What wouldnt I do to eat some chocolate? These days I am playing the strict hypocrite, the character who doesnt allow chocolates inside the house as daughter eats too many of them but secretly nurses the dream of eating some herself. I think these chunks are a great substitute for regular chocolates. Whats more? You can even make it on festivals for prasad and the kids will love the new variation to the regular burfis. You can also make this any time you dont have Khoya, condensed milk or any milk at all. You can use the milk powder stored in your refrigerator to quickly make this dessert.

Ok, so these are what I made one day with my  time in the morning after a long night. My 2 month old has started giving me sleepless nights. Her typical wide-awake hours are 11 pm – 4.30 pm. Thats when she looks around for companions and finds only a couple of bored people sitting around waiting for her to sleep. I made myself some delicious fudge chunks on which I could binge and get over the tiredness. It worked wonders but only for a short while. Soon I realized that baby had to be taken to the doctor for her vaccination. By the time I was back I was nearly giddy as I hadnt slept peacefully in nearly 48 hours. I couldnt eat food or even move around due to exhaustion. I started wondering what the night had in store for me. I said a prayer and slept around 10.30 pm and Lo! Baby and I woke up at 10.30 am the next morning. With the exception of a mid-night feed we just did not wake up. I was delighted with the one-night rest which saved me from dropping unconscious

Ingredients:

• Milk Powder 1.5 cups
• Cocoa powder 3 Tablespoons
• Brown Sugar 1 cup
• Unsalted Butter 1 cup
• Water 1/2 cup

Procedure:

1. Sieve milk powder and cocoa powder together.
2. Grease a tray with butter.
3. Heat a non-stick pan. Heat sugar and water till the syrup reaches 1-string consistency.
4. Add the butter and stir till it melts. Add the sieved powder mix into this and stir well.
5. Cook till the mixture combines and leaves the sides of the pan. Work on low heat so the mixture doesnt burn.
6. Transfer into greased tray and allow to cool. Cut out squares and enjoy (Warning: High on Calories!!)

© romasharma.com, 2010

My Sunday morning started off with scanning the Mint newspaper supplement. It was fully loaded with ideas for Diwali Gifts and some interesting recipes from Top Chefs. I particularly liked Tarla Dalal’s ideas for Low-Fat paneer and Khoya that can easily be made at home. Low fat khoya is made by steamed a dough of skimmed milk and water. This dough is then mashed and flavored with sugar and essence of choice. I wanted to immediately put this idea into action but I didnt have enough skimmed milk so I used the badam milk powder that had been chilling in my fridge for way too long.

Since the mix already had sugar I skipped the sugar adding part and used an orange essence to flavor half the halwa. I think this sweet dish is really easy to make because all other halwas require constant stirring and monitoring. When I was making this one, I was watching a TV show as the halwa steamed itself to completion. As good as it gets…

Here is a picture of the Moon on Kawa Chauth. One of the most clear appearances the moon has ever made on this occasion. Every year we spend our time playing hide n Seek but not this time. I was delighted to see that the moon was beaming its bright face in the sky even before my Pooja Thaali was ready.

Karwa Chauth Moon

Photograph by: Mayank

I am sending this entry to the Sweet Series event hosted by Mom’s recipes.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup badam milk powder
• 1 TBsp skimmed milk powder
• 1 cup fried gram powder
• Few drops of Orange color and essence (optional)
• Cashews and Dry Dessicated coconut for Garnish (optional)

Procedure:

1. Knead the milk powders with water into a dough. Add fried gram powder and stiffen the dough further.
2. Tie this dough in a muslin cloth and steam for 15 mins.

Steam Milk Mix

1. Allow the mix to cool and empty it in a bowl.
2. Divide the mix into two halves. Add orange color and essence to one half.
3. Grease a plate and spread the plain halwa layer on it.
4. Over that spread a layer of orange flavored halwa.
5. Garnish with Cashews and Dry dessicated coconut.
6. Freeze for 2 hours until set. Cut into desired shape and serve.

Please note:
Before making halwa please check the Sugar quantity in your Badam Milk mix by tasting it. Sometimes the mixes are very sweet making the halwa inedible. If you find excessive sugar in the mix you can cover for it by increasing the quantity of regular milk powder in the recipe.

