Pineapple Laddoo

Today's recipe is Pineapple laddoo.  I love this sweet and never miss a chance to make it whenever I buy a pineapple.

Let me warn you friends,  these laddoo are so very addictive 😀 Whenever I make them they gets finished up on the same day 😁

Its a straight forward recipe and even beginners can make it perfectly.  Let's make it.  Happy Cooking ☺

Makes - 15 laddoo

Preparation Time - 5

Cooking Time - 15 min

Ingredients -

Pineapple pulp                   -     3/4 Cup

Sugar                                 -     6 tbsp
Milk powder                      -     1/2 cup
Desiccated coconut           -     1/2 cup
Cardamom powder            -     1 pinch

Method -

• In a non stick pan, take pineapple paste and cook it until it gets a bit thick. 
• Add milk powder and desiccated coconut. Mix very well. Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix again. Let the mixture cook until it starts leaving the sides of the pan. 
• Remove the mixture to a big bowl and let it cool down completely. 
• Take small portion of the mixture and roll it in between your palms and shape it into ball/laddoo.  Likewise, make laddoos with the remaining mixture. 
• Roll the prepared laddoos in desiccated coconut. Serve.
• Keep refrigerated in an airtight container and consume within 3-4 days.

Notes:

• 1. Adjust the sugar level as per your liking.
•  2. Quantity of desiccated coconut can also be adjusted as per liking but add more milk powder to adjust the consistency. 
• 3. Instead of cardamom powder you can add a few drops of pineapple essence.

Lauki Halwa / Bottle gourd fudge

Halwa is a famous Indian delicacy.  It looks royal and making it is so easy.  No fuss yet mind blowing dessert to end a nice meal.  There is a endless list of halwas in Indian menu.  You can make it with almost anything be it pulses, fruits or even vegetables.  
I love to try making different kind of halwas.  In this list, my latest addition is Lauki Halwa.  It sounds a bit not-so-interesting but trust me it tastes divine. I had heard about this halwa a lot of time but never thought to try. Last week I found one big lauki lying in my fridge. I didn’t want to make any curry, kofta or dal with it so decided to make lauki halwa. 
Instead of making it all with milk I used condensed milk. Addition of condensed milk gave it a rich texture without adding Mawa/Khoya and at the same time made it a quick cooking dessert. Although I added milk too but only 2 tbsp just to cook the lauki.  In case you don’t want to use condensed milk, you can make it with milk too. I have given the procedure in the notes at the end. Do check.  Hey, did I mention that I used only 1.5 tbsp ghee in it unlike other halwas and you wont find it any less tasty from those ghee loaded halwas :D

This halwa came out so well that I am gonna make it more often :) Its a good option for parties too. Clever idea to add veggies in kids meal.  They would love it surely. So try it and you will be glad that you did. Happy Cooking :)

Serves – 2

Ingredients:

Lauki /  Bottle gourd (finely grated)	1 cup
Ghee	1 ½ tbsp
Condensed milk	¼ cup
Milk	2 tbsp
Cardamom (crushed)	2
Raisins	15
Green food color (optional)	2-3 drops

Method:

• In a non stick pan, heat ghee. Add raisins and fry for few seconds. Remove and set aside.
• In the remaining ghee, add grated lauki and fry for 8-10 minutes or till water evaporates and raw smell goes. 
• Add condensed milk and mix well. Cook for 2 minutes. Add milk and mix again. Cook for 2 more minutes. Add crushed cardamom, food color and fried raisins. Mix again and cook till the halwa gets thick.
• Serve warm or cold.

                                              

 Notes:

1. Grate the bottle gourd very finely.
2. I recommend to use a non stick pan for making this halwa to avoid sticking while frying the bottle gourd/lauki.
3. You can add any dried fruit of your choice.
4. In place of cardamom you can use saffron.
5. If you do not want to use condensed milk then boil 1 cup of milk till a bit thick.  Fry lauki as given in the recipe.  Add the fried lauki to the thick milk and mix well.  Add 6 tbsp sugar (or adjust to taste) mix again.  Add crushed cardamom and dried fruits and cook till thick.

Vanilla Horlicks Cookies

I am back.. Yes, I am cooking and experimenting like before but sharing it with all of you my lovely readers becoming a little less as I feel so lazy to type :D But now I have recharged myself and am going to post more frequently :)

Today’s recipe is Vanilla Horlicks Cookies.  The easiest cookies one could ever make.  You would be surprised to see that so little effort and easy peasy ingredients could do such a magic. I bought a small pack of vanilla horlicks to make my double decker choco vanilla horlicks burfi that I totally in love with.  I also tried some cakes with it (vanilla horlicks) and they too came out nice. I do not like vanilla horlicks with milk but love it in my bakes. It takes the baked goodies to another level. 

