 1/2 cup and grind again and extract  thin coconut  milk again and keep aside. Now mix the thick and thin milk and keep aside.
• Now add in Jaggery to the coconut milk and mix well.
• Now add in elaichi powder , cashews (opt) add a few banana pieces ( I just add 1/2 of it ).
• Cover and leave it for 1 hr .
•  Now at the time of serving ...serve with paper thin poha and serve with remaining banana pieces .
• I always add a little poha as I offer this prasad to Lord Krishna ....( Serve poha and chopped banana only when your serving this sweet and relish it :)

Layee pitta &Tila Undo ( Popped Rice and Til Ladoo)

Happy Krishna Janmashtami to all my readers this is one of our traditional ladoo which we prepare during Ashtami is Layee pitta and Tila undo ( Ladoo made with Popped Rice and Roasted Sesame seeds) with Chikki gud /Anta Gud (which is stickier then normal Jaggery ) mixed with roasted til makes it one of the most delicious sweet . This is usually offered to Lord Krishna and we as children have so many fond memories of  us waiting for my parents to do the pooja so that we can savour on these sweets it's got such a unique taste ...Yumm so today as I prepared this ladoo thought of posting it :)

Ingredients 

1 & 1/2 cups popped Rice (Layee pitto)

1 cup Chikki Gud /Anta Gud 

1/2  cup Roasted til 

3 tbsp water 

10-12  Roasted cashews (broken) (roasted in 1 tbsp ghee)

1 tsp Elaichi powder ( seeds of 6-7 Green Cardamom Crushed and powdered)

2 tbsp ghee 

Method

• Wash Black til and lightly pound them so that a little of the skin is removed then add in to a non stick pan and roast it on a low flame when it starts spluttering switch off the gas and store in an air tight container when cooled to room temperature.
• Take a non stick pan add in Chikki Gud  little water then melt it on a medium heat allow it to bubble . Once the Jaggery is melted and it has began to bubble add in popped Rice, Roasted til , roasted cashews , elaichi powder  mix well.  ( Make sure you keep all the ingredients ready ).
• Mix well then switch off the gas . (Take a small bowl add in little water and to test if the Jaggery is ready drop a small piece  in the water if it turns hard that means it is ready)
• Grease the plate with ghee and pour the mixture ,  grease your hands with ghee and shape the mixture into ladoos and store in air tight container . 
  

NOTES

• Make sure you don't leave in till mixture till room temperature to bind them into ladoos as they harden very easily
• This can be prepared just with chikki gud and layee pitto is easily available in any Indian store.

Eggless Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a famous Italian dessert which most of you all must be familiar with , traditionally this recipe calls raw eggs and coffee liquor but I have tried to make it eggless and alcohol free too and my kids loved it I have even given a beautiful hint of citrus flavour to hype the taste , nevertheless one of the best tasting dessert and if you love the coffee flavour I strongly recommend to try this . Try this gorgeous dessert and serve it chilled it's sure to be your fav too :) 

Ingredients 

20 -25 Sponge fingers / Savoiardi biscuits ( easily available in the supermarkets)

3 tsp Nescafe coffee powder

2 cups of water

1 cup of Double cream / Full fat cream 

1 cup Mascarpone cheese 

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 tsp orange zest 

1/2 tsp Lemon Zest 

2 tbsp sugar ( you can increase sugar as per your sweet tooth )

3 tbsp cocoa powder for dusting on the top

1/2 cup chocolate (grated )

Method 

• Take 2 cups water in a bowl add coffee powder mix well and keep aside.
• Take Double cream / full fat cream in a mixing bowl and beat it with the help of electric beater till it forms peak and becomes stiff add in mascarpone cheese, sugar , vanilla essence, orange zest, lemon zest and mix well  with the help of beater for a minute.
• Now take a square shaped deep pan dip each sponge fingers in cold Coffee  prepared and arrange the biscuits on the cake tin like one in the picture shown below 
  
• Now spread the layer of Mascarpone cheese evenly to cover repeat the sponge fingers layers dipping in coffee again and repeat the process and cover the arranged fingers with remaining filling and then dust it evenly with cocoa powder. Add chocolate gratings on the top.  Refrigerate for 10- 12 hrs preferably overnight . Next day you will  notice it all set and ready to serve this gorgeous slice of desert ! 
• Keep refrigerated for a greater shelf life ( this can be kept for 1-2 days).

