Almond Mysore Pak

Mysore pak - Yes Most of the sweet lovers love to have Mysore Pak.  It is delicious sweet, no doubt it has its fame and name. Preparing Mysore Pak one has to do it very slow and with lots of patience.

I do prepare yum yum yummy Mysore Pak and all my friends and relatives pour loads of love and appreciation, sweet words after eating Mysore Pak.
Here I have prepared Almonds Mysore Pak 

 Here I have tried " Almond Mysore Pak " and its super good I can say. You try and taste and You do agree my words.

Let us see what all I used and how did I do this Yummy, delicious Sweet " Almond Mysore Pak".
All I used is Almonds, besan/channa flour, ghee, sugar and little cardamom.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Besan / Channa flour : 2 Cups
Sugar : 1 3/4 or 2 Cups
Ghee : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods
Almonds : 1 Cup
Water : 1/2 Cup

Method :

1. Dry roast besan till the raw smell disappear.

2. Powder almonds and keep it aside.

3. Remove the seeds from cardamom pods and powder.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and put sugar and half cup of water.

5. Let sugar dissolve in water completely. Add a tsp spoon of ghee.
6. It starts to bubble. Let it boil for 2 minutes. See that it gets one string consistency.

7. Add roasted besan /channa flour and powdered almonds. ( Let the flame be very low)..

8. Stir nicely and see that there are no lumps. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of ghee and stir.
9. The ghee you pour mixes well with besan and sugar mixture. Continue stirring and adding ghee in between. 5 to 6 minutes or little more.

10. Slowly the colour changes  in to slight golden brown.  Leave the mixture for 10 seconds and stir again slowly but do not allow the mixture  to burn at the bottom.
11. Let the mixture slowly come up slightly. Stir again. Do this process at least 4 to 5 times. ( Strictly on low flame ). Add powdered cardamom and mix it again. It starts to leave the edges.

12. Allow the mixture to slowly come up again and pour this mixture to a ghee spread tray or plate.

13. Spread it nicely and leave it to cool.  Cut Almond Mysore Pak once it is completely cooled.

14. Serve or enjoy eating these delicious Almond Mysore Pak pieces. Store it in a airtight box.

Note :
The sugar should melt completely before it gets in to syrup consistency. One should prepare this Almond Mysore Pak on low flame. Adding more ghee is optional. Almond Mysore Pak should be cut in to pieces only when it cools completely.
Time : 30 Minutes.
25 to 30 pieces can be made : According to size and shape.

Watch the process : 

Soft Mysorepak

Mysore Pak is one of the yummy sweet that most of us like it. 

Celebrating this sweet with festival is a divine thought too. 

Let us celebrate this Deepavali 2018 with Soft MysorePak.

There is a story about this Mysorepak How it has got its name Mysore pak.

The story goes like this.  This Sweet Mysore pak was first time prepared during Shri Krishna Raja Wadiyar Rule in Mysore. 

Shree Krishna Raj Wadiyar was ruling Mysore that time. He was fond of sweets they say. He asked his palace cook Mr. Kakasura Madappa to prepare some thing nice, tasty and delicious. Madappa just prepared the mixture of sugar, ghee and gram flour/channa flour/besan flour. The sweet turned so nice as golden colour. King Krishna Raja Wadiyar ate this sweet,  which melted so easily and it was delicious. He was curious to know the name of this sweet. When he asked Madappa, he did not know what to say/ because he never thought of the name for this sweet. He suddenly uttered Mysore pak. It is done in Mysore first time and the pak means pakam /cooking. The name Mysore pak got its name in this way.

Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Channa flour /besan /gram flour : 1 Cup

Sugar : 2 Cups

Ghee : 2 1/2 Cups

Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods.

Method : 

1. Dry roast channa flour till the raw smell disappear. 

2. Remove the pods from cardamom and powder it.

3. Melt the ghee into liquid form and keep it aside.

4. Apply ghee to plate /tray and keep it aside.

5. Now put sugar in a big bowl and keep it on the fire. Add 1/3 of water and melt it completely.

6. Stir in between and mix it well. Sugar liquid starts to bubble. 

7. Check for 1 string consistency. Le the flame be very low.

8. Slowly add roasted besan and stir. Add ghee in between and should stir continuously. 

9. Keep on adding ghee and stirring. It slowly change its colour. Stir and put each time a tablespoon of ghee and stir.

10. Leave the stirring for few seconds and stir again. You can see the content turning golden colour.

11. Leave it for few seconds and stir again. It starts to come up. Stir and let it come up again. Add cardamom powder. 

12. Again leave it for 2 seconds and shift the Mysore pak content to a ghee spread tray /plate.

13. Cut it according to your wish when it is hot. But do not try to remove it when it is hot. 

14. Let it cool down. Now remove the pieces slowly and put it in a air tight box.

15. Soft Mysore pak is ready to serve.

Note :

Do not allow the content to get hard. The proportion should be the same as mentioned above. You can remove the ghee which oozed out from Mysore Pak while shifting it to a plate. Do not go on stir till it hardens. Just stir twice or trice after it changes its colour 

Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 12 to 14 Pieces. ( According to size ).

