Mohanthal (Gram Flour Fudge)

Welcome everybody.Its more than 2 years i have been away from blogging. I can't believe that i was away this long. I am happy to be back and post a lot of recipes which i have been cooking lately.
I hope all of my fellow bloggers are doing well. You all have been in my thoughts.
I missed reading your blogs. I will strive to update my blog regularly and keep you all posted with my endeavors in cooking.

Lately i made a traditional Gujarati sweet delicacy called Mohanthal. The basic ingredient is Gram flour (Besan/Kadalai Maavu) and is quite easy to make. It was a little time consuming but the final outcome of the sweet was awesome. Everybody in my house relished it. My sister-in-law's kids loved the sweet a lot.

I followed the recipe from Bhavana's Kitchen with little modifications.

Here goes the recipe,
Time taken: 45 minutes

2 1/2 cups Gram Flour/Besan/Kadalai Maavu
3/4 cup Ghee
1 1/4 cup Mawa/Khoya
1/4 cup Milk
1 1/4 cup Sugar
1 cup Water
Saffron as per your need
1 table spoon Cardamom powder
Almonds and Pistachios for Garnishing

Method to make Mawa/Khoya:
3 tea spoon Ghee
1/4 cup Milk
2 cups Instant Milk powder

In a pan combine the milk and ghee and warm until the ghee melts and switch off the stove.
Add the combined mixture to the Milk powder and mix well with a spoon until it forms a crumble texture. let it rest for 5 minutes.

Method to make the sweet:
Grease a 8*8 inch pan with ghee and set it aside.
In a bowl add the 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup ghee and warm till the ghee melts.
In a large bowl combine the mixture of ghee and milk to the Gram Flour and mix well.
Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Combine the mixture well with both the palms until it turns into coarse and crumbly texture.
(Alternatively you can also sieve the mixture to bring the coarse texture).
Heat the remaining ghee in a pan and add the Gram flour mixture , Mawa and saute until it turns golden brown in color. (Stir continuously in medium flame until a nice roasted aroma comes).
This will take about 8-10 minutes.
Add the cardamom powder and little nuts and mix well. Switch off the stove.

For the Sugar Syrup,
In a pan add the sugar, water and saffron and boil well until it thickens and forms double string consistency. Switch off the stove.
(To check- After the sugar syrup thickens, Pour a drop in a plate and rub the syrup with your hands and check if more than two strings are formed)

Final step,
Remove the sugar syrup and the gram flour mixture from the stove.
Mix the sugar syrup with the Gram flour mixture and mix nicely till it combines well.
Spread the mixture in a greased 8*8 pan and garnish the nuts on top and let it rest for 1 hour.
After one hour, Cut into desired shape. Serve them.

Hints:
You can store it in a air tight container for 2-3 weeks. Keep them refrigerated.
Alternatively you can use Ladoo Besan also which is available here in the Indian stores.
Amount of sugar can be altered based on your needs
Any type of nuts can be used (Almonds, Pistachio, cashew).

I will add more pictures step by step next time when i make and will update the blog to get better picture.

Enjoy and please add your valuable comments. Please try and let and let me know how it turned out!

Sweet

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Dry Fruit Ladoo| Kids Delight|BM #15

Last day of BM #15 and here goes the recipe for Dry Fruit Ladoo. This is simple and quick to make.
5 Figs/Dates (I used figs)
1/2 cup chopped dry fruit and nuts (Almonds, pistachio, Cashews, Walnuts, Raisins)
2 table spoon powdered sugar
2 table spoon water
1 table spoon ghee

Grind the figs/dates coarsely. In another pan add 1 table spoon ghee, roast the other fruit and nuts and keep aside.
In a pan add the figs and little water and keep stirring until it starts to melt  a little bit and becomes gooey texture. Then add sugar and continue stirring for 2 minutes and then add the roasted fruit and nuts and mix well. switch off the stove and roll them balls when they are warm.

Note:
This ladoo is very healthy and can be done any dry fruits of your choice.
Condensed milk can also be added instead of sugar. It will give a richer taste.

                      

Sweet

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Banana in Almond Milk|Kids Delight| BM #15

Who will not like Banana with milk? This is usually called 'Paal um Pazhamum' in tamil. It is very common one given to the bride and the groom by the elders during the marriage rituals. It used to taste yumm.
But, that is made just with plain milk and banana. This is also a perfect food for babies. My son just loves it.
For a twist, instead of plain milk. I made with homemade almond milk. This version, not only my son liked it. My husband and me also loved it.

Ingredients
 For Almond milk,
1/4 cup Almonds (Badam)
2 Cups cold milk
Little honey
1 tea spoon sugar (optional)
2 Bananas

Method
Soak the almonds in water for 10-15 minutes. I used the sliced almonds with the skin.
Later grind the almonds, honey and sugar to a smooth paste with a little milk. Mix in the remaining milk along with this.
Slice the bananas into small pieces and add into the almond milk. Serve cold.