When I started making these cookies, I had no idea what I was going to add other than horlicks.  Whatever came to my mind I simply added and trust me I was clueless what was going to come out from the oven.  And when I took the first bite, it was simply divine.. so delicious and crunchy cookies were ready right in front of my eyes.  I kept them a bit healthy by adding wholewheat flour and oats flour. 
I liked these cookies so much and so did V and my baby. I think now I am going to get another pack of vanilla horlicks just to make these beauties. 

Making these cookies is just like 1-2-3.  Recipe is so easy to follow so I hope you won’t feel any kind of difficulty while making them. I baked my cookies till I find the top slightly brown. They would be so soft at first but let them completely cool down and they would become crunchy. 
Do not forget to go through the notes given at the end. Happy cooking :)

Makes-20 cookies

Temperature - 180 degree

Baking time – 18 minutes

Ingredients:

Horlicks (Vanilla Flavour)	1 cup
Oats flour	¼ cup
All purpose flour / Maida	¼ cup
Whole wheat flour / Atta	1 tbsp
Salted butter (softened)	½ cup
Caster sugar	¼ cup
Baking powder	½ tsp
Baking soda	1 big pinch
Tutty fruity (I used my homemade tutty fruity)	6 tbsp

My 1 cup measures 250 ml.

Method:

• In a wide bowl, mix together Horlicks, oats flour, all purpose flour, wheat flour, castor sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Add in softened butter and mix well with your fingers. Add in tutty fruitty and knead the mixture to a soft dough.
• Make three logs with the prepared dough and cover them with a cling film. Chill them for atleast 30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, take a baking tray and line it with aluminium foil. Grease the foil. Set aside.
• After 30 minutes, with a sharp knife cut the logs into round cookies. Arrange the cookies in prepared baking tray. Set aside.
• Preheat oven at 180 degree and bake the cookies for 18 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Shift to a wire rack and let them cool down completely.
• After cooling down cookies would become crunchy.
• Store them in an airtight container. 

Notes:

1. In place of castor sugar, you can use powdered sugar.
2. Instead of tutty fruity, you can add your choice of nuts or dried fruits.
3. If you find the dough a bit dry, you can add a tsp of milk.
4. Do not skip the chilling part, it would make the cutting easier.
5. You have to be very patient while cutting the cookies as they may get broken so do it very carefully. If it gets broken while cutting then don't worry, you can take the broken pieces in your hand and press them a little and your cookie is good to go. 
6. Do not over bake the cookies. Once they get slightly brown on the top, remove from the oven. 
7. Cool down the cookies completely before storing them.

Chhenar Payesh / Paneer Kheer

Chhena/Paneer is a versatile ingredient. You can make endless things with it.  Be it different kind of starters, snacks, main course or desserts/sweets, you can never go wrong with Chhena/Paneer.  

Today's recipe is a Bengali dessert called Chhenar Payesh or Paneer Kheer.  I like quick desserts so tried to make an instant version of this dessert too and it came out to be so delicious.  I loved the creamy and melt in mouth texture of it.  
Its a no fail recipe that is so quick to make.  It was my first attempt to make this dish and I was so happy with the results.  Would love to make it again and again.

Here is the recipe for you.  Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Fresh Chhena/Paneer	¾ cup (crumbled)
Milk	¼ cup
Condensed milk	2 tbsp
Sugar	3 tsp
Thandai powder	2 tsp
Milk powder	3 tbsp
Desiccated coconut	2 tbsp
To decorate
Honey	¼ tsp
Brown sugar	1 tbsp
Almonds	1 chopped lengthwise
Choco drop	1

Method:

• In a non-stick pan take condensed milk, milk, milk powder, desiccated coconut and sugar.  Mix them well and put the pan on stove.  Keep the heat medium.  Cook for 2 minutes and add crumbled chhena.  Mix well and cook till it gets a bit thick.  Add thandai powder and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  You can adjust the consistency by adding some more milk.
• Remove from flame and let it cool down.
• Meanwhile take the bowl/glass you want to serve the dessert in.  Brush the rim of the glass with honey.  Spread the brown sugar in a plate and dip the glass rim in it.  Coat it well with brown sugar and set aside.
• Take the prepared Chhenar Payesh and carefully fill the decorated glass with it.  Garnish the top with chopped almonds and choco drop.  
• Chill for 1-2 hours and serve.

Notes:

1. You can use packaged paneer too but for best results use fresh chhena/paneer.  
2. Instead of thandai powder you can use 2-3 crushed cardamoms or saffron.
3. Sugar level you can adjust as per your taste.
4. Desiccated coconut is optional but it gives a nice texture to this dessert.
5. You can also add your choice of nuts in it.

