Quick Kesar Malai Laddoo

Happy Diwali everyone...

During these odd times, nobody wants to spend hours in the kitchen preparing Diwali sweets. I am in the same boat and hence came up with a laddoo, so instant ( when you compare it to the rest of the sweets usually prepared for Diwali), you would never believe how easy this is with no compromise on the taste.

Difficulty level: Easy
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 2-3 min


Ingredients

• Milk powder- 1 cup
• Ghee( clarified butter)- 1/ 4 cup plus 1 tbsp, and a couple of drops to grease your palm to make the laddoos
• Cashews- 12-15
• Raisins-25
• Granulated sugar- 1/4 cup
• Cardamom- 3 pods
• Saffron- a few strands

In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp ghee(clarified butter) on medium-low heat and roast the cashews until they turn golden brown and put aside. To the same ghee, add the raisins and fry them until they puff up. Keep aside. Add the rest of the ghee and allow to melt completely. Turn off the stove and after 3-4 minutes add the strands of saffron. This will allow the flavors to infuse into the ghee slowly.

While the ghee cools completely, powder the sugar and the seeds inside the pods of cardamom into a fine powder. Also crush the roasted cashews using a mortar and pestle or a food processor (just pulse it a couple of times). In a mixing bowl, add the milk powder, powdered sugar, crushed cashews, roasted raisins and mix well. Pour the saffron-infused ghee on top and mix well using a spatula. Once it is thoroughly mixed, grease your palms and roll the mixture into small lemon-sized balls. This yields 14 such laddoos. The number may vary depending on the size of your balls. It stays fresh at room temperature for 3-4 days.

Oreo Fudgy Brownies

Oreos are a kids' favorite and a lot of the adults I know love it too. I have incorporated Oreos and marshmallows to the brownie to make it all the more chewy. It is a fudgy, chewy, brownie goodness which will make you go back for more. 

Ingredients

1 cup butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
30 Oreo cookies coarsely chopped

Preheat your oven to 350°F/175°C. Line 9×13 pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Set aside. In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Mix on medium speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add in salt and the cocoa powder and mix on medium until combined, 30 seconds to a minute. Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour until incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Spread half of the batter into the pan. Top with the Oreos and spread the remaining batter on top.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until the centre is almost set. It can stay fresh in an airtight container for about 3 days..I doubt this will remain at the end of the 3rd day anyway...

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Old-fashioned Apple Cobbler

I really miss the falls in the US. It used to be my favourite season. With the nature looking its prettiest in fall colors and the aroma of the seasonal harvest filling the air , we used to go apple-picking. I used to make everything imaginable with apples. This is one of my favorites. 

Difficulty level : Easy
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time:  40-45 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 medium apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or other good baking apple), peeled and cut into chunks ¼ inch thick
• 1 cup water or apple juice
• 1/3 cup brown sugar , packed
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

For the batter:

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• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 5 Tablespoons butter , melted
• ground cinnamon for topping

Directions: 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch pan lightly with cooking spray.
• Stir together brown sugar, water, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a saucepan. Stir in apples. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan.
• In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk and melted butter, just until combined.
• Pour the mixture over the apples in the pan. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
• Bake for about 38-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the topping comes out clean.
• Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
• Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
  
  
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Make Ahead:

You could prepare the apple filling and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze the baked cobbler for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the oven before serving.

Coconut Burfi (Microwave)

During the Navrathri(festive) season, everyone is in the lookout for quick sweets you can whip up in a jiffy with this recipe from Tarla Dalal. You could add some color, but I decided to keep it colorless as it is for offering to Goddess Saraswathi for the Navrathri pooja. As the preparation is completely in the microwave, it will save you a lot of time and energy you would otherwise spend in front of the stove.

Difficulty level: Easy
Preparation time: 5 min
Setting time: 1 hr.

Ingredients
Grated coconut- 1 cup
Ghee- 2 tsp
Milk- 1/4 cup
Sugar- 3 tbsp
Cardamom- 1/4 tsp
Color-optional, a pinch

Mix the grated coconut and ghee well in a microwave safe bowl, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Take the bowl out, add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix them thoroughly and cook for another 2 minutes , stirring after 1 minute. Transfer on to a greased dish with 5" diameter and allow to set for 1 hr. Cut into desired shapes and enjoy.