These last three days have been so action packed. Friday we had our Janmashtmi puja. I managed to fast all day with Mayank. When I woke up in the morning I didnt have an intention to but I thought it will be ok if I ate some fruits and had juice every 2 hrs. I remember last Janmashtmi I over slept in the afternoon and my empty stomach made me pay a price. I was throwing up till the puja actually began. Thankfully this time it was a piece of cake (?) ohh! I mean this time it was relatively simpler. I had a big glass of lassi along with Makhane(Lotus seeds) and groundnuts for lunch. Very filling indeed! We did puja and broke our fast around 9.30 pm ! (the longest time I have ever taken to break my fast)Turn Up the Volume & Enjoy the Video

In the afternoon we had a Rangoli competition in our apartment to kick start the Independence day celebrations. I was there trying to catch all the action as it happens. What can be more delightful than to shoot vibrant colors and artistic patterns. The Ladies of our apartment used a variety of ingredients for their rangoli: salt, grated vegetables, rice flour, rice soaked overnight and ground into a paste. Lots of variety from dry rangoli to liquid alpana from stencil-based ones to edible rangolis Well, I had a fine time capturing their concentration thru my lens although I think I distracted them a li’l bit in the process.

Please Note :

Flickr now has Pictures of the Independence Day Celebrations at my apartment.

How difficult is it for a foodie like me to fast? Well, earlier it was tough but this year surprisingly I was able to do it well on the occasion of Karwa Chauth.

Karwa Chauth is a festival where married women fast for their husband’s long life. They break their fast after worshiping the moon at night. For the pooja they dress up like brides with mehendi on hands, wedding saree, jewellery and all that glamor.

My fast got over quite fast. I ate fruits and had milk although mostly girls in North do not even drink water. Incidentally, I had a friend show me some interesting recipe books, which I skillfully overlooked least I encourage my hunger pangs. All in all, the vrat (or fast) was no problem at all.

My hubby keeps the fast along with me every year. The first year after marriage I told him not to, well he wouldnt listen. I made wheat vermicelli for breakfast and he went away without eating it. Thats 3 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Then on, I allowed him to fast with me. Its really nice actually to have company while fasting.

Despite my baby doll’s tantrums I managed to apply Mehendi on my hands a day before Karwa Chauth. It went on till late at night as usual but it feels great once you are done. I used my right hand to apply on my left and I used a stencil to apply on my right hand. Just place the stencil, apply the mehendi and peel off. Easy enough, what to you expect with one left hand after all?

We went to my co-sisters place for pooja. The pooja got over on time but the moon hid behind the clouds, sort of making us realize its importance. After all, once a year we get so desperate to see it. Usually on Karwa Chauth its very cloudy so may be on Karwa Chauth we notice the clouds. This year was by far the toughest I must say. We waited for more than an hour and finally decided to worship the streak of light that we thought was the moon. As soon as we started the pooja the moon peeped out from a completely direction location. We immediately changed our direction and continued the pooja. Finally, it was time to have dinner. The prasad pooris were over even before we entered home.

A Karwa is used to hold water that is offered to the moon

There is something about eating dinner after fasting all day. For one, the food tastes very good and the satvic style in which it is made makes it tastier.

The prasad I make every year for Karwa Chauth is poori and Gulgule (sweet wheat flour dumplings). You can find the recipe here.

I would like to send this entry to Srivalli’s JFI Nov, ’08 – Festival Treats. Thanks for accepting my entry to the event, although its a bit different from the main festivals.

We keep Ganeshji Ki Sthapna for about 10 days and submerge the idol on Ekadashi (a day in the Hindi Calender). These 10 days we do pooja everyday. Sometimes when I’m busy I dont find the time to make the prasad in the morning. For such days, I have certain instant sweet mixes which can remain fresh for almost 2 weeks. Whenever I need to make prasad for pooja or if I want to offer laddus to unexpected guests I just need to bind the mix and use it.

Some commonly used ingredients for making these kind of powders include rawa, roasted gram flour powder and groundnuts. Any of these can be used following the same procedure described below and can be stored for about 2 weeks in an air tight container without refrigeration. Here, I have used thin beaten rice which is a less commonly used base for laddu mixes. It however tastes good and the poha / beaten rice offers softness to the laddu.
You can bind the powder with hot milk or ghee. Sugar can also be replaced with Jaggery. You can select the dry fruits you wish to add to your laddu mix.

