Category Archives: Drinks & Desserts

Fruit Raita : Fruits in yoghurt sauce

Image

Reply

IMG_6198

If you are looking for an out of ordinary yet easy to assemble side dish for your Thanksgiving table dear friends south of border, this is for you!

IMG_6203

Recipe; Serves 4

Ingredients;

Greek yoghurt                                   2 cups

Seasonal fruits                                  1 cup

Salt and sugar                                  to taste

Canola oil                                        1 Tbsp

Mustard seeds                                1 tsp

Curry leaves                                   7-8

Method;

I had guavas and pomegranates. I have cut the guavas in small pieces. Collect the pomegranate seeds.

Whisk the yoghurt, add salt and sugar to taste. Add the fruits.

In a small pan heat the oil, add the mustard seeds, wait to splutter. Add the curry leaves. Wait for another 10 seconds, add this on the yoghurt. Adjust to your taste. Enjoy.

Badam Katli : Almond squares : GF

Image

Reply

IMG_6285

Wish you all a very happy Diwali!

IMG_6287

Sweets are an integral part of any celebration.

Here I present a gluten free dessert.

IMG_6288

I have added a special twist, with a design on top of the katlis. Let me know your feedback.

IMG_6276

Recipe : 15 pieces

Ingredients;

Almond flour                                                2 cups

Milk powder                                                1/3 cup

Sugar                                                         1 cup

Water                                                          1/2 cup

Ghee                                                          1 Tbsp

Saffron                                                        15-20 threads

Milk                                                              2 Tbsps

Method;

Warm the milk. Put the saffron threads in it and leave aside.

Take the sugar and water in a non stick pan on high heat. Let the sugar melt completely. Add the almond flour and keep stirring so that there are no lumps. Add the milk powder and mix together. As soon as the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan put the gas off. Keep stirring for another minute. Let it cool down a bit. Mix it like a dough till it becomes smooth. Take this dough between two wax papers and roll it into a square. Cut it as you prefer squares or diamonds. Garnish with the saffron dipped milk and enjoy!

I have not added any flavour, go ahead and add any flavour you want.

Kanchagolla : Cheese and jaggery balls

Image

Reply

IMG_6110

With flowers inside our palms and eyes closed for concentration we recited the “mantras” after the priest. At the end of saying the prayers we offered the flowers to the goddess. The harder I tried to concentrate, the more my eyes would veer off to all the myriad of sweets that were kept as offerings to the goddess. After the prayers these would be distributed to all the devotees. Some burfis arranged as a pyramid on a tray, some  peeking through the top of terracotta bowls, some others on fresh banana leaf…

I always loved the syrup dunked sweets over the dried ones. In fact I would do some trade offs between us siblings, collecting their share of syrupy sweets in exchange for my dried ones.  The Navaratri days were special.There were no restrictions, we ate till we couldn’t…

 

IMG_6117

Times have changed now. My taste buds welcome both syrup dunked and dried sweets these days. Alas, sweets, deep fried, salty are all  under “classified”  eatables now.  Only measured quantities, with a detailed examination of the ingredients, if store bought are allowed.The joy now is in making them in my kitchen and reliving those moments from the past.

Happy Navaratri friends.

 

Recipe :

Ingredients; Made 16 pieces.

Chhana                                              2 cups

Patali gur ( Date palm jaggery )            1 cup ( or to taste )

Ground pistachio                               1 tbsp

Method:

Take the first two ingredient in a pan on medium heat and keep stirring, taking care it does not stick to the pan. I used liquid jaggery , it took about 25 minutes for the mixture to come to a dough like consistency and leave the pan. Take a spoonful of this mixture and try to form a ball betwen your palm. It is ready if you are able to form a ball. Switch the gas off. Take a table spoon of the mixture while it is still warm, taking care not to burn, form it into a ball. Garnish with ground pistachios.

Enjoy.

Notes:

Chhana is paneer or home made cheese. Take a litre of full fat milk in a pan on high heat. Just before it starts to boil, put the gas off. In a bowl mix 2 Tbsp white vinegar and same amount of water. Pour this in the milk. It will separate into milk solids and whey. Take a colander lined with a cheese cloth, drain out the whey, wash with water, and let it drain for an hour.This is now ready to be used in Kanchagolla making.

 

 

Makhana burfi : Foxnut fudge

Image

Reply

IMG_6050

The festival season is on. Festivities are incomplete without sweets. I have quite a few dessert recipe in my blog to choose from. Here adding one more.

IMG_3157 (1)

 

Wish you the best in the upcoming festive season!

Recipe; ( From the net )

Ingredients;

Makhana                                      2 cups

Peanuts                                        1/2 c

Cashews                                       1/2 c

Coconut powder                           1/4 c

Cardamom powder                        1/2 tsp

Sugar                                             3/4 cup ( to taste )

Water                                             3/4 cup

Ghee                                              3 Tbsp

Almond and Pistachio slivers and rose petals to garnish.

Method;

Take one Tbsp ghee on a pan add the makhanas. Roast for a few minutes, till crispy. Collect on a plate.

Dry roast the peanuts and cashews separately and collect them.

Grind the roasted makahanas. Pulse the peanuts and cashews till fine. Add the cardamom powder.

In a pan take the sugar and water on medium high flame and let it boil for a few minutes. take a drop in a bowl, when it forms a string. between the thumb and first finger add the ground nuts. Carefully stir the mixture until it comes together. Add 2 tablespoon of ghee and mix again till it forms a dough. Take it out and spread the mixture evenly on a greased tray. Garnish with almond and pistachio slivers, rose petals. Cut them to your preferred shape and enjoy.

Notes:

Foxnuts are available in Indian grocery stores.

