Malai Peda (Milk Fudge)

          As the cold winter days melt into the more comfortable spring weather, people celebrate Basant Panchmi or Vasant Panchami. The festival, it signifies the beginning of Vasant Rutu(ritu)(Spring season). Vasant is associated with freshness and a new beginning in all spheres of life. For Vasant Panchami the yellow color dominates for not only do people wear yellow colored cloths, even the food that's prepared as offering to the goddess is also yellow. My today's recipe is Malai Peda- A rich sweet flavored with saffron and generously garnished with pistachios..

                          "May every goodness touch your soul..
                             And the brightest light of knowledge..
                                Illuminate your life..
                            So here's me wishing you..
                          A very happy Vasant Panchami to all !"
 My #foodiemonday #bloghop entry for #vasantpanchmi Theme.

Ingredients:
1 cup Milk powder
1/2 cup Heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup Powder sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon Milk
1/4 teaspoon Saffron strands
1/4 teaspoon Cardamom powder
1 1/2 teaspoon Ghee
Some roughly crushed Pistachios.
Method:
* In a heavy bottomed cooking pot, melt 1tsp ghee and add heavy whipping cream and milk powder.

* Cook till the mixture gets thick on low to medium heat.
* In 1tbls hot milk dissolve the saffron strands to get the yellow color.

* Once the mawa(whipping cream & milk powder) starts getting thicker, stir the dissolved saffron till it gets solid. (almost 7-8 minutes)
* Remove from the stove when it gets thick.

* Spread on a plate and allow it to cool down completely.

* Break the lumps after cool down and mix sugar and cardamom powder in it.

* Apply just little ghee on your palm and make small balls with your fist.

* Use knife to make designs on it.
* Stick some pistachios on the Peda.
* Serve.
* Enjoy...

Veggie Cutlets

    Veggie Cutlets are perfect for snack time. A real hunger relief option for kids and adults too..Every part of the country and in fact, every community has their recipe for a good cutlet. This one is very basic recipe to make a mixed vegetable cutlet. Healthy, nutritious and really easy to make. You can serve these cutlets with any type of chutney or even plain ketchup. Eat it just like that or you can sandwiched between slices of bread or even can make veg. burgers too.

  Veggie Cutlets are very delish.. Learn how to make Veggie Cutlets by my recipe.:)
  My #foodiemonday #bloghop entry for #colonialinspiredcuisine theme..

Ingredients::
* 3 Bread slices
* 3 medium size Boiled Potatoes
* 1/ cup chopped vegetables (green beans, corn, carrots and bell-peppers)
* 1/4 Cup chopped onions
* 1 tablespoon Ginger-Garlic-Green Chili paste
* 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
* 1/2 teaspoon red Chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon Garam masala
* 1/2 tablespoon Lemon juice
* 2 tablespoon chopped Cilantro
* Salt to taste
* 1/3 cup All-purpose(maida) slary (all purpose+water added)
* 1/2 cup dry Bread crumbs
* Oil for frying

Method::

*  Add bread slices into the food processor and make bread crumbs. 

*  Heat the pan with just a little oil and add chopped onions. 

* Saute them and add ginger-garlic-green chili paste.

* Mix all.

* Add mixed vegetable and cook for couple of minutes.

* Add boiled potatoes.

* Add red chili powder, turmeric pwder, garam masala, lemon juice, chopped cilantro and salt.

* Turn off the stove and let it cool down for a while.

* Add fresh bread crumbs init. 

* Now mix the all mixture properly using your hand.
* Take heart shaped cookie cutter, press the mixture into that and make heart shaped cutlets. (You can make it round shaped cutlets too if you don’t have cookie cutter)

* Use same process for reaming cutlets and keep aside.
* Now in a small bowl add all-purpose(maida), add ¼ cup water and make thin paste.
* Dip the prepared cutlet into that paste than coat it with the dry bread crumbs.
* Heat the oil into the pan for frying. (at this step you can shallow fry the cutlets too)
* Place the coated cutlets into the hot oil and fry them both sides till golden brown, remove it on the kitchen paper towel.
* Veggie cutlets are ready. 
* You can serve with chutney or ketchup. 