This is my entry to the Long Live the Shelf event that I’m hosting this month. This instant poha laddu mix can be stored for 2 weeks in an air tight container without refrigeration.

Also, sending this to the Original Recipe Event hosted by Lore of Culinarty.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup thin poha / beaten rice
• 1/2 cup dry dessicated coconut powder
• less than 1/2 cup sugar (change as per your taste)
• Few almonds, raisins and cardamoms
• Few teaspoons of hot milk to bind

Procedure :

1. Dry roast the beaten rice till its crinkly. Place in a dry mixie jar.
2. Dry roast the dry coconut powder for about a minute, stirring continuously. Place along with poha in the mixie jar.
3. Now roast almonds and cardamom seeds and add to the other roasted ingredients.
4. Once the contents of the mixie jar cool add sugar and grind the contents into a powder.
5. Store this powder in an air tight container.
6. Whenever you need to prepare laddus just add hot milk / ghee to the powder and bind it.
7. Dust the laddus with some more powder and garnish it with a raisin. You can fry raisins in the same ghee you heated for the binding.

Please NOTE :

1. Its really easy for the thin poha and the dry coconut powder to get burnt. You need to stir them continuously.
2. Please wait till the roasted ingredients completely cool off before adding sugar.
3. While binding, add hot milk / ghee in small quantities else you might suddenly find the dough unmanageable.

Janamashtmi Prasad

Festivals bring a change in environment that serves as a much needed break from the daily hussle bussle of life. A time to stop and celebrate life and to enrich ourselves by praying to the divine. You might have noticed that although there is a lot of work for almost 2-3 days before a festival you somehow dont seem to get tired. Its the devotion that gives us a whole lot of energy and gives us so much relaxation even amidst work.

A day before Janamashti I went shopping for fruits, flowers, milk, curds and a dress to make my daughter look like Radha. Last Janamashtami I made her into Krishna as then she looked more like a cute boy. Now she is about 1.5 yrs old and is more girlish. She noticed the preparations going on at home and was well aware that she was going to have some fun. She consented to becoming Radha and even danced around the house before pooja

Prasad : Panjeeri & Charanamrut
These 2 dishes together form the most important prasad we offer lord Krishna every year on Janamashtmi.

Panjeeri :

• Roast 1 cup of wheat flour in a thick bottom pan. Stir continuously to ensure it doesnt get burnt.
• When its almost done add 1/2 teaspoon of elaichi powder.
• Turn off the gas and transfer the roasted wheat flour into a plate to cool.
• Once its cooled off completely add less than 1/2 cup of ground sugar.

Panjeeri

Panjeeri can be made for traveling as it lasts for about 2-3 weeks. Just ensure the flour is roasted well for a longer shelf life.

Charanamrut :
Charan in Hindi means feet and amrut means necter. Hence, Charanamrut here means the necter from the feet of the lord. Its a mix of 5 ingredients and doesnt require cooking. This sacred necter is the first to be had after pooja, that means even before prasad.

Mix 1 cup milk, 1.5 tablespoons curds, 1 tablespoon honey, any dry fruits (we use chironji), few roasted lotus seeds (options) and 1 teaspoon of ghee.

Charanamrut

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi was possible in the same grand way we usually have it, thanks to Ganeshji for that. We actually returned from a 3-day long trip just 24 hrs before the festival. I was busy unpacking and getting the laundry done. However, on good occasions things just go on well. My husband surprised me by buying all the possible things I needed to make the occasion special. The next day I got busy making modaks , kheer and tamarind rice. We did pooja and really enjoyed the prasad. Somehow the tamarind rice we make all year doesnt taste as good as it does on Ganesh Chathuti. We worship the idol of Ganeshji for 10 days before submerging it in water.

For prasadam I made tamarind rice and Ganeshji’s favorite modaks.

Ganesh Chaturthi Prasad

Modak :

• Heat 2.5 cups of water. Once water boils add about 1 cup of rice flour.
• Cook till it thickens. Now cool this mix.
• Separately heat 1/2 cup jaggery with 1/2 cup grated coconut. Cook till mixture comes together.
• Flatten the rice dough with your palms and fill it with the coconut mixture. Seal in the shape of a modak.
• Steam modaks for 20 mins.

