Besan & Coconut Burfi

Besan & and Coconut Burfi is a sweet dish and we can enjoy having them any time of the day. This sweet is similar to "Seven Cups burfi ". The whole process takes about 30 to 40 minutes and ready burfi is yummy to eat. It just melts in the mouth.
Preparing some thing nice and tasty is real fun. You get to enjoy the product when you distribute it and get good words after they munch the sweet.

I have used besan, ghee, coconut, sugar and some almonds. Added almonds powder in the burfi and spread the almond flakes on the top of the burfi too
Lets see some benefits of having Channa flour in our diet;
Besan/chickpea flour/Kadale hittu is naturally higher in protein. Besan is healthy and it contain unsaturated fats and low in cholesterol. It contain fiber. It has vitamin c and vitamin B 6 Thaiamin converts food into energy. Besan contain iron, magnesium and phosphorus. It helps to regulates blood pressure and build bones. Besan flour does not contain gluten.
Besan & Coconut Burfi is easy to prepare, have little patience and stir on low flame till it turn thick.

Things Needed 

Besan/chickpea flour : 1 cup
Milk : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1 Cup
Coconut : Grated : 1 Cup
Almonds :1 Cup
Sugar : 2 1/2 to 3 Cups
Cardamom : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
2. Melt ghee into liquid form and keep it aside.
3. Powder cardamom into powder with little sugar and keep it aside.
4. Cut 1/2 cup almonds into rakes and powder the remaining almonds and keep it aside.

5. Now dry roast besan till the raw smell disappear.(3 to 4 minutes). Allow it to cool.
6. Take a big pan. Add milk, sugar, coconut, roasted besan, 1/2 cup of ghee and powdered almonds. Mix it well.

7. Mix it well nicely and keep that mixture on the fire. Let it be on low flame.

8. Keep stirring till it turns thick and starts leaving the pan. Stir for some more time. (may be another 5 minutes).

9. Add remaining ghee and keep on stirring. When the ghee mixes well and the burfi thickens. Add cardamom powder and stir.

10. Put the burfi mixture on a greased tray or greased plate.

11. Sprinkle almonds rakes on the burfi and press it with a spatula.
12. Let the almond pieces stick to the burfi. Leave it for 5 minutes and cut it according to your wish.

13. Remove the pieces slowly and serve them. 

 14. Put the remaining pieces in a airtight box and store it. It can stay for a week.

Note :

The whole process should be done on low flame. (or it might get burnt and will be waste). Adding more sugar helps the burfi to be thick fast. Adding more ghee is optional. It adds to the taste. (another 1/2 Cup of ghee). Adding almonds is optional. (It adds to the taste).
Time : 30 minutes
25 to 30 pieces can be made.

Deepavali Snacks

Deepavali is one of the National festival. This festival celebrated all over the world now a days. 
Even President Barak Obama also has declared  a holiday for Deepavali in United States of America .
We do celebrate the festivals in traditional way. Each festival has his own history and tradition behind it. It is also called as festival of lights. There are different ways and traditions in different part of India. We do celebrate Deepavali for 4 Days.