* Enjoy!!

 Note:

* You can add or subtract veggies as per your choice.

 * You may shallow fry cutlets for less calories.

* You may use corn-flour for coating cutlets instead of maida(all-purpose)

Samosa Bites

   Samosa bites-- these samosa bites are specially for samosa lovers just like me:) but wait no need to stay in front of stove for long time-do this and do that, but still can make a dream bite ever... These Samosa Bites are not only look gorgeous, but they are full of flavors--Sweet, Salty & Spicy, and hassle free too. Isn't that cool..? So get ready for another super delicious recipe ever...

 My #foodiemonday #bloghop entry for #bitesizefood.....

Ingredients::
For Samosa Filling:1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon  cumin seeds
1 teaspoon Urad dal
4-5 Curry leaves(Limdo)
1 tablespoon red chili powder paste(Red chili mix with some water)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Pinch of asafoetida
2 medium size boiled and grated potatoes
1/4 teaspoon  Garam masala
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon sugar powder
1/4 teaspoon Chaat masala
Some chopped cilantro
For Garnishing:
Some Sweet tamarind-dates chutney
Some finely chopped Cilantro
20-30 Crackers (I used RITZ original crackers)
Method::
For Samosa Filling:
*  Heat the pan with oil.
*  Add cunim seeds and urad dal.
*  Cook for 1-2 mins.
*  Add chopped curry leaves and red chili powder paste, turmeric powder and asafoetida.
*   Cook for a minute and add boiled and grated potatoes in it.
*  Mix well.
*  Add garam masala, salt, sugar, chaat masala and chopped cilantro.
*  Mix well for another 1-2 mins and turn off the stove.
*  Let it cool down.
To Assemble Samosa Bites:
* Start with crackers, top with 1or 1 1/2 teaspoon Samosa filling.
* Top with 1/4 teaspoon sweet chutney.
* Sprinkle some chopped cilantro.
* Repeat with remaining crackers..
* Serve immediately.
* Enjoy..

NOTE:
You can use green cilantro spicy chutney on top too.

 

M&M's Chikki

     Happy Makar Sankranti to all..

   

Fly high like a kite in a sky!!!

Wishing you all the Happy and Safe Makar-Shankranti!!

Ingredients::

* oil-for brushing
* 1 packet of M&M's
*3/4 cup sugar

Method::

*In a tray, add foil paper and brush or spray oil.
* Spread the gems over the oiled foil paper and keep aside.

* Melt sugar in a pan to a single string consistency.
* Take it off the heat.
* Pour it over the tray of gems and let it set in a cool place for 1-2 hrs.
* Break them into chunky pieces and store them in an air tight container.

* Enjoy!!

Peas & Spinach Soup

  Peas & Spinach soup-- a soup with full of flavor and easy & simple to make. It is full of antioxidants and rich source of protein with lots of vitamin C. Let's try it and enjoy it..

 My #foodiemonday #bloghop entry for #peas theme..

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or frozen Peas
1/2 cup Spinach puree (blanch and crushed)
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon roughly chopped Garlic
1 tablespoon Olive oil
Salt to taste
Black pepper powder to taste
1 teaspoon crushed Red pepper
1 cup Water or vegetable stock
1-2 teaspoon cream for garnishing (optional)
Method:
* Take a sauce pan and add olive oil.
* Add chopped onion and garlic.
* Sauté them until gets brownish pink color.
* Add green peas, salt, ground black pepper and mix it or stir it for a minute.
* Add water/vegetable stock and boil for another 6-8 minutes till peas become soft.
* Switch of the flame and let it be cool down.
* Now blend it with Spinach puree till smooth and creamy texture.
* Switch on the flame again and pour the mixture in pan.
* Cook it till boil.
* Turn off the stove and serve soup.
* Garnish with some crushed red-pepper and cream.
* Enjoy the Peas & Spinach Soup with bread, croutons, crackers or as per your choice..

     Try my other Soups..

Tomato & mixed veg. soup

              

Veg. Manchow Soup