Check out the other marathoners here

milk

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Berry Lassi|Berry Yogurt Smoothie|Summer Coolers|Kids Delight|BM #15

Another summer coolers with yogurt and berries today. I had lot of yogurt in my house and had to consume it fast. I thought this was the right time to this Lassi/Smoothie because it will fit the topic for the Blogging Marathon week (Kids Delight- Fruit).
I used Blueberry and Strawberry to make this Lassi. It is very simple to make it. All of us in our home loved it. My son is also a yogurt and blueberry lover. So just thought of making it today.

Ingredients
1/2 cup Blueberry (frozen, fresh or dried)
1/2 cup Strawberry
1/2 cup Honey (I used Clover Honey)
2 cups Yogurt (cold)

Method
In a blender add all the items and blend it until smooth. Either serve it immediately or refrigerate for sometime and serve it cold.

Check out the other Marathoners doing yummy dishes here

Yogurt

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Watermelon Juice |Summer Coolers| Kids Delight |BM #15

Watermelon is a great fruit to have during summer. It is very good for health. This is a perfect thrist quencher. There are couple of recipes we can do out of watermelon during summer (Juice, Granita, Popsicles and many more). It has lot of vitamins and is one of the easiest juice to make. Watermelon rind (white part) is also edible and many recipes are made out of them. Some people use the seeds also to make some powders to mix with rice and eat. These days we get the seedless version of it which is also pretty good. Here in the US, we get smaller size watermelon which is also seedless. They are very useful in making juice like this. My son is 17 months old and i don't offer many juice yet.
Only once in a while i have given him Coconut water or Apple juice till now. But, today when he saw me making this colorful juice. He was so interested in having it. Since this juice does not need any sugar as it is naturally sweet. If you want Honey can be added. I thought there is no harm in offering him. He just LOVED it. I was very happy.

Now here goes the recipe,
3-4 cups of Watermelon pieces
1 cup of water
1 cup of pear (optional)
2-3 tea spoons Sugar/ Honey (optional)

In a juicer add the watermelon pieces,water,pear and sugar/honey (if needed) and run the mixer. Strain the juice if there are seeds and serve cold with ice chips whoever needs it. I did not use ice chips. Simple Watermelon juice is ready to serve.
                           

Check out the other Marathoners doing the Blogging Marathon 15 along with me, which is hosted by Srivalli.
This also goes to Srivalli's Kids Delight which is hosted by Nupur this time.

Watermelon

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Pazha Pradaman- Payasam with Banana |Kids Delight

I always love doing payasam with fruits or veggies. They taste good and at the same time it is nutritious and healthy. I have had this payasam with jack fruit in Kerala. I think it is called (Chakka Pradaman or Ada Pradaman). I wanted to make the same with banana instead of jack fruit. I am sure the kids will like it. I made this and served my little one. He liked it and had couple of spoons. Usually coconut pieces are added to this kheer. I did not add them since my son has not yet started eating that hard pieces.
                                                                     

Ingredients
1 Banana
1 cup jaggery
1 tea spoon cardomom powder
1 cup milk
1 cup coconut milk
1 tea spoon ghee
1 table spoon chopped (Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins and Pistachios)

Method
In a small pan add the ghee and nuts and fry for a minute. Then keep it aside.
In a pan add the jaggery and allow it to melt and then add the banana and cardomom powder.
Keep stirring until the banana is mashed and cooked well.  The mixture will also become quite thick.
Then add milk and boil for 2 minutes. Then finally add the coconut milk and switch off the stove immediately.
Add the fried nuts and mix well.
serve hot or cold. We preferred hot more than cold.

Check out the other marathoners doing BM #15

I am happy to send this to Srivalli's Kids Delight which is hosted this Month by Nupur.

Kids Delight

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Bread Bonda|Mini bites|BM#6

Second day of blogging marathon and i made Bread Bonda for the theme Mini Bites.
This is yet another simple recipe and kid friendly.
Here is the recipe for the same,
2 cups of Bread crumbs
1/2 cup Rava/sooji
1 Green chillies chopped
1 Onions chopped
1 tea spoon Asafeotida
Corainder leaves chopped
salt to taste
water little bit
Oil to fry

Method:
Grind the bread to make it into crumbs, or you can use store bought bread crumbs.I had some bread at home which was nearing to end date. So thought of consuming it fast.
Add the rava,salt,chillies,asafeotida,coriander leaves and mix well.
Sprinkle some water and make a dough. Don't add too much water since bread absorbs lot of water.
Make into small round shapes and fry it in oil until golden brown.
Keep the stove in low flame since it has to cook well inside.
Serve hot with Ketchup or any sauce.

This snack does not take too long to do.

Check out other Blogging Marathoners with their various other themes.

Sending this entry to Champa for Kid's Delight theme is 'Mini Bites'

Snack

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