Haskap berry hand pies

Image

Reply

IMG_5856The what kap berries? I know exactly what you are thinking. Strawberries, blueberries, gooseberries, elderberries yes… Haskap berries? Nope! Never heard of that.

IMG_5307

Trust me I am clueless about the name too. They sure are unique. Unlike other regular plump, round berries these are slim, shiny with blood red juice inside! And the taste?. Sweet, melt in the mouth, no pit inside, need we ask for more?

IMG_5316

We paid a visit to the U pick berry farm recently. Armed with an ice cream pail, we got down on our knees as these berry bushes are small and compact. Under the dark green leaves hung a cluster of berries, almost iridescent. One touch they settle in your palm.  There were four different varieties based on how sweet or tart they were. You could choose from Aurora, Indigo, Blizzard or Beast.

IMG_5857

Not sure about you, I love hand pies. Give it a try friends…

Recipe: Adapted from dessertfortwo.com

Ingredients;

All purpose flour                         21/4 cups

Granulated sugar                       1 Tbsp

Fine salt                                    1 tsp

Chilled unsalted butter                2 sticks

Ice water                                   1/2 cup

For the filling;

Haskap berries                        13/4 cups

Corn starch                             2 Tbsps

Granulated sugar                    6 Tbsps

Zest of 1 lemon and 1 Tbsp of the juice

Salt                                        1 pinch

Milk                                         1 Tbsp

Sugar to sprinkle on top

Method;

Take the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of the food processor. Pulse a few times to combine,

Add the diced cold butter next and pulse a few times so that they are well incorporated. Add the cold water next, mix till the dough come together.

Remove the dough from the processor, divide in half, wrap in cling film and press to form two discs. Let it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Dust the work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll out the disc into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. I used a round cookie cutter to cut out shapes. I cut out a small circle in half of them.

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

In a bowl combine the berries, corn starch, lemon zest lemon juice and salt. Spoon out this filling on the plain circle and cover this with the circle with hole in it. Press the edges firmly to seal, use a fork to crimp the edges. Brush with milk on top. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for about 18 minutes, until the crust is  golden.

Let them cool and enjoy!

Strawberry Shondesh ( Milk Fudge )

Image

Reply

IMG_5158

…… The small packet of “Shondesh”, neatly arranged in a paper box with the name of the famous sweet shop imprinted artistically on top, was sitting on the top shelf of the kitchen. We were expecting friends in the evening, that is when the Shondesh would be enjoyed by all. “Why can’t we have Shondesh everyday Ma?”, we siblings would ask in unison. “It tastes sweeter when you share things”, came Ma’s reply, carefully veiling the ‘we cannot afford that everyday’ truth.

IMG_5154Shodesh is the ‘King’ of sweets in Bengal. Reserved for exclusive occasions like birthdays, weddings, success in job interview or visiting that special relative. Made from milk and either sugar or  a special jaggery. Not other additives were added. ….

Changing times have changed Shondesh too. Keeping up with the millenial taste Shondesh these days come in all flavours, like chocolate, Tutti frutti, strawberry, mango and so many others.

Try this easy peasy recipe and let me know if you liked it.

Recipe: Made 20 pieces.

Ingredients,

Ricotta cheese                         2 cups

Milk powder                             1 cup

Strawberry puree                      1 cup

Sugar                                      1 Tbsp ( or to taste )

Ghee                                      1 Tbsp

Red food colour                      4 drops ( optional )

Method;

In a non stick pan mix the above ingredients and cook on low heat for 25-30 minutes. Keep stirring so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Put the gas off when the mixture starts to form a dough.

I love the mild flavour of the strawberries, hence have not added any other flavouring agents.

When it is safe and warm enough to handle, take one tablespoon measure of the dough and form into a ball. If you have moulds, grease the mould and press the mixture in and then carefully remove to get an imprint.

Enjoy, store in air tight container in refrigerator for up to one week.

Strawberries and Kulfi Pannacotta

Image

Reply

IMG_5117

Summer is incomplete without kulfi back home and strawberries here in North America.

IMG_5121

……The “U pick berries” sounds novel to me. Armed with an ice cream pail, it is you and the rows and rows of strawberry bushes. A split second to decide based on the size, colour of the fruit and in it goes in the pail. These variety are tiny but oh so sweet!

….. The very hot temperatures back home melted the kulfis so fast, I clearly remember  sometimes an obligatory lick on the elbow to do justice to the precious liquid seemed mandatory.

IMG_5123

……I tried to blend both the worlds in this recipe. using agar agar instead of gelatine, makes this a vegetarian dessert.

Here is the recipe for you….

Recipe; Serves 4

Ingredients,

“Gits’ kulfi mix                         1 pkt

Full cream milk                       1.5 cups

Strawberry puree                     1 cup

Sugar                                    2Tbsp or more.

Agar Agar                               2/3 tsp and 2/3 tsp

Water                                     2 Tbsps

Whole Strawberries and cashews to garnish

Method:

Empty the “Kulfi’ mix in a bowl, add milk and mix together. Take one Tbsp water and add 2/3 tsp of agar agar in a sauce pan on low heat. As soon as it mixes together add the milk mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens. Take it out of the gas and keep aside.

Clean the strawberries and make a puree. In another bowl take one tbsp of water and add 2/3 tsp of agar agar on low heat. As it blends together, add the strawberry puree and sugar. Cook on low heat for around 10 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. Put the gas off.

In a tall glass carefully layer 2 ladles of the strawberry mixture and let it cool. I put them in the fridge for 15 minutes. When set carefully pour the milk mixture on top of each of previously filled strawberry mixture.

Put the glasses in the fridge for about half hour. Garnish with whole berries and nuts of your choice and enjoy!

Notes:

Heavy cream with a flavouring agent and sweetener of your choice can be substituted if “Kulfi” mixture is not at hand.