The first day is called as Neeru tumbuva habba (means filling water to the big vessel with full of water to take bath next morning). In those days, even now we have big Hande in the bathrooms in my doddamma's (my mother's sister) house and father in law's house. That big hande (big vessel to boil water for bath) is washed nicely and decorated with red soil lines (or some simple art work), and pooja is done to the filled Vessel at night and it is called as ganga pooja and the neivedyam (offering some eatables to God) is prepared using coconut, jaggery and rice. This is called yere appa. (a fried dish). After pooja to Ganga Mata will have our dinner. (normal simple food along with yere appa).
The next day is Naraka Chaturdashi. It is believed that Narakasura (one of the powerful demon) used to trouble people on the earth. So God Narayana came to people's rescue and killed Narakasura. God being kind to him, he asked Narakasura to visit the earth on this day. So the people believe that Narakasura comes to earth on that day to visit them. Being a human they too have kind heart and welcome Narakasura. They get up in the early morning and with oil massage for the whole body will have hot water bath.  Oil bath should be taken before the sun rise. (before 6 in the morning). We wear new clothes. Then Dosa and panchakajjaya (Flattened rice with jaggery and coconut) is prepared and offered to God and the whole family will enjoy Eating Hot dosa with chutney and Panchakajjaya and then burst the crackers. (just one or two ).This is the traditional way of starting the festival. The ladies will be busy preparing festival food for the family. The relatives, guest, newly weds in the family all get together to have lunch.
The next day is Amavasya or No moon day. This day Laxmi pooja is done in most of the houses. The following day is called Bali Padyami. There is also a story behind this day. Bali Chakravarthi who is very kind and generous Chakravarthy (King) and ruled his country so well. It is said that on this day he will come to see his prajas. I have seen people of my village sing some songs about this Bali Chakravarthi and in that song, Bali Chakravarthi is welcomed by his people. On that day they gather grass and put fire and lights will be lightened every corner of the house. And Tulisi Pooja starts from that day. It is continued till the day of Tulisi Festival. It is some thing which is very beautiful to watch. I am blessed to see those things in my childhood days.
The next day (fourth day) there will be poojas for cows and it is called govina pooja. They are washed nicely and put kumkum and brought in to the home and fed sweet flattened rice. (Panchakajjaya). They do pooja to the cows and then enjoy loads of home prepared food that day.
Now the time has changed and loads of eatables available every where and each and every one will be busy with their personal things. Visiting relatives has become very rare but still friends and relatives get together at lease for an evening and enjoy the festival.
We used to prepare many snack items and friends used to visit us and we too visit them one of the day in the whole week celebration. Each house will surely prepare some or the other yummy dishes
Lets see some easy dishes and enjoy this Deepavali. I am sure it is not that late to prepare these dishes. These dishes are good to have either for lunch or even it shines on High Tea ( Deepavali Party in the evening ).

The first one is Yere appa which is normally done on the previous day of Naraka Chaturdashi.  You can just try. It is done with raw rice, coconut and jaggery. You can use cashews while grinding. It adds to the taste and Yere Appa turns tasty.
 1. Here is a recipe of Yere Appa ...Prepare this and enjoy
 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2009/10/yereappa.html

 2. Every one likes to have some sweet dish along with the elaborated lunch or High Tea.
 Lets go with Rasmali, which is very easy to prepare and yummy to have. Give it a try. Less work and yummy dish is ready in minutes.
All You need is ready to eat Rasgullas. I have used Mayyas Ready to eat Rasgullas. As they say it is made with love. They are really yummy to have.

   http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/09/easy-rasmalai.html

3. Deepavali is also called as festival of sweets. There should be some laddus to share with our friends and visitors.
Oats and corn flakes and almond laddu has no sugar and lots of nuts are used and we can say these are healthy laddus. As always it is simple, easy and quick. Give them a try and you will really love them.
Just check the recipe to note what all you need and the steps to prepare. Njoy eating them.

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/10/oats-corn-flakes-almond-laddu-deepavali.html

 4. How about preparing some savoury dishes ...Have a quick look at it and you can prepare them easily. Not that many things are needed here .
Lets check the recipe of Ribbon Pakoda which is every one's favourite. This snack is made of rice flour ( 3 portions) and one portion of chickpea flour. Glance at the recipe :

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/07/ribbon-pakoda.html

5. Now lets see one more savoury recipe, Karam Kuram the kids favourite to munch them most of the time and it can be good snack which goes well with cup of coffee or tea or even fresh fruit juice.
Sev is a perfect snack for Deepavali. It is prepared using chickpea flour and rice flour. It is very easy to prepare these sev. I am sure you
will surely love these sev.

http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/10/sev-deepavali-special.html

6. This Crispy Cuts (Diamond Cuts or Shankar Poli) are well known and it is one of the favourite eatable for  all age group. It is prepared using Maida (All purpose flour) and I have used millet with maida. It has turned crispy and it just melts in the mouth. You can feel the taste by giving a try.  It does not take much of your time even to fry. But remember to fry them on low and medium flame.

 http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2015/11/crispy-cuts-diamond-cuts-shankar-pole.html

Dates - Banana Rasayana

Rasayana is a sweet dish, which is normally prepared using Banana or Mango or both together. It is one of the traditional quick dish, and can be eaten with dosas , neer dosas, idli, poori and chapatis. Some people call this as Shikarane also. There are many ways to prepare this Rasayana.