Modak

This is my entry to the Krishna Janamashtmi and Ganesh Chaturthi event hosted by Purva’s Daawat. What I like so much about the event started on monthly festivals is that it allows us to know more about each others culture and traditions. We get a glimpse of how homes in different parts of India look on festive occasions. Our ways of celebrating the same festival differ every 1000 miles but the enthusiasm is shared across borders.

One day I noticed a 200 gram packet of Badam Milk powder lying in my kitchen. It didnt have much use as I had already bought a different milk mix and was liking it too much to switch to something else. I wondered how to finish the Badam mix quickly as these powders typically lose their flavor with time. I found the Badam Burfi to be a good way out.

Ingredients :

• 400 grams Khoya
• Less than 200 grams Badam Milk powder (if its MTR it will contain sugar)
• 1/2 cup milk
• Few teaspoons ghee
• Few teaspoons rawa

Procedure :

1. Mix the Badam milk powder with khoya and saute well.
2. Add milk and ghee to this mixture and cook on low flame, stirring continuously.
3. Roast rawa and add to the mixture. Stir till mixture thickens.
4. Pour mixture out on greased tray.
5. Cool and cut into desired shape.

Please NOTE :

I have tried out the above recipe with MTR Badam Milk powder. However, if you use a badam milk powder of a different brand then you will need to check if it already has sugar or not and add some accordingly.

Presenting two unique and delicious coconut burfi recipes. The first one is made with a sugar base and the second with a creamy thickened milk base. My personal favorite is the chilled coconut malai burfi, as it just melts in the mouth.

Coconut Burfi :

Ingredients :

• 2 tablespoons Ghee
• Badam, Kaju, Kismis (few pieces each)
• 1 cup freshly dessicated coconut
• less than 1/4 cup sugar (upto your taste to add more…)

Procedure :

1. Heat Ghee and fry the dry fruits like Badam, Kismis and kaju. Keep aside. In the same kadai fry freshly dessicated coconut till it loses its color (15 – 20 mins approx) .
2. Heat sugar in a pan. Add a small quantity of water and mix it till it dissolves.
3. Add sugar syrup to the coconut mixture. Mix well till the mixture thickens.
4. pour into greased tray and cut when cool.

Coconut malai Burfi (with milk) :

The picture above is of coconut malai burfi. It needs very simple ingredients and brings out the rich taste in coconut.

Ingredients :

• Full cream milk 1/2 litre
• 1 medium size Coconut
• Badam, Kaju, Kismis, elaichi (few pieces each)
• Few teaspoons of sugar

Procedure :

1. Soak kaju and badam for an hour. Grind them with fresh coconut.
2. Boil 1/2 lt full cream milk. let it simmer till it thickens.
3. Add the ground mixture and continue to cook. Add sugar, elaichi and thicken.
4. Once done, pour out onto a greased plate. Cool and solidify in the freezer for a few hours.
5. Cut into desired shape and serve chilled. You can decorate it with fried kismis for that extra yummy look.

Please NOTE :

1. You can use Nandini orange packet which is a good ‘full cream milk’ option.
2. Please be careful while adding sugar to this dessert as coconut is an ingredient which is already quite sweet.

Til Rava Burfi

This is what I call ‘Sankranthi Delight’. Fast to cook and great to eat any time of the day. What better way to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season?

Ingredients :

• 5 tablespoons of til
• 5 tablespoons of chiroti (fine) rava
• 5 tablespoons of jaggery
• 1 tablespoon of desi ghee
• elaichi seeds

Procedure :

1) Heat a thick bottom pan or a kadai. Add til seeds and fine rava. Mix in elaichi seeds and stir on low flame till both til and rava turn light brown (take care not to burn).

2) Add jaggery and mix well. Add 5 tablespoons of water, one tablespoon of desi ghee and continue to stir till mixture comes together.

3)Pour mixture out on a greased tray. Cut Til Rava Burfi into desired shape and serve once cool.

Please NOTE :

1) Preferably use jaggery of the brand ‘Dharani‘, available in all ISKCON temples. This tastes pure and you will not have to take the trouble of straining the jaggery to get rid of the suspended impurities.

2) Rava is used because til alone becomes too oily to eat. Also, rava gives the burfi a good thickness and consistency.