Instant Coconut Laddu

I am back with one more Laddu recipe :D  Its my favorite coconut laddu.  I love coconut and anything made with it.  Be it coconut chutney, coconut kheer, coconut burfi, coconut muffins, coconut cakes and so on.
Coconut laddus are very common.  Most of you must be aware of its different recipes. Here I made an instant version with condensed milk.  Its insanely easy and quick to make.  Those who are new to cooking can easily start with this amazingly delicious sweet.

So try it and share your feedback.  Happy Cooking :)
Also try my other Indian sweets -
Ragi Laddoo
Phirni
Roti Laddoo
Chana Dal Burfi
Lauki Halwa
Sweet Potato Gulab Jamun
Pineapple Rava Kesari
Sweet Corn Kheer/Payasam
Custard Powder Halwa/Karachi Halwa
Coconut Kheer

Makes – 7 laddus

Ingredients:

Fresh coconut  (finely grated)	1 cup (tightly packed)
Condensed milk	Little less than ½ cup
Cardamom	2 (finely crushed)
Ghee	1 tsp
Cashews (finely chopped)	4-5
Desiccated coconut	½ cup (for rolling)

My 1 cup measures 250 ml.

Method:

• Heat ghee in a non stick pan and add coconut.  Fry for 2-3 minutes on medium low heat till it gets a little dry.  Add in condensed milk and mix well.  Add crushed cardamom and chopped cashews. Mix again. Keep stirring and let this mixture cook on medium heat till it starts leaving the sides of the pan.   Remove from the flame and shift to a dry bowl.  Let it cool down.
• Take a large plate and spread a thick layer of desiccated coconut on it.  
• Pinch a little amount from the mixture and roll it between your palms and shape them into laddus.  Likewise make laddus with the remaining mixture.
• Roll the prepared laddus in desiccated coconut and roll again between your palms to remove the excess coating.
• Serve.

Notes:

1. You can make these laddus with desiccated coconut too.  
2. If using desiccated coconut to make these laddus, do not roast it.  You can directly cook the mixture.
3. You can add your choice of dried fruits and nuts but use them in little quantity to maintain the coconut flavour.
4. Do not overcook the mixture as it may get a little hard after cooling down.  A little moisture should be there to get the soft laddus.
5. You can keep these laddus on room temperature for one day and after that keep them refrigerated.  I recommend to not to store them for long as there is fresh coconut in it.

Phirni

Phirni is an extremely famous North-Indian dessert.  So simple ingredients yet so delicious.  Like so many of you I like it too and love to make it at home.  

There are so many versions of Phirni in Indian Cuisine like Mango Phirni, Orange Phirni, Strawberry Phirni and so on but this one is the most authentic and traditional version. It just needs three main ingredients and you are good to go.  Milk, Rice and Sugar.. a perfect combo that makes so many desserts and sweets and today we are going to use this combo to make this super yummy and creamy Phirni.  

If Phirni is new for you then you would be amazed to see how simple it is to make.  A perfect dessert to end a hearty meal.  So lets start making Phirni.. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Full Cream Milk  -  1/2 kg
Basmati Rice       -   3 tbsp
Sugar                   -   6 tbsp
Cardamom          -   2 (crushed)
Tutty Fruitty 
or Almonds         -  To garnish

Method:

• Wash rice very well and soak them in water for minimum 1 hour.  Strain and grind them coarsely with 1/4 cup of milk.  Set aside.
• In a deep pan, boil the remaining milk and add the rice milk mixture.  Keep stirring on medium flame to avoid sticking. Keep mixing and scraping the sides till the mixture thickens.  It would take approx 15 minutes.  Add in sugar and crushed cardamom and mix well.  Keep stirring till sugar melts.  Cook for another 4-5 minutes and remove from the flame.
• Garnish with tutty fruity or almonds.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:

1. Do not grind the rice to a fine paste.  Keep it coarse.
2. You can use low fat milk too but for best results use full fat milk.
3. Adjust the sugar level as per your taste.
4. Instead of cardamom, you can add a few strands of saffron too.
5. You can add some dried fruits too.

Roti Laddu

What do you do with your leftover chapatis?  I often throw them as they get so hard.  Sometimes I make roti halwa with leftover soft rotis.  This time I tried a different way to use them up which came out so delicious.  

There is no cooking required to make these laddus.  Mix up a few ingredients with powdered chapati and these delicious laddus are ready in a jiffy.

