Makhana-Kheer (Lotus Seeds Pudding)

First of all a very happy Navratri to all.As today is the first day of this festival so I am keeping fast.But this time I am not alone my hubby is accompanying me and I am so glad about it.So the very first dish I made is this Makhana-Kheer as my hubby is fond of puddings.

Ingredients

Makhana/Lotus seeds 1 cup

Ghee 1 tbsp

Milk 1 litre

Almonds 6-7

Cashews 8-10

Green Cardamom pw 1/2 tsp

Sugar 1/2 cup

Method

1. Heat ghee in a pan and fry the makhanas till golden in colour.Take them out and roughly crush 1/4th part of it.

2. Heat milk in a pan and add makhanas,cardamom powder.Simmer till it becomes of thick consistency.Stir occasionally to avoid milk sticking to the bottom of the pan.

3. Now add sugar,powdered cashews and chopped almonds and heat till the sugar dissolves completely.

4. Decorate it with pistachios and almonds.Serve hot or cold.

Sending this to the following events:

Kids Delight by Srivalli of Spicing Your Life,

Dussehra,Dhanteras and Deepavali by Shanti of Shanti Krishnakumar's Cook book,

WYF: Festive Treat by Suchi of Simple Indian Food.

Awards!!!

I got this Kreative Blogger Award from Sandhya of Sandhya's Kitchen.I am very delighted to receive it.

Stuffed Snake Gourd

Here comes another member of Gourd family that is narrow,soft skinned,long serpent like structure-Snake Gourd.It is also known as Chichinda in hindi.Well I don't know how many of you like it but I always admired it because of this stuffed recipe which I learn from my mom.For those who are not aware of this veggie here is a click

Ingredients
Snake guard 2
Onion 2
Ginger 2 inch piece
Garlic 4-5 pods
Turmeric pw 1/2 tsp
Red chili pw 1 tsp
Garam Masala 1 tsp
Coriander pw 1 tsp
Dry Mango pw 1/2 tsp
Salt
Oil 2 tbsp

Method
1. Peel,wash and cut snake guard into 2 inch long pieces.
2. Scoop out the seeds to make these pieces hollow.Crush the seeds and flesh and keep them aside.
3. Make a stuffing with grated onion,ginger,garlic,salt and all the masalas.Mix well.Also add in it the scooped out part.
4. Now fill each piece with that stuffing.
5. Heat oil in a pan and add these stuffed pieces.Add a little salt and any remaining stuffing.Cover it to cook on medium heat till its done.
6. Serve it with roti/chapati or as a side dish.

Note: For a quick recipe just cut the snake guard into thin rings.Heat oil in a pan and add these rings,grated onion,ginger,garlic,salt and all masalas.Cover it to cook on medium heat.

AWARDS!!!

I got this A Fabulous Blog award from Renu of Renu's Kitchen.Thanks a lot Renu for considering me and thanks to all my visitors and supporters to make my blog Fabulous with their sweet and encouraging comments.

Mung Bean/Green Gram Salad

I am a BIG Lover of salads and my meal is incomplete without it.So lets have a healthy and nutritious bean salad.It includes green gram sprouts with other veggies.

Ingredients
Green Gram/Moong Dal (whole) 1 cup
Tomato 1
Cucumber 1
Onion 1
Lemon juice 1 tsp
Salt
Chaat Masala 1/2 tsp

Olive Oil 1 tsp



Method
1. Wash and soak mung beans in water overnight or for 8 hours.
2. Heat oil in a pan.Add mung beans,salt and cook it for 2 minutes.
3. In a serving bowl take the beans and add chopped onion, cucumber, tomatoes, coriander leaves to it.
4. Sprinkle chaat masala,lemon juice and mix the ingredients.It is ready to serve.

Sending this as my entry to the event MLLA:Fifteenth Helping hosted by sia of Monsoon Spice and originally owned by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook.
Also sending it to the event Food for 7 stages of life: Pregnancy(Zero hour) by Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen and Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong.

Awards

I got this token of appreciation from Shanti for participating in her event State special.My sincere thanks to Shanti.

One of my fellow blogger Sara tagged me.I really appreciate it.Thanks!!!

The Rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share the ABCs of you.

4. Tag 4 people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

5. Let the 4 tagged people know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

6. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so that there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag.

