Dil Se..: October 2011

Oct 27, 2011

Microwave Milk Peda / Doodh Peda / Milk Fudge

I made this quick and easy sweet for Diwali. I have seen this peda recipe all over the internet and it was the first time I made this sweet and I was amazed by its easiness. It can be made in a matter of minutes if you have all the ingredients ready. No sieving, chopping, frying, baking needed! Just mix the ingredients and all you need is microwave for 3 minutes! Yes, you heard it right. Just 3 minutes! And it uses just 3 ingredients!

You cant make a more easier and delicious sweet! Great to make along with kids!

Here is a pictorial video!
http://www.youtube.com/user/DivyaDilSe#p/a/u/0/35M7z20T7aE

Ingredients
Instant Dry Milk Powder - 2 cups
Sweetened Condensed Milk or Milkmaid - one 14 oz can
Butter - 1/2 stick or 4 tablespoons

Instructions

Take a microwave safe bowl and melt the butter by microwaving a few seconds. Do not bring it to a boil.
To the melted butter, add the dry milk powder, sweetened condensed milk and mix thoroughly. Everything should be mixed completely.
Microwave for a total of 3 minutes mixing the ingredients thoroughly after each minute.
Dont forget to mix the sweet after each minute!
After 3 minutes, take the bowl out of the microwave and allow it to cool enough to handle with your hands. This shoud approximately take around 8 to 10 minutes.
Grease a big plate with oil or butter.
Also, grease your palms with oil or butter and take a small amount of the mixture and make into a small sized ball. Flatten slightly and arrange them on the greased plate.
Decorate as needed. I used some crushed pistachios on top.

Other topping ideas: Cashews, raisins, almonds, chironji seeds, sunflower seeds, coloured sugar etc.

Oct 23, 2011

Diwali Sweets and Snacks!

Here is my dose of Diwali Recipes.. Have a fun and safe Diwali!

SWEETS

Athirasam

Quick an Easy Aval Payasam

Little Hearts Biscuit

SAVORY SNACKS

Vengaya Bajji / Onion Fritters

Javvarisi / Sabudhana Murukku

Khara Biscuit / Indian Masala Cookies

Egg Puffs

Kara Vadai

Vegetable Cutlets

Enjoy snacking and bursting crackers! Have a Happy Diwali!

Oct 20, 2011

Collard Greens Dal

We had just returned from India after a fun vacation and I had to make a hearty, comforting meal for lunch. We were craving for some comfort food after eating the airline food for a whole day.

We had almost nil fresh produce at home and I was glancing at my freezer to find something to cook with for our lunch. I found a pack of chopped collard greens, which I had picked up on sale just before we left on our trip. I have this habit of stocking up on frozen veggies and greens whenever they are on sale and they always come in handy when I run out of fresh produce. I used up fresh tomatoes and green chillies from my little balcony garden and made this dal in minutes. We had the dal with rice, roti and some vadams for our lunch.

Ingredients
Collard greens (fresh or frozen) - 1 cup chopped
Toor dal - 3/4 cup
Tomatoes - 2
Green chillies - 2
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

For the seasoning
Oil - 1 spoon
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds/jeera - 1 teaspoon
Dried red chillies - 2

Instructions

If using fresh collard greens, wash them and chop them into strips. If using frozen greens, use them as is.
In a pressure cooker, combine together washed toor dal, the collard greens, chopped tomatoes, slit green chillies and turmeric powder. Add about 4 cups of water and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
When the pressure gets completely released, open the cooker lid and mash the dal with a potato masher. Add salt to taste and mix well.
For the seasoning, heat the oil in a saucepan and add the mustard seeds. Once it starts spluttering, add the urad dal, jeera, asafoetida and dried red chillies.
Pour the seasoning over the cooked greens and dal and mix well.
Serve hot with rice or roti.

Oct 14, 2011

Monthly Mingle - Scintillating Salads Roundup

Hello All,
Am back with the roundup for the event Monthly Mingle - Scintillating Salads. I received several delicious and healthy salads great for every meal. Here comes the roundup!