Dates and poppy seeds Burfi

Dates and Poppy seeds burfi is a healthy burfi, that I have tried during this Deepavali. No sugar or jaggery is added to this bar and is nice to chew the healthy, yummy and easy  Dates and poppy seeds.

I have used Dates, almonds, cashews, raisins, figs and poppy seeds.
It is an easy and healthy burfi that all age group can enjoy and more of it it is diabetic friendly. Sweet teeth people can munch this burfi at any time of the day. Good to carry for travelling and good snack for the kids snack box. It is energetic and loaded with good minerals and vitamins.
I prepared this Dates burfi during Deepavali and packed it as one of the sweet to our relations.
Dates and Poppy Seeds Burfi Has NO Sugar, NO Ghee or any fat and No Coconut.
Preferably use ripe and soft Dates to prepare this burfi.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients 

Dates : 400 Grams
Raisins : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Almonds : 20 to 25
Cashews : 10 to 15
Figs : 5 to 6
Poppy Seeds : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Remove the seeds from Dates and put it in a big bowl.
2. Cut cashew nuts and figs into small pieces.

3. Dry grind almonds into powder consistency.
4. Put all the dry fruits into a big bowl. Kneed them well and let it mix well. ( Dates, raisins, cut cashews, figs and powdered almonds).
5. Spread a tablespoon of poppy seeds in a tray or plate.
6. Put dry fruits dough in the tray and press it evenly. Use chapati roller to even it in equal level.

7. Spread remaining poppy seeds on the top of the burfi and just press it slightly.

8. Leave it for a while. Cut it according to your desired shape.

9. Remove from the tray and store in a box.

10.  Serve or munch at any time of the day.

Note :

The dates you use should be soft. You need to kneed the mixture nicely so that it mixes well and sets well as burfi. Dates proportion should be more, so that it adds to the sweet taste. The sweet taste is natural and good for all age group and the diabetic people.
Time : 30 Minutes. 
Serves : 20 Pieces. ( According to size and shape ).

Avocado - Nuts Desert

Avokado Nuts desert is a mild sweet desert, you can say its like an ice cream, soft, smooth and healthy desert which help us to gain many healthy benefits.

I have used Avocado, little honey and loads of Almonds and cashews. 

I remember Usha Bopayya who used to treat us with Avocado along with yummy breakfast whenever we stayed with her in Mysore. (Avocados are from her own Estate). It was the first time I had tasted this yummy fruit in Usha |Bopayya's house. She is such a nice kind lovable human being and she treats us like her own kids. 

These particular Avocado is brought from Usha Suresh Cukkemane. Suresh and Usha are our family friends and we are like family members. (All friends circle from Dubai). I was very curious to prepare this desert. I have added dates and figs, honey and cashews, brought from Goa by Yadu Rajiv ( RishiKanth Somayaji's friend), Almond flakes  are from Krishnaveni Beedarhalli. (Vidya's sister).
Let us see some benefits of Avocado.
Avocado is filled with nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Avocado helps us to have healthy eyes, protect our skin. It is good for maintaining blood sugar levels. It has a good source of antioxidant properties. It helps in blood circulation and to build stronger bones. It helps in easy digestion and prevents the bad breath. It also helps in K vitamin deficiency related bleeding disorder. It takes care of our heart health and liver care. Avocado has a high fatty acid content but it is very low in cholesterol. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are good source of monounsaturated fatty acids. They are low in sugar content. Avocado is rich source of energy. They contain minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. The minerals in avocado are Vitamin C, B6, B 12, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and Vitamin E. They are good source of dietary fiber. Avocado is rich in potassium and it balances the potassium and sodium level in our body, which is very important for overall health.
You can use Avocado to prepare dips or for sandwiches, milk shake, smoothie and other dishes.
Let us see the recipe now.

Things needed :

Avocado : 2
Figs : 5 to 6
Dates : 5 to 6 or little more
Honey : 1 Tablespoon
Cashew Nuts : 2 Tablespoons. (Cut into small pieces).
Almond flakes : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :
1. Wash and clean Avocado fruits and remove the outer layer slowly.

2. Place the fruits on a bowl.
3. Cut cashews, dates and figs into small pieces.
4. Smash Avocado fruits with the help of a tablespoon and let it turn as soft paste.
5. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix it well.

6. Add cut figs and dates and mix it nicely.
7. Add cut cashews on the top and mix it.

9. Shift the desired quantity to serving cups and spread almond flakes generously.

10. Avocado Nuts Desert is ready to serve.

Note : 

Do not add any water for this desert. I have used honey for the sweetness. Instead of honey you can use sugar/jaggery /Palm jaggery or even jaggery. You can powder cashews and almonds in a mixi and then used it. Roasting of almonds and blag grapes.
Using Avocado instead of butter is a healthy option.
Time : 10 Minutes

Serves  : 4 to 5. 