Oreo Icecream

My kids love home made ice cream esp the Coffee Icecream which I had already posted  few weeks back....today I am posting one more Ice cream with Oreos ..... Yes Oreo Biscuits which I had tried and my kids loved it... especially it's such a big compliment in disguise when your kids love the things you make isn't it ?....I  was so happy to see them have with a big smile and giving me compliments with the first bite :D  ..... with Oreo bits in perfect scoop of ice cream they Surely went "It's Yum Yum Yum mum ...please make this again "  and it's so easy to make all you need is the electric whisker /beater and mix of all the ingredients and what's more it's an eggless  recipe as well and there is no machine required ......So here goes the recipe for this Ice cream which is sure to be your Kid's favourite  ...So try this and do leave in your feedback :D

Ingredients

1 & 1/2 cups of Heavy whipping cream /Double cream

1 & 1/2 cups of milk

8-10  Oreos (crushed) (rougly crushed )

2 tbsp milk powder

1/2 cup condensed milk

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method

• Take the biscuits in the zip lock bag . seal it and bash it well with the help of rolling pin.
• In a mixing bowl beat the heavy cream /Double cream till it comes to soft peaks . Keep it aside.
• In another mixing bowl add in condensed milk, milk powder, milk and vanilla essence mix well.  Now add in crushed Oreos  lightly fold in the whipped cream . Remove it in a freezer box container and put some crushed oreos on the top .
• Now after 3 hrs when it is half set take a spoon and  lightly mix in the Ice cream again so that all Oreos don't sink at the bottom.
• Freeze overnight or for 7- 8 hrs . Serve with crushed oreos ... Kid's will surely love this perfect Ice cream :D

Godu Phovu

This is one of the traditional sweet which we prepare for prasadam / Naivedhyam . whenever I prepare this sweet it reminds me of my childhood days when I used to wait for my mom to give me as Prasad after the pooja was performed .....v divine and a lovely sweet which I even now prepare on our main festivals like Gowri pooja,  Ganesh chaturthi :) ....Here is the recipe for that :D

Ingredients

3/4 cup jaggery

2 cups of  patal phovu / Thin variety of Beaten Rice 

2 cups of finely grated coconut

1 cup of water

5-6 Green cardamom  freshly grouund seeds of elaichi

2 tbsp of Roasted black til ( opt) ( But gives a very nice flavour to the whole dish )

Method

• Heat Jaggery in a pan add in water and boil till all jaggery is melted and you have a left with one sting consistency .
• Now add in grated coconut  boil till the coconut absorbs all jaggery syrup but make sure you don't make it too dry here. Add in elaichi powder and give it a mix.
• Switch off the flame and allow it to come to room temperature.
• Add in phovu you have u use very thin variety here and mix well with your hands such that all tht syrup is coated well to the poha.
• Add in roasted til / sesame seeds and mix well.
• Serve ...it's a delicious version of sweet and truly Lip smacking on one too.... :) 

Coffee Icecream

This is one of my fav icecreams from the day I have stumbled upon this recipe by Nigella lawson it's the ultimate and my fav version of eggless no churn easy ice cream ....try this it's a must try for all coffee lovers like me and my family ....If you did love it do drop in a feedback :D

Ingredients

300 ml Double cream 

2 tsp Coffee powder

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup choco chips /walnuts ( I have just used choco chips here)

1/2 tin of condensed milk 

Method

Mix coffee powder with water and keep aside.

Beat Double cream with a cake beater ( electric one would really be a great help here :D) till you get soft peaks and keep aside.

Now mix coffee powder mix  , condensed milk and then fold in choco chips and whipped cream and lightly mix it.

Then pour this  in the container and freeze it overnight . 

This is one no fail recipe which is perfect ...have tried it so many times this is def a keeper recipe :D

Half of it have already gone before I could click my family loves it so much :D

Churmi Ladoo / Churmundo

I had prepared a big batch of ladoo for diwali to share it with my friends and this is one special sweet which I am posting today  fav Churmi Ladoo / Churmundo / Wheat flour ladoo it's very easy to prepare it needs just precise measurements and you will get a no fail ladoo....so do follow the exact recipe for getting this ladoo perfectly . So do try this and leave in your feedback :) 

Ingredients 

1 & 1/4 cup wheat flour 

3/4 cup sugar (powdered)

1/2 cup Ghee /Clarified Butter

2 tbsp Gram flour /Besan 

2 tbsp fine Semolina 

7-8 Green cardamom (Remove the seeds from the pods and powder it )

2 tbsp cashews (chopped)

6-7 Almonds / Badam (chopped)

