Sweet Vada/Theepu Vadai

Theepu vadai in telugu is a traditional sweet which make during our festival. This vadai comes up really good when you grind it with the grinding stone and it tastes excellent with ghee on top and mashed with banana.Here is the proportion.....

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.Whole urad dhal-2cups
2.Channa dhal-1/2cup
3.Jaggery-11/2cup
4.Salt-Pinch
5.Oil for deep fry

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Wash and soak urad dhal and chana dhal for about an hour and drain the water completely.
• Now grind the soaked dhal,salt and jagery using the grinding stone or grinder without adding any drop of water untill smooth.
• Then take this dough in a bowl and shape them into flat using ziploc cover and make a hole in the center and deep fry them in medium hot oil untill they attain dark brown color.
• Now once its cooled store it in the airtight container.

NOTE:
You can store this vada for 3-5days in airtight container.

GOES WELL WITH:
        Banana mixed with ghee

Carrot Halwa(Paajaka)

Carrot halwa is one of my favorite sweet dish which i tried from another blog.Here is the recipe.....

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Grated carrots-3cups
2.Milk-11/2cups
3.Sugar-1cup
4.Ghee-3tbs
5.Cardamom Powder-1/2tbs
6.Saffron strands-Pinch
7.Cashewnuts-2tbs(Chopped)

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• In a nonstick pressure cooker,fry the grated carrots in a tablespoon of ghee for one min.
• Then add the milk and saffron and pressure cook for one whistle.
• Now To this add sugar and keep stirring in a medium heat.When complete moisture is absorbed,add half of the ghee,fry for 2 more mins and remove from heat.
• Fry the cashews in the remanining ghee and add it to the halwa with the cardamom powder and mix well.
• Serve warm or at room temperature or cold. 

 

GOES WELL WITH:
      Coffee

RATING:
****

Sesame seeds Ball / Simli

Seasame seeds ball is also called as simli in our village.Its a very good sweet can be made easy and here is how my MIL makes it....    

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.White or Black sesame seeds-1cup
2.Jaggery-1/2cup
3.Water-2tbs

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• First dry roast  the sesame seeds in a pan,fry it untill nice aroma in slow flame and make sure that they are not becoming dark because they will become bitter and let it cool down.
• Now using stone mortar and pestle powder the sesame seeds untill smooth powder and  take it out and put it in a bowl.
• Then powder the jaggery in the same mortar and pestle and add sesame seeds into it and mix it together well by adding little hot water and keep grinding it untill nice and smooth and all well mixed.
• Remove and start making balls and store it in the airtight container  .

NOTE:
U can Store it atleast one month.

 

Instant Gulab Jamun

Gulab jamun is my daughters favorite dessert since childhood.I made this gulab jamun from priya jamun mix they turned out pretty good.It is available in all the indian stores. Here is how i make it

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Priya Gulab Jamun mix or any brand- 1 pkt (200gms)
2.Sugar – 4cups
3.Cardamon powder- 3nos(Crushed)
4.Water – 21/2cups (For syrup) 
5.Oil for deep fry

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• In a bowl, add the mix and gradually add little by little of water and mix well and Gently knead the mixture to make it an even dough.
• In another large vessel, take water and add sugar. Also add cardamom powder to it. Bring it to a boil. Mix it well and boil again.
• Take the dough and divide it into small balls.Roll each portion into a smooth ball. Make all the balls and keep aside.
• In a pan, heat cooking oil for frying the gulab jamuns. Deep fry the gulab jamuns on medium high heat. It should take approx 7-8 minutes to become golden brown.
• Directly add all jamuns to the sugar syrup. Let them completely soak for couple of hours or overnight.
• Gulab jamuns are ready to eat.

Rava Kesari

Rava or sooji kesari is a simple sweet dish that can be made in jiffy. Here is how i make it...

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.Rava-1cup
2.Sugar-1cup
3.Water-3cup
4.Cashew nuts -15
5.Raisins-10
6.Cardomom-2(Crushed)
7.Orange food color -Pinch
8.Ghee

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Heat 2tbs of ghee in a pan, fry the broken cashews and raisins and keep it aside. 
• Now Add another tbsp of ghee and fry the rava to a light pink color and keep aside. 
• Heat 3 cups of water in the another pan when it comes to boil , add the rava slowly, constantly stirring, and mix well. Allow the rava to be cooked at medium heat. The rava has to cook well. 
• When it is fully cooked, add the coloring and add sugar and stir well. When the sugar is fully dissolved, add the boiled ghee or oil. Keep stirring until the rava starts leaving the sides of the pan. 
• Garnish with the fried cashews and raisins and cardamom powder mix well and serve hot or cold.