The Tag:

1. A – Available/Single? Married

2. B – Best friend? My DH

3. C – Cake or Pie? Cake

4. D – Drink of choice? Lassi

5. E – Essential item you use every day? Air,Water

6. F – Favorite color? All colours of happiness

7. G – Gummy Bears Or Worms? None

8. H – Hometown? Lucknow

9. I – Indulgence? Shopping,cooking
10. J – January or February? Feb for starting my life with my DH

11. K – Kids & their names? Son named Akshaj

12. L – Life is incomplete without? My Family

13. M – Marriage date? 6th Feb

14. N – Number of siblings? one younger bro

15. O – Oranges or Apples? both

16. P – Phobias/Fears? Fears

17. Q – Quote for today? Whatever Happens, Happens For Good

18. R – Reason to smile? My Family

19. S – Season? Spring

20. T – Tag 4 People? Sandhya,Renu,Purva,Radhika

21. U – Unknown fact about me? Even I dont know

22. V – Vegetable you don't like? I like all veggies

23. W – Worst habit? Loosing temper and shouting

24. X – X-rays you've had?

25. Y – Your favorite food? Chaat

26. Z – Zodiac sign? libra

I have tagged 4 blogger friends

Sandhya of Sandhya's Kitchen

Renu of Renu's Kitchen

Purva of Purva's Daawat

Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen

Maggie Noodles

Well Maggie Noodles are a big hit in every household in India for sure.Generally I cook it using the method given on the pack but sometimes I use some of my favourite veggies in it to give it a nice colour and flavour.In that way it becomes healthy too.

Ingredients
Maggie Noodles 1 pack
Green Pepper/Capsicum 1/4
Onion 1/2 small
Broccoli a few florets
Carrot 1/2
Tomato Sauce 2 tsp
Salt
Olive Oil

Method
1. Wash and cut all the vegetables in small pieces.
2. Boil 2 cups of water in a pan.Add 1 tsp of olive oil,salt and cook noodles in it till they are almost cooked.Drain out the excess water.
3. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan /wok and add all the veggies,salt,maggie noodles masala.Fry it for few minutes till the veggies are done.
4. Now add noodles and tomato sauce in it.Mix all the ingredients softly or toss just them and heat it for a few seconds.
5. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Note: Maggie Noodle Masala contains salt in it so don't add too much salt in the veggies.

Chhola-Samosa Chaat

This is the most famous chaat that we used to get in our college days.Even today it brings water in my mouth.After graduating from the college once I got the opportunity to visit that place and I went to that shop for this lovely treat,real delight.So here goes it's recipe

Ingredients

Punjabi Samosa 4 (See How to make punjabi samosa)

Chhola Masala 1/2 cup (See How to make Chhola masala)

Tamarind Chutney 4-5 tbsp ( I used Maggie tamarind chutney)

Plain Yogurt 1 cup

Green Chutney 4-5 tbsp (See How to make Green chutney)

Chaat Masala 1/2 tsp

Onion 1

Method

1. In a serving bowl/plate lightly crush 2 samosas.

2. Spread 2 tablespoon full of chhola masala on top of samosas.

3. Then add yogurt,tamarind chutney,green chutney,some chopped onions,chaat masala according to your taste and enjoy your chaat.

Punjabi Samosa

Sasoma is a very popular snack not only in India but also in many other Asian countries.It is a stuffed pastry which is triangular in shape.The stuffing could be anything like spicy potatoes,peas,paneer,carrots,cabbage,minced meat.It can be made in two ways either deep fry them in hot oil or bake them in oven.In north part of India it is a snack of common man and can be find easily from the roadside chaat stalls/hawkers and sweet shops.

Ingredients

For Dough

All Purpose Flour/Maida 2 cup

Carom seeds/Ajwain 1/2 tsp

Salt

Ghee/Oil 4-5 tbsp

Water

For Filling

Potatoes 4-5 large

Cumin seeds 2 tsp

Coriander seeds 1 tsp

Fennel seeds 1 tsp

Asafoetida 1-2 pinch

Garam Masala 2 tsp

Dry mango pw/Amchoor 2 tsp

Green Coriander Leaves

Green Chili 3-4

Red Chili pw 1 tsp

Salt

Oil for frying

Method

1. To make the dough take maida,salt,ajwain,ghee in a bowl.Now add some water to make a stiff dough.Cover it with a damp cloth and keep aside for nearly 30 minutes.

2. Boil,peel and coarsely mash potatoes.

3. Heat 3-4 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add cumin seeds,coriander seeds,asafoetida.Let the seeds crackle.Add green chillies and fry it for a while.

4. Add mashed potatoes,salt,garam masala,saunf,red chili powder,amchoor powder and mix well.Heat it for 4-5 minutes and finally add chopped green coriander leaves in it.Filling is ready.

5. Divide the dough into small golf like balls( nearly 8 ).Roll each ball into a circle shape just like chapati using some dry flour.

6. Cut this chapati into half along the diameter.Apply little water on the edges and shape each half into a cone.

7. Fill this cone with the potato mixture and seal the edges well.

8. Repeat the process to make all the samosas.Now deep fry them in medium hot oil till crisp and golden brown in colour.Take out and place them on a kitchen paper towel.

9. Enjoy hot samosas with your favourite chutney.

Sending this recipe to then event State Special hosted by Shanti of Shanti KrishnaKumar's Cook book.

Also this is my entry to the event Festive Food Event-FF by Purva of Purva's Daawat along with Besan Laddoo.