Normally Dakshina Kannada people (Udupi , Mangalore or Malenaadu ), We take a fresh coconut, grate it and grind it with little water to get its fresh coconut milk, then add jaggery and cardamom, mix it well and serve with holige (Pooran Poli), Kadubu, Neer Dosa, Shavige (Home made Rice Vermicelly) and even it goes well with Uddina Dosa. During the mango season we add ripe mango pulp to fresh coconut milk and prepare Mango Rasayana. We can use ripe banans also instead of mangoes or use both the fruits and make it more delicious. Believe me this is the way how the Traditional Rasayana prepared in our homes.

Now a days  it should be quick, easy and bit of on the healthy side dishes are more famous and good for office goers and the house wives too.This dish can be prepared easily if you have ripe banana and the normal fresh boiled and cooled milk. Eating sugar one has to think twice.

Adding jaggery that is what I prefer but this time used Dates and Honey instead of jaggery. It is still easy, you do not have to think whether the jaggery melted and combined with the Rasayana well. Think of preparing when you have lot of  well ripened bananas. Children and even all age group will love to have this " Dates -Banana Rasayana ", and 100 % healthy and do not have to worry about the sweetness.
Lets see a few benefits of eating Dates in our diet.
Dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well being. Fresh dates are soft, easy, digestible and simple sugar. When eaten they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL, cholesterol absorption in the gut. They contain anti oxidants, anti infective, anti inflammatory. They are moderate sources of vitamin A. Dates are excellent source of iron and potassium. Date fruits are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium.

Here is a recipe of Simple, Easy, Quick and Tasty  "Dates Banana Rasayana"  recipe which will fit into all age group taste and health.

Things Needed :

Bananas : 4 to 6
Dates : 6 to 8
Honey : 2 Table spoons
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods.
Milk : 1 to 2 Glass  (Boiled and Cooled).

Method 

 1.Remove the skin of cardamom and powder it. Keep it aside
2. Cut dates in to small pieces and keep it aside.
3. Remove the banana skin and cut the fruits into small. Put them in a big bowl.7.

4. Pour 1 table spoon of honey on the top of banana. Put cut dates and add milk.

5. Mix all the ingredients nicely with the help of a big spoon or use hand. Squeeze bananas and dated in hand and let all the mixture mix it nicely.
6. Add cardamom and mix once again and shift  Dates - Banana Rasayana to a serving bowl.

7. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 

8. We had " Dates - Banana Rasayana " with Neer Dosa.

 Note : 

You can use more bananas. Use of jaggery or sugar instead of honey and dates also an optional. You can add dry nuts to Rasayana.You can add grated coconut to the  Rasayana mixture. ( It adds to the taste). You can prepare Banana Dates Milk Shake with this mixture. Use boiled and cooled fresh milk.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 1 to 2.

Avocado & Almonds Smoothie

Avocado Almond Smoothie is a sweet dish and  prepared using Avacado, a few almonds and honey. It is easy and quick to prepare and healthy dish too.

Lets see some benefits of using  avacado and almonds in our daily diet.

Avocado is also known as alligator pear, aguagate and butter pear.
Avocados are rich in  dietary fibre, vitamins, contain healthy fats,  essential minerals and antioxidants. Avocado helps to lower the bad cholesterol level, control the blood pressure and regulate the blood sugar level. The fruits contain anti inflammatory properties.  Avocado helps to reduce the strokes and cure bad breath.
Almonds are complete source of energy and as well as nutrients. Almonds helps to reduce the bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol level. They are the rich source of Vitamin E.and they do not contain gluten. Almonds are loaded with Vitamin B - complex and Vitamin B-6. They are full of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Handful of Almonds a day provides much of recommended levels of minerals, vitamins and protein.