Coconut Balls

Coconut comes in dried  and powdered forms as well as fresh.For this receipe i used fresh grated coconut which tastes the best.This dish is very easy and can be made instantly and  served as a dessert or anytime snack which i learnt it from my MIL.Here is the receipe....

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.Coconut grated-2cup
2.Sugar-11/2cup
3.Cardomom-2
4.Podukadali-2tbs
5.Ghee as needed

UTENSIL:
Deep pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:  

• First grind pottukadalai with cardomom together untill smooth and keep it aside.
• In a pan add ghee,add grated coconut fry untill smooth for about 10-15mins.
• Add sugar and keep stirring untill it starts melting and becomes thick .When the mixture leaves the sides of the pan,remove from flame and let it cool down for about 5-7mins.Don't let the coconut mixture cool completely as it hardens quickly and it will be difficult to roll into balls.
• When it is still warm to touch, apply ghee on your palm,take small portions and roll into a ball, dip into the grinded powder,so that the dry powder coats well on it.
• Finally Place on a plate to dry.

Bobattu/Puran Poli with Moong dhal

Bobbattu or poli are prepared in almost every Telugu home during ugadi festival.This is One of my favourite sweet which we prepare every year during the festival.Bobattu which is also known by the name of Puran Poli in Tamil or Bhakshalu in Telugu.Its basically a bread with sweet-lentil stuffing prepared with refined flour,sugar or jaggery and Moong dhal or split bengal gram lentil.My MIL makes excellent bobattulu and here i am posting her recipe on how to prepare them….

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.Moong dhal or chana dal -2cups soaked in water for 2 hours and drained
(split gram lentil)
2.Jaggery -1cup(you can adjust the sugar or jaggery according to your choice)
3.Maida or All purpose flour-2 cups
4.Turmeric powder-1/4tbs
5.Baking soda-Pinch(Optional)
6.Cardamom powder -1/4tbs
7.Salt as needed
8.Oil

UTENSIL:
Tawa or Flat pan 

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• First Mix maida flour,pinch of salt,turmeric powder,soda,2 tbsps oil and enough water to make a very soft and sticky dough.Knead well and leave it and let it sit down for couple of hours.
• Secondly Cook moong dhal  with enough water in a pan or pressure cooker till it becomes soft and mushy.Cool.Grind to a fine paste with jaggery and pinch of salt till they blend and form a lump such that you can prepare small balls for stuffing.
• Add cardamom powder and pinch of salt and mix well.Turn off heat and cool.Prepare small lemon sized balls with this lentil mixture and keep aside.
• Now Grease your hands with oil to knead the dough and take a small portion of dough and flatten it into a disc of the size of your palm. Place a ball in the centre and draw the edges of the dough from all sides to cover the lentil ball completely.
• Take a sheet of transparent plastic wrap or a plaintain leaf and gently flatten each ball carefully with your fingers to form a 6″ to 8″ diamater flat circular bobattu/poli (grease your hands while flattening).
• Fry it on low flame on a hot griddle or tawa.Roast both sides till brown spots appear.
• If u want Smear with ghee on both sides when done.Serve warm or cold.

Note:
  You can store the ‘bobattulu’ for a few days in an air tight container or in the refrigerator. 
 

 
GOES WELL WITH:
    Banana mixed with ghee

White Pumpkin/Kumadakai Halwa

Halwa made with this white pumpkin is very good for health.In back home my MIL used to make it all the time. Here I come with this lovely Pumpkin recipe/Halwa recipe to make your tongue want more!

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Grated Pumpkin-1 cup
2.Ghee/clarified butter-1cup
3.Sugar-1cup
4.Few fried cashews and raisins -1/2cup

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Remove the skin of the pumpkin and grate it and squeeze all the water .
• In a pan,add ghee and grated pumpkin fry untill the moisture content in the pumpkin becomes dry which will take upto 10 min.
• Add the sugar, mix well and cook.
• Now add the ghee and mix well until the ghee oozes out and floats on top. This will take another 5 min.
• Now add the fried cashews and raisins. Mix well and switch of the stove.
• This Halwa can be served hot or cold. Either way, it tastes divine.

 GOES WELL WITH:
      Vada 

Sweet Sakarai Pongal

We make this sweet pongal made with jaggery or sugar during pongal time in the month of january or any occasion .There are several ways to make sweet pongal this is how my MIL makes it  which is very easy to make and tasty to eat here goes the recipe....