Chicken Coconut Fry

Coconut is used in every possible way in our neck of the woods. Here I have used it in its raw , grated form. I am always in the lookout for a new way to prepare chicken , which happens to be the most popular meat in my house any way. 

Difficulty level: Medium

Preparation time: 10 min plus 2 hrs for marination

Cooking time: 30 min

Ingredients

Chicken- whole, curry cut (roughly 10 pieces)

Lime juice- 1 tbsp

Coriander powder- 3 tbsp

Chilli powder(spicy)- 1 1/2 tbsp

Kashmiri chilli powder- 1 1/2 tbsp

Salt- to taste

Ginger paste- 2 tsp

Garlic paste- 1 tsp

Grated coconut- 1 cup

Crushed red chilly flakes- 1 tsp

Garlic- 4 cloves whole with skin, slightly crushed

Curry leaves- 5 sprigs

Extra virgin coconut oil- 3 tbsp

First, marinate the chicken and keep aside for 2 hrs. Mix together both the chilli powders, coriander, lime juice, ginger paste, garlic paste and salt well and apply uniformly on all the chicken pieces. 

In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of  extra virgin coconut oil and add the grated coconut , crushed red chilly flakes, whole garlic cloves, curry leaves and a pinch of salt. Fry them on low flame so as to ensure the coconut  does not get burnt. Don't rush it by increasing the flame, it is very well worth the wait.  Once the coconut turns light brown , remove and keep aside. To the same oil, add the remaining oil and add the chicken pieces . Turn the chicken pieces making sure they are thoroughly cooked. Once they are, add the roasted coconut mixture and mix well for all the flavours to marry together. Roast on a very low flame for 3-4 minutes. Serve warm with rice or chapathi or roti .

Mango Peda/Mango Fudge

Peda is a very traditional Indian sweet. It can very well be made instantly at home with a little bit of  patience and elbow grease. I wanted to combine the flavour of mangoes to give it a twist. Who doesn't like mangoes? I have made minor changes to the recipe from Archana Hebbar here. This stays in room temperature for a week, so feel free to make plenty to share. 

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Difficulty level: Medium
Preparation time: 5 min
Cooking time: 30-40 min

Ingredients

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Ghee( clarified butter)- 2 tbsp

A few strands of saffron
Mango pulp- 1 cup
Granulated sugar- 1/4 cup
Milk powder- 1 cup
Powdered cashew- 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder- 1/4 tsp

In a large frying pan heat 2 tbsp ghee, ¼ cup milk, few thread saffron and 1 cup mango pulp.

Stir well making sure everything is well combined.
Now add ¼ cup sugar and stir until sugar dissolves completely.
Further, add 1 cup milk powder and ¼ cup cashew powder.
Mix well making sure the mixture is well combined.
Mash well making sure there are no lumps present.

keeping the flame on low, stir continuously. the mixture thickens after 5 minutes.

Further, add ¼ tsp cardamom powder and mix well.
After 15 minutes, the mixture starts to separate the pan and holds shape. do not overcook as the peda hardens.
Transfer the prepared mixture into a greased plate and spread uniformly.
Cool for 5 minutes, and start preparing ball-sized peda.
Design using the flower mould if you happen to have it. you can also decorate using a toothpick or fork. I have kept it naked here.
Mango peda stays fresh for a week when stored in an airtight container.

Cheesy straws

With the kids studying from home due to the pandemic, there is an insatiable need for a variety of snacks at home. I decided to whip something up with things I had in hand. The more cheese you add, the yummier it gets. And who doesn't like cheese....

Difficulty level: Easy

Preparation time: 15 min

Baking time: 25 min

Ingredients

Puff pastry sqaure sheets- 10

Shredded cheese- atleast 1 1/4 cups(I used cheddar & parmesan combined)

Italian seasoning- 2 tbsp

Fresh ground black pepper- 2 tbsp

Salt- to taste

Thaw the puff pastry sheets for atleast 3 hrs. Preheat the oven to 400F. 

Combine the shredded cheese, Italian seasoning, fresh ground black pepper and salt well and keep aside. 

On a working surface, spread some the cheese mixture evenly. Put one of the puff pastry sheets and press down lightly so that the cheese mix sticks to the sheet. Spread more of the cheese mix evenly and pat down. Make 1 inch wide strips using a pizza cutter. Twist the strips to make them  curly. Transfer to a baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese has melted and and the puff pastry has turned crisp. Enjoy them right away.