ORANGE KHEER

A simple, delicious fresh kheer with oranges is one of the unique kheer I have ever had. This can be prepared during fasting time. It can be flavoured with different ingredients like cardamons, saffron and dry fruits. But I like to keep it simple only with flavour of the fruit. As we all know oranges are citric fruit, the main point to be noted is whenever you use citric fruit,  it should not be added when the mixture is hot. So do remember, only after cooking it completely it should be added at last.

INGREDIENTS.

1 Cup Orange segments.

1 Liter milk

Half tin of Milk made.

2 tsp Sugar.

1 tbsp Cornflour paste. ( optional )

Pinch of Cardamom pd ( optional )

METHOD.

Peel and remove the seeds and skin of oranges just show on the below pic.

Drop in milk and sugar in a pressure cooker. Once the milk gets boiled, close the lid and put whistle and sim it for half an hour. This process thickens the milk and gives u a nice condensed flavour.

Once the pressure is gone, add the mixture into big non stick pan. Add milk made and stir on for 3 min continuously. If u need the milk to thickens more add cornflour paste and stir. Remove from the flame and allow to cool completely.

Once cooled add the orange segments and mix well. Refrigerate and serve cool.

Enjoy !!

LOTUS SEED KHEER ( PHOOL MAKHANA KHEER )

Whenever I visit supermarket, I surly have a look at makhana but never dared to tried that. But this time, when I went on my vacation to mumbai, I gave it a try :) which made me surprised why did I wasted such a long years for not using such a yummy ingredient? It was fab and something different from daily old payasam or kheer.

Makhana is rich in protein,calcium and have significant medicinal value. When its cooked in creamy milk it becomes very soft and just melts in mouth. This kheer is offen prepared during navarathri festival and also specially made for fasting days.

INGREDIENTS

2 plus 1/4 Cup Lotus seeds

1 Liter Milk.

1/2 Cup Sugar or more.

1/4 Cup water.

1 tsp Cardamom pd.

3 tbsp Ghee.

Dry Fruits.

METHOD.

In a pressure cooker, add milk, water and sugar. Once it gets boiled, Put whistle and sim for about half and hour. This method thickens milk, changes the colour and gives you nice condensed flavour. Keep it aside.

I an pan, add 2 tbsp of ghee and fry the seeds till its crunchy and crisp. Allow them to cool. Keep half of the fried seeds as a whole and grind the remaining seeds coarsely in a mixer.

Heat 1 tbsp of ghee, fry the dry fruits and keep them aside. In a same pan add the pressured mil. Bring them to boil for about 10 min so that it gets reduced a bit. Add both the fried lotus seeds and coarsely grinded lotus seeds and saute for another 10 min. This stage the consistency will thicken. Remove from flame and Sprinkle cardamom pd and top with fried dry friuits and serve hot.

Enjoy!!

BHINDI MASALA

Bhindi masala is a delicious Indian curry served with chapatti's or roties. Its taste fab when the fried okra are mixed with the spices and with the richness of cashew paste. I love this curry as a stuffing for chapatti rolls.

INGREDIENTS

200 grams Bhindi.

1 Onion.

2 Tomato (medium size)

6 to 7 Cashew paste.(soak in milk and grind)

1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste.

2 tsp Red chilly pd (kashmiri chilly pd)

1/2 tsp Turmeric pd.

1 tsp Coriander pd.

2 tsp Garam masala

Pinch of Amchur powder.

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds.

1 tbsp Cream (optional)

Water as per needed. ( depends on gravy or dry type)

3 tbsp Oil.

Salt to taste.

METHOD

Clean the bhindi. Pat it dry. Cut of it head and tail and slit in the middle. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadai. Arrange the bhindi and fry them till its well cooked and gives a shiny look. Keep them aside.

Heat oil in a same pan. Add cumin seeds and ginger garlic paste. Fry them it the raw smell disappears. Add onions and fry them till it becomes translucent. Add all the spice pd except amchur powder. Then drop in tomatoes and saute for a min. Fry them until all the moisture is absorbed and oil slightly oozes out.  Add adequate amount of water and bring them to boil. Once the gravy is done, add the fried bhindi's and cashew paste. Season with salt.  Sim for a couple of min and garnish with coriander leaves and sprinkle amchur pd, and cream if needed on top and serve hot.

Enjoy!!

HOME MADE MEDICINE

Its rainy season now. So taught of posting something interesting and unique one which is very useful during this season. Yes a home made medicine which is good and effective for both adults and kids. The main ingredient for this is the Tulsi. Tulsi or holy basil is one of the most reverted plant in Hinduism which is easy to grow on a windowsill. People use this herb for cooking purpose which gives you a nice and strong  flavour. It has the medicinal purpose which helps to relieve stomach ace, stress relief and many more and is very good for cough  if having with a drop of honey. Not only this, most of the people use the fresh leaves to rub on a mosquito bites to relieve discomforts.

Now coming back with the post, therez one more leaves named ''Panikoorka'' which is also the natural herb used specifically for kids who has stomach ace or intestinal worms. Its very good for treat chest conjection, people suffering from asthma, for cold, cough etc etc. I remember on my childhood days, my mom used to make Panikoorka fritters as a evening snacks. But I have very rarly as I dont used to like its smell :( ........Now being a mom, I wanted my kid to have as its very good for the health with lots of medicinal value in it. Happy to say my kid have it if I say its good for ur health. :) :)

I prepare this most of the time when my kid suffers from cold and cough. In fact she loves to have offen as its sweet and of attractive colour :). If u have ready fresh leaves available then do try this once because it acts very fast to boost the immune system. Therez no exact measurement for this. Can add more or less accordingly.

INGREDIENTS.

Handful of Tulsi.

3 Leaves of Panikoorki.

Small piece of Ginger.

Pinch of ajwain.

Honey as per taste.

Drop of lime juice.

Water just to grind

METHOD.

Grind all the ingredients except honey. Strain it in a bowl. Add honey and lime juice. Have 2 tsp of this mix 4 to 5 times a day. Continue having for 2 days and see the positive reaction.

Enjoy!!