Kesari Bath

The weather here is getting better & this week we see sunshine everyday. It feels good to see the Sun after a long time. However the fluctuating weather has made all of us sick. Zion is home this week as he is down with fever. When he is home, I cant do anything. He is full time around me & doesn't let me do anything.

Today I will be sharing Kesari Bath Recipe. This is one easy Indian sweet recipe. When I crave for Indian Ghee sweets, this is the one I make it as it can be done is less than 30 minutes. It was Pongal 2 weeks ago & I decided to celebrate it at home by making the traditional South Indian Tamil food. I made Khara Pongal, Medu Vada, sambar, chutney & Kesari Bath. Since my friend was getting Sweet Pongal, I decided to make Kesari Bath for sweet instead. It is also called as Rava Kesari, Suji ka Halwa in Hindi. This sweet is made in all parts of India & is given different names. There are also different recipes for this but this is how I make it & is the best.

Serves: 5 people
Making time: 30 minutes


Ingredients:

• 1 cup Semolina
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup Ghee (Clarified Butter)
• 1/4 tspn Elachi powder
• 1 tspn Orange color
• 2.5 cups water
• 1/4 tspn Salt
• Handful of chopped cashew nuts or Almonds

Method:

1. Dry roast semolina on medium flame for about 3 to 5 minutes, until you smell a nice aroma & the semolina becomes crispy.
2. In a heavy bottom Pan, add water sugar, elachi powder, salt & bring this to a boil. Reduce the flame to medium. While the water is boiling, add the color & dry roasted semolina slowly while continuously stirring. The semolina will start to bubble but keep stirring.
3. Now cover a lid & allow the semolina to cook for 2- 3 minutes on low flame. Now give it a good mix with a spoon. By this time the semolina will be fully cooked.
4. Finally add in the Ghee into the semolina & give a good mix. Cover the lid & continue to simmer for another minute. Turn of the flame & let Kesari Bath rest in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish the Kesari Bath with chopped nuts & its ready to serve.

 

Badam Halwa

 It was Dandia nights last weekend & we had a great time with friends. I think I danced almost after 5 years:) I cant tell you what a dance freak I was in my school, college & office days. I used to always be on stage for dance or any other events. Those were the fun days & I really miss our dance group back in college. Now all my friends are married, have kids & are busy with their own life's. I wish we all could meet up again & perform on stage. I am now seriously thinking of joining some dance group & keep my dancing talent alive. Right now Zion is just 2 & he needs to be 3 to join any classes here. Hopefully by next year we both will join a dance academy:) My lill one has really got that dancing talent from me & hopefully he continues when he grows up too. He was so natural with the dandia sticks during the party. If you are on my facebook friends lists. then you must have already watched his dancing video.

Well coming back to todays post, I love our Indian sweets made with Ghee. Last week I was craving for some ghee wala sweets & I made Badam Halwa. This recipe is from Chef Sanjay Thumma & I can blindly try out his recipes as I know his recipe will never fail. I have been following vah chef Sanjay for the last 7 years & I love his recipes. Along with cooking he also entertains the audience with his natural talent. I am sure most of you already know Vah chef & must be trying out many of his recipes. This Halwa is very rich & can be had in very small quantity. Well I also used this halwa as sandwich between the bread & cookies too. This is how I made the halwa...

Serves: 5 people
Making time: 30  mins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole Almonds
• 3/4 th cup sugar
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1/2 cup of milk
• Pinch of salt
• 2 drops of yellow color
• 4 strands of saffron
• 1/4 tspn of cardamom powder

Directions:

1. Soak Almonds in hot water for about 20 mins. Now remove the skin of the almonds & set aside
2. In a mixer or blender add in the almonds along with milk & grind it to a coarse paste
3. In a Kadai add 2 tbspn of ghee add the ground almond paste & simmer it for 2 to 3 mins. Keep sauteing it with a spoon or wooden spatula.
4. Now add in the sugar, salt, saffron & allow this mixture to cook for about 4 to 5 mins, until the mixture thickens a little. During this stage you will notice that the halwa mixture will start to bubble & splutter. (Make sure your face & hands are safe).
5. Add the rest of the ghee & keep sauteing this halwa until all the liquid is drained off & the Halwa stops bubbling & sticking to the bottom.This process will take about 8 to 10 mins.
6. Finally add in the color & mix well. You can serve this halwa once its cooled down. Make sure you serve small portion as this Halwa is too rich.

Note:

1. Color is optional & I added it to make it look nice.
2. You can store this in a air tight box or even refrigerate it.

 

Gajar Halwa

My lill Zeeyu got up at 4 am in the morning & started singing twinkle twinkle little star. I thought may be he will sing once & go back to sleep. Coz he does that sometimes in his sleep. But later started wheels on the bus goes round & round, I love you, twinkle twinkle... Now he was over me scratching my face, putting his finger in my mouth, nose, pulling my eyelashes. I was so sleepy that I ignored his behaviour & now the boy became louder & louder. He was trying his best to wake me up & he succeeded. And now what?? he holds my hand & takes me to the drawing room, he picks his fav car & gives me a naughty smile like he has achieved something. Gosh! I was like a zombie & just fell on the sofa trying to sleep. Now my lill fighter has a never give up attitude, every time I closed my eyes, he would wake me up. After few minutes he pulled me out from the sofa & took me to the kitchen. Mamma give... give... dhee ...dhee... (In konkani Dhee means give) I knew he was asking for vessels. I pulled out some vessels spoons & gave him. Now he was all smiles & went back to the drawing room & started cooking. I cant tell you how much he is inspired by what I am doing:) He loves to enact what I do in the kitchen. Once it was 6 am I woke up my maid & I went back to sleep.

I know many Mom's can relate to me. Since I have a broken sleep everyday, I feel so tired & lazy. I have now become regular in swimming, coz that is the only exercise I enjoy. I hope this swimming will help me in reducing some inches soon:) One big disadvantage of swimming is I have got tanned badly. Now coming back to todays post, Gajjar Halwa/ Carrot halwa is my hubby's favourite. This is a simple delicious Indian sweet. Goes well just like that or even with a scoop of ice cream. My lill boy also loves carrot halwa, so I trt & make it more often these days. This is how I made it.

Making time: 30 mins
Serves: 5

Ingredients:

• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup fried cahew nuts
• 2- 3 Tbsp ghee
• 1/4 tspn salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tspn cardamom powder
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. combine grated carrots, water, milk & boil this on low flame with closed lid for about 5 to 8 minutes or until the carrots are soft.If the water gets drained off in between add some more
2. Now add in sugar, salt, cardamom powder & mix well into the carrots. Once the sugar mixes well it will thicken.
3. While adding the ghee the consistancy of carrots should be a little sticky. When you achive this consistancy, add in ghee, fried nuts & mix well. Saute this for 2 mins on low flame until everthing is well combined. Now the Halwa is ready.

Note:

1. There are various versions of Carrot Halwa & this is one version that I have shared.
2. You can also add color if required
3. You can be generous with ghee & nuts too.
4. Serve is warm or chilled.
5. You can add condensed milk too & it tastes great.