The taste was simply awesome.  Nobody can guess that these laddus are made of leftover chapatis. Try once and you will find excuses to make them again and again.  So here is the recipe.  Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Leftover Roti/Chapati       -    2 & 1/2 (medium size)

Jaggery grated                   -    1/4 cup or 4 tbsp

Desiccated coconut           -    2 tbsp

Raisins (finely chopped)   -    1 tbsp

Cardamom (crushed)        -    2

Ghee/Clarified butter        -    1 1/2 tbsp

Method:

• Preheat the oven at 160 degree and arrange the chapatis in a baking tray.  Bake for 3-4 minutes or till they become crunchy and a little brown on the top.  Keep an eye to avoid burning. Remove from the oven and let them cool down.  Crush them coarsely and throw in a mixer jar.  Grind till they get a coarse powder consistency.  Add in grated jaggery and desiccated coconut and raisins.  Pulse for 7-8 seconds just to mix up everything together.
• Shift the mixture to a mixing bowl and add in crushed cardamom.  Mix well and add in melted ghee.  Again mix with your hand.  Take a little mixture in your hand and shape it to a round ball.  Likewise make laddus with the remaining mixture.
• Serve.
• Store the remaining laddus in an airtight jar for upto 1 day.

Notes:

1. You can increase the quantity of jaggery as per your taste.  
2. You can add other dried fruits also to make them more filling and nutritious.  Add your desired dry fruits at the time of adding jaggery and coconut and pulse for 10 seconds.  
3. If you find it difficult to bind the laddus then add a little more ghee.

Chana Dal Burfi

Making sweets at home is fun. Relishing homemade sweets on festivals, parties or just like that is really awesome. I love to make sweets at home and if you have noticed, my blog is mostly having sweet dishes :D
Last week I tried Chana Dal Burfi and fell in love with it. It was  so delicious. We were so tempted to finish it up on the same day but had to control as having too much chana dal in one go is not good for stomach :)  So watch your consumption as its strictly addictive.
Here I used my favourite ingredient Condensed Milk. Its a wonderful thing. Gives any sweet a rich taste in no time. As usual I tried to use less ghee still the burfi came out so nice. Its a perfect festive sweet.   I didn’t use any mawa in it as it was not available here. But you won’t feel to add it once you would try this version of chana dal burfi. Its a very easy peasy recipe and you can make it a day before for parties or guests.
So here is the sure shot recipe for you to try. Happy Cooking :)

Makes - 10-12 pieces
Ingredients:

Chana Dal	½ cup
Milk	1 ¼ cup
Ghee	3 tbsp
Condensed milk	½ cup or  8 tbsp
Desiccated coconut	3 tbsp
Sugar (if required)	2 tbsp
Cardamom (crushed)	4
Melon seeds	1 tsp (optional)
Yellow food color	Few drops (optional)
Almonds(to garnish)	5-6 (chopped)

Method:

• Wash chana dal and soak it in water for 3-4 hours.
• Once soaked, put it in pressure cooker alongwith milk and cook for 2 whistles. Remove and let the pressure go by itself.
• Grind the dal with remaining milk left in the pressure cooker. (Do not add more milk, the consistency should be very thick). Remove it in a bowl and set aside.
• Grease a tray or pan with ghee.  Set aside.
• Heat ghee in a non stick kadhai, add dal paste and fry on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes or till raw smell goes. Keep stirring. Add condensed milk and mix well. Cook for 2 minutes.  Add desiccated coconut with 1 tsp melon seeds and food color (add the remaining milk (if any) left from the boiling of dal at this stage) and mix again.  Cook for another 2-3 minutes.  
• Take half tsp burfi mixture from the pan and put it on a clean dry plate.  Let it sit for 1 minute and check if it is getting a firm texture like a burfi after cooling down.  If not, then cook the mixture for another 2-3 minutes and check again likewise.
• Once you get the desired consistency, remove the mixture from the stove and immediately shift it to the greased tray/pan.  Spread the mixture evenly in the tray.  Even the top with a greased spatula to avoid sticking.  Sprinkle chopped almonds on the top and press them slightly.  Let the burfi mixture warm.
• Once warm, cut it in desired shape and put the tray in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.  
• Remove the burfi slices in the serving plates and serve.
• Store the remaining burfis in an airtight container.

Notes:

1. Do not over cook the dal.
2. Condensed milk would give sufficient sweetness so taste the sugar level before adding the sugar.
3. Do not tempt to use more ghee, 3 tbsps would give you perfect burfis as you can see in the pics :)
4. Instead of almonds you can use cashews and pistachios for garnishing.
5. Do not consume a big amount at a time.  Consuming more chana dal at a time is not good as it takes long time to digest.  You may get tummy ache.