INGREDIENTS U NEED:

1.Raw rice-1cup
2.Moong dhal-3/4cup
3Jaggery-1cup
4.Milk-1cup
5.Ghee-5tbs
6.Cashewnut and Raisins -2tbs(fried in ghee)

UTENSIL:
Bottomed pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Boil raw rice and moong dhal together in a pan with a pinch of salt untill cooked soft
• Add boiled milk and jaggery mix it well untill jaggery melts
• Then  fry cashewnuts and raisin in the ghee and add it into the rice and mix well.

Bread Payasam ~ Selvi

There is no meal without dessert especially in the parties.This payasam i got it from my friend selvi she made this payasam during pooja in her home which has very simple and few ingredients to make so here it is...

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Bread -4(toasted and remove the sides and grinded as powder)
2.Milk-2cup
3.Sugar-1cup
4.Condensed milk-1can

UTENSIL:
Big bottomed pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• In a vessel boil the milk untill little thick
• In that boiling milk , add grinded bread powder and sugar keep stiring  continuosly for 5-10mins
• Now add condensed milk to it and mix well,Let it boil untill u get the thick consistency and serve hot or cold.

Rava Laddu

Rava laddu is a one of the simple sweet snack which is very easy to make sweet which i never made it before but whenever my MIL comes here she will make it so often. I am not a big fan of rava laddu but my husband loves it .Here how she makes it...

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Rava/Semolina/Sooji - 1cup
2.Sugar-11/2cup
3.Boiled milk-1/2cup
4.Cardomom powder - pinch
5.Cashewnuts-1cup
5.Ghee-3tbs

UTENSIL:
Nonstick pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• In a pan add little ghee, rava fry it untill nice and brown
• Add sugar ,cardomom and mix it and fry it well with the rava
• Add boiled milk mix all together nicley untill thick let it cool  down and add cashewnuts fried in the ghee. 
• Make a small balls and store in the airtight container for couple of months.

Wheat Halwa ~ Sridevi

Wheat halwa is very healthy and nutritious sweet  very easy to make and delicious to eat which i got it from my friend sridevi  here goes the receipe for yummy halwa....

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Wheat flour -1cup
2.Sugar-1cup
3.Milk-1cup
4.Water-1cup
5.Cashews for garnishing

UTENSIL:
Heavy bottomed pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• In a pan add all this ingredients from 1 to 4 mix well together put in the medium heat and keep on stirring and switch into the high flame keep on mixing until light brown and nice aroma
• Finally add cashews fried in the ghee and mix it well like halwa

Palkova

Palkova is sweet made with milk and sugar which takes long time to cook in back home but here is the easiest method to make this palkova with the same taste and flavor with three ingredients which i learned it  from my friend mega.Here is how u should make...

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Condensed milk-1can
2.Unsalted butter-1stick
3.Non fat dry milk powder-1packet
4.Cashew or almonds-to garnish

UTENSIL:
Big Glass bowl

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Combine all the above ingredients from 1 to 3 in a microwaveable bowl nicely without lumps by hands or mixer
• Cook it in the microwave oven for 1min and mix well nicely
• Keep on doing this every one minute for 7mins untill thick (keep an eye on the mixture because sometimes it will overflow)
• Let it cool down to room temperature and roll into small ball or whatever shape u want and garnish it with cashews or almonds.

Note:
U can store this palkova in the fridge for atleast 2-3weeeks

Kajjikayulu(Somas)

Kajjikayalu is also known as somas or karchikayi in our native palce which i learned it from my MIL.This is the favorite sweet we offer for the god lord ganesha during festival.This sweet is very simple to make with different ingredients for stuffing but here i am making with coconut and sugar basically.I used frozen grated coconut but fresh coconut tastes really good  if u want to store it for a long time then use dry coconut powder.

INGREDIENTS U NEED:
1.Maida - 1 cup
2.Wheat flour - 2tbs
3.Oil
4.Salt as needed

FOR FILLING:
1.Grated coconut - 2cup(Fry in the little ghee untill golden brown)
2.Kalai -1/2cup (make into powder)
3.Sugar - 1cup

GRIND(optional):
Cardomom powder-2
Cashewnuts-8
Badam-4

UTENSIL:
Deep bottomed frying pan

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

• Mix all the filling together by using mortar and pestle mash it coarsely and keep it aside.
• Meanwhile mix both the flour well in that add little boiled oil and make a dough and knead well and let it marinate for 2-5hrs.
• Now Divide the dough into small balls of 1 inch diameter.
• Take a small portion of the dough and using wooden stick roll it into a oval shape ,apply all purpose flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the stick.
• Take a portion of the stuffing and place it in the center of the oval shaped dough.
• Fold the dough into half and seal using milk/water with the fork.
• Deep fry slowly in the oil untill golden brown and store it in the airtight container for 3-5days.