Dry Fruits Laddu (Without Sugar)

Happy New Year 2016 to Each and Every one.

Just thought of some thing sweet. My last post also is a sweet dish. This time I wanted to try this sweet with natural sweet content from dry fruits it self. It is a big hit and you also will love this sweet laddu and it is healthy dish, I don't have to tell you.
I have used some figs, dates and some nuts like almond, cashew and raisins.
Dry Fruits Laddu can be kept long and it can be given to kids in their lunch /snack box to munch during their snack time. It is 100% healthy and any one can eat them or munch them.
Lets see some benefits of having figs in our diet. 
Figs/Anjeer has numerous health benefits. It is rich source of dietary fiber and improves the digestion. It is good for people who suffer from constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. They are low in calories. It also helps to prevent hypertension. They are rich in antioxidants. They also help to eliminate free radicals that can cause blood vessels and take good care of heart. Figs help in strengthens our bones. It helps to cure anemia since it contain good amount of iron. Eating figs is a natural way to raise the hemoglobin level. It is rich source of minerals like zinc, iron,  manganese and magnesium. It also helps to balance the minerals between the potassium and sodium level in our body. It helps in reproductive health.
These Dry Fruits Laddus are easy to prepare and can be kept for many days.

Things Needed :

Dry Figs : 1 Cup
Dry dates : 1 Cups
Apricot : 1/2 Cup
Raisins : 1/2 Cup
Almonds : 1 Cup
Cashew Nuts : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Red Kallusakkare ( Rock Candy) : 2 Tablespoons

Method :
1. Dry grind all the dry fruits (almonds, figs, dates, apricot and rock candy), one by one except raisins/drakshi and cashew nuts and keep it aside.
2. Cut cashew nuts into small pieces.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put ghee and fry cashew till they turn slightly red. Remove from the ghee. Add raisins and fry till they turn fluffy.

4. Now put all the dry ground ingredients in a big bowl. Add fried cashew nuts and raisins to it. Mix it well.

 5. Take a handful of nuts mixture and prepare laddu. The moisture in the dates, figs and apricot helps to prepare the laddu easily.

 7. Eat or serve a laddu in a day. (one laddu is more than enough per day).

Note :
Dry grind all the ingredients nicely till they turn powder. It helps to prepare laddu easily. You can add more ghee if you wish to. (but not necessary). Do not add any ground nuts or roasted chenna (hurikadale/pottu kadale). The taste differ. Adding more cashews and raisins are optional. Adding more rock candy is also optional. Adding dry coconut (Kobbari) is also optional. ( I have not used). Roasting all the nuts are also optional. (I have not roasted).

Time : 20 minutes
20 laddus can be made.  (size of the laddu matters).

Figs - Lemon Juice .( Figs and Lemon).

Figs and Lemon juice is very refreshing drink. Figs can be dried and kept in summer and use it whenever you need it.

Figs help us to be healthy in a way. People who are  suffering from the himoglobin count in the blood cell , can have this drink regularly and keep themselves healthy. Pure  figs concentrate is available in Malenaadu ( Sagar - Shivmogga side in Karnataka ). You can get dried figs also here.
I have used the dried figs. You get a concentrate of figs in Sagar/Shimogga/Karnataka /India. They do collect the figs after it is completely grown and prepare the concentrate in natural way.
Figs are collected and soaked with sugar or jaggery and kept it in the sun. Figs completely absorb sugar and it is then turned as liquid. No artificial chemical added. The concentrate then filled in the bottle and kept it for using it. I was lucky to get a bottle of juice.

Things Needed :

Water : 3 to 4 cups.
Dry Figs : 10 to 12.  ( or concentrate : 3 to 4 Table spoons ).
Lemon : 1 Medium size).
Salt : a Pinch.
Sugar /jaggery/Honey :  2 Tablespoons or little more.

Method :

1. Wash and soak figs in normal water for 10 minutes.
2. Grind soaked figs with soaked water till paste.
3. Remove from the jar. Put it in a bowl. Now squeeze out the lemon juice and mix it.
4. Add honey or sugar and stir nicely. The Figs juice is ready to serve.

5. Put the Figs-Lemon Juice in to glass and add a piece of ice cube. ( I did not add ).

Note : Adding more/less figs is optional. Adding ice cube to the juice is optional. Adding a pinch of salt helps you to be on healthier side. ( It avoids getting cold). If you are using  Figs Concentration then do not add any sugar or jaggery. Use of Sugar/Honey /Jaggery is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to  4