Method 

• Heat 3 tbsp ghee in a wide pan and add in wheat flour and simmer on a very low flame and roast it (on a low flame for 15 - 20 mins (This is key here don't try to skip the roasting process and Make sure you do it on the lowest flame flour might be burnt). After roasting it well for 20 mins remove it in a wide mixing bowl and keep aside.
• Now in the same pan add 1 tbsp of ghee and roast the gram flour on a low flame for 5-7 mins till you get a nice aroma . Remove it on put on the mixing bowl where you have already added roasted flour.
• Now take 1 more tbsp of ghee and roast the semolina on a low flame for 5-7 mins till a bit crisp and put this too on a mixing bowl. Roast the nuts on a low flame and keep it aside as well.
• So now comes the mixing part add in the powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and give all the ingredients a good mix add in green cardamom powder.
• Add in the roasted nuts . Now heat the remaining ghee on a low flame till well melted  and put this to the mixing bowl let it cool a bit and mix it well with hands .you will see that you will be able to bind this well and shape it in form of ladoo . 
• Store in an air tight container and it stays fresh for 10- 15 days .
• So do try it if you love it don't forget to leave in your feedback would love to read in your comments :D

Patholi

Posting my fav traditional sweet today Patholi it's such a lovely sweet with a beautiful ting of aroma of turmeric leaves which makes it very special . This is actually prepared on special occasion like nagarpachami / Gowri Ganesha chaturthi . On my recent holiday trip to India to visit my parents was so happy to see these turmeric leaves grown in my mom's garden that I decided to carry some back home and prepare this sweet :D ....I absolutely loved preparing this easy sweet and gorged over it was feasting while fasting so here goes the recipe for this gorgeous sweet :D 

Ingredients 

10- 15 haldi leaves / Patholi paan 

For rice coconut batter 

1 cup Rice 

1/2 cup coconut 

pinch of salt to taste 

For sweet Jaggery filling /choorna

1 cup coconut 

1/2 cup Jaggery 

Method 

For Rice coconut batter

• Soak rice for about 1-2 hrs 
• Then drain all the water and grind rice with coconut adding little water to a thick paste.

For Jaggery filling

• Heat 1/2 cup water add jaggery and melt it till it dissolves completely then add in coconut and boil till all the jaggery syrup gets absorbed in the coconut. Keep aside.

To assemble 

• Take a steamer fill with enough water place a plate . keep it on high flame .
• Take the leaf wash it well snip of the ends of the leaf  like the one shown in the picture .

• Now take a spoonfull of  rice coconut batter and spread it on the leaf then put the coconut Jaggery filling in the center.

close the leaf  and place on the streamer and steam for 15- 20 mins till done, cool and remove patholi from the leaf  serve drizzled with homemade ghee ...it's awesome with a lovely aroma of turmeric leaves truly yummy and one of the traditional konkani delicacy !

Note ; My mom do not add elaichi powder to it as it overpowers and the beautiful scent of aroma leaves goes off...it's your choice to add it if you like

My granny used to even add 2 tbsp Jaggery while grinding the rice and coconut batter just cause it hypes the taste ...but as my mom doesn't add it have followed the way I have been brought up seeing her cook 

You can keep this refrigerated for 3-4 days 

Pineapple Sheera

This is one of my fav desert which I absolutely love this can be made plain too but I absolutely love Pineapple sheera also known as pineapple pudding in Konkani ...it's delicious with a love pineapple bits which makes it even lovely to have and taste....Here goes the recipe for this sheera which I learnt it from my mother in law :)

Ingredients

1 cup pineapple (remove the skin and chop it finely)

1 cup slightly coarse Rawa / Semolina 

1/4 cup ghee + 1 tbsp ghee for roasting semolina

1/4 cup oil 

1/2 cup sugar ( I have used slightly less then this but you can increase as per your sweet tooth)

2 tbsp chopped cashews (roasted in ghee)

1/4 tsp Kesar /saffron 

1 and 3/4 cup water  + 1/2 cup for boiling pineapple

1 tsp Green cardamom/ elaichi powder

Method

• Finely chop the pineapple or you can blitz in food pro just once such that you have bits in it or you can even grate the pineapple then remove this in a pan add in 1/2 cup water add kesar, 2 tbsp sugar and boil it till it's reduced to 1/2 and keep it aside.
• Add 1 tbsp ghee in non stick pan and roast semolina till nice aroma then add in pineapple puree and  required amount of water and fry it till thick you must continuously keep stirring ensuring there are no lumps.
• Add in sugar and mix well now add in ghee and oil and keep mixing till semolina leaves ghee then add in elaichi powder, roasted cashews.
• Serve chilled or eat it just like that it's pure bliss !