Here is a recipe of Avocado & Almonds Smoothie that will help you to be cheerful and strong through out the day. It is easy and quick to prepare and honey instead of sugar is used to keep you fit.

Ingredients :

Avocado : 2
Almonds : Handful  (8 to 10)
Honey : 3 to 4 Table spoon.
Milk : 3 to 4 Table spoons of milk.

Method
1. Cut avocado in to halves and remove the seed.

2. Scoop out the fruity part from the avocado and keep it aside.
3. Dry roast almonds for 3 to 4 minutes on low flame and grate or dry grind them in to small and keep it aside.

4. Now grind the fruit pulp and a few almonds with honey in a liquidizer. Add 2 to 3 spoons of water or milk if required.

5. Remove Avocado Smoothie from the mixi jar  and put it in a bowl.
6. Serve this Smoothie with toppings of almond pieces.

Note :  Do not add more milk since it turns into milk shake. Smoothie taste better if it is bit thick. You can add sugar instead of honey. You can also add more honey if you wish to get more sweeter.  Adding more almonds lead to thicken the Smoothie.
Serves : 5
Time : 10 Minutes.

Yummy Mango Pulp

Mango fruit is every one's all time favourite fruit and we can prepare many tasty items. Here is a Mango recipe with nuts and dates which even children like to have this and yummy too. This mango pulp is good to have with chapatis, pooris, dosa, plain home made shavige and as desert.

Mango fruit is every one's all time favourite fruit and we can prepare many tasty items. Here is a Mango recipe with nuts and dates which even children like to have this and yummy too. This mango pulp is good to have with chapatis, pooris, dosa, plain home made shavige and as desert.

Things needed:

Mango Fruits : 4 to 5
Mixed Nuts : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.
Honey or Jaggery : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.
Milk : 1 cup.
Dates : 6 to 8

Method:

1. Wash and squeeze out the pulp in a big bowl. Take some water in an another bowl and dip mango outer layer and squeeze out the remaining pulp.
2. Cut dates into small pieces and grind it with mango pulp.
3. Add jaggery and grind it for 2 minutes.
4. Powder /crush almonds/cashews and keep it aside.
5. Add 1/2 cup of milk and grind for a few seconds and remove the mango pulp mixture from the jar to serving bowl.

6 .Add nuts and mix the pulp well and serve as desert or as side dish.

Note :

Do not use much water. You need to get good ripe mangoes to do this desert/sides. Adding honey instead of jaggery is optional. Roasting dry nuts is optional. Dry roast and then powder or crush it.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Baadam ( Almond) Milk.

Badam/Almonds are always nuts and it helps to keep our skin healthy and take care of our health too.
Badam (Almond ) Milk is a refreshing drink and it helps you to be strong and energetic whole day.
I have used Almonds, cardamom, Saffron, Sugar and Milk.

Let us see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

Almonds : 10 to 15 
Cadamom : 4 to 6 pods.
Milk: 1/2 Litre.
Kesar ( Saffron ) : 2 to 3 rakes.
Sugar : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Soak Almonds in hot water for 10 minutes and remove its outer skin. Keep it aside.

2. Remove the skin of cardamom and add with almonds and grind it together with little water.

3. Keep milk for boiling. Cool the milk once it is boiled.
4. Soak 3 to 4 rakes of saffron in 2 tablespoons of hot milk. (Dissolve it after 2 minutes).
5. Now Put ground almonds in a bowl and boil for 2 minutes.
6. Add sugar to boiling almond mixture. Let it cool.

7. Now mix almond - saffron mixture with cooled milk and mix it well.

8. Serve cool " Badam Milk " in a hot summer day.

9. Keeping this Badam Milk in a refrigerator is optional. (Adding ice cube also optional).

Note: 

You can Dry grind cardamom and almonds (without removing the skin) and store it in a dry place and use it whenever you want. But you will not get the fresh aroma. (optional). Adding rock sugar (kallu sakkare) instead of sugar is a healthy habit. Use of sugar in hot summer helps you to get energy. You can use more milk but taste differ.
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 glasses.