Horlicks MysorePaak

Happy Deepavali to You all. Horlicks Mysore Paak is the special sweet prepared for this Deepavali. You get Holicks burfi (Sweet made of Horlicks), is available in the market and I have eaten the sweet

It is nice, ghee aromatic and just melts in the mouth. It taste very nice and I wanted to try it any way. Some months back Anupama Hegde (one of the friend from Paka Shale) had put up the pic and written the recipe too. So It gave me an idea and I tried it here. I have adjusted the ingredients according to my taste.
This is one of the recipe that should be very careful and must do it on low flame.
Let us see the recipe Now
Besan /Channa flour : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1. 5 Cup (1 and 1/2 Cup)
Sugar : 2 Cups
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons Full
Horlicks : 1 Cup

Method :
1. Roast besan nicely with a tablespoon of ghee. Shift it to a tray.

2. Put sugar and add 1/3 cup of water. Mix it well and stir. Let it melt.

3. It starts bubbling after a while. Stir continuously. Let all the sugar melt nicely.

4. Add roasted besan/channa flour when it turns into a thread consistency. (One string consistency).
5. Keep mixing and add 1/4 cup of ghee and stir.
6, Stirring should be done continuously. Add ghee in between.

7. Mysorepaak slowly changes its colour to slightly. Leave for a second and stir.
8. The content starts coming up. Add milk powder and stir.
9. Add horlicks and stir and mix it well.

10. Add the remaining ghee and mix it well and shift the content to ghee spread tray.
11. Just press it evenly with a spatula or a spoon.
12. Cut it according to your wish when it slightly cools down.

Note :
You should do the whole process on a low flame. You can dry roast instead of frying the besan flour at first. Melt the ghee just before using. The content starts to leave out the ghee you put. That indicates Mysorepaak is ready. One should be very careful or it turns as chocolate. (Hard). You can use your choice of horlicks. (I used plain horlicks). It is better to cut it once it is slightly cooled.
Time : 25 to 30 Minutes.
Serves : According to your wish. (25 to 30 Pieces can be made).
 Do watch the video for complete recipe.

Saura Yugadi/Vishu/Tamil New Year Day Feast

       Happy Saura Yugadi/Vishu/Tamil New Year Day to One and All. God Bless All.

Saura Yugadi is a New Year for Hindus, who follow Panchangam (Calendar),  which is created according to Solar calendar. Some part of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu (New Year ) and Kerala (Vishu ) celebrate Soura  Yugadi festival.  Normally Soura Yugadi falls on April 14 or 15th. That day will be Sankramana or Sankranti Day. (Each month Sankranthi falls on 14/15).

   In Karnataka This festival is celebrated by keeping the " Kani " in the pooja room.

In Karnataka This festival is celebrated by keeping the " Kani " in the pooja room. Kani will be arranged in a big tray or big plate by placing a Coconut, Cucumber, Fruits and Flowers. The small mirror in the front of coconut and the God's photo or statue is kept. New year panchangam/calender is also placed in the tray. This Kani should be seen first in the mirror when you get up in the Yugadi day. Then follows the oil bath and pooja. Keeping the Kani might be because to "Samarpan" (Thanking him for his generous kindness on growing the necessary things),  the things which we got in the Nature. Festival dishes are cooked and eaten with family together.
Panchangam is read after the lunch feast to know about the future happenings of the whole year. (Rains, crops etc etc).
The feast food is some payasam (mostly channa dal and cashew kheer), Tondekai /Ivy gourd/Tindora palya with raw cashew, rice, rasam and curry. Cashews are just grown and ready to crop during this time. Even the cucumber is also ready to cut. Making use of the crops which we got from the nature.We should be Thankful to God the Creator.
I have prepared my own recipes which are easy and simple and healthy.
Lets see the recipe now:
1. Southekai (Cucumber) Peel + Doddipatre Chutney
2. Tondekai (Ivy Gourd) Palya (Dry Curry)
3. Southekai Sasive (Cucumber & Mustard curry)
4. Seeme Badane & Sweet Potato Jeera Curry.
5. Channa Dal Kheer
6. Channa Dal Holige (This can be prepared on the previous Day )
7. Soft Mysore Pak
Lets see the recipe one by one

1. Southekai (Cucumber) Peel + Doddapatre Chutney.

Things Needed :
Southekai (Mangalore Southekai) Peel : 1 Cup
Dodda Patre leaves : 6 to 8
Red chilly : 5 to 6
Tamarind : a small marble size
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : to taste
Mustard, ingh, curry leaves seasoning : 1 Teaspoon
Oil : 2 Teaspoons

Method :
Keep a pan on the fire, heat and put a spoon of oil. Add a tablespoon of urid dal and fry. Add red chilly little ingh and curry leaves. Let the urid dal turn slightly golden brown. Add cucumber peel and doddapatre leaves and fry till they turn soft. Put off the fire and add coconut. Let it be cool.
Now grind this fried ingredients with little water till paste. (or your desired consistency). Add salt and grind for 10 seconds. Put this ground chutney to a serving dish and add mustard seasoning and serve. (As one of the side dish).

2. Tondekai Palya(Ivy gourd dry curry)

Things Needed : 
Tondekai (Ivy gourd) : 1/4 Kg
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Rasam Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 1
Salt : as required
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 4 to 5
Coriander Leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Tamarind pulp or lemon extract : 1 Teaspoon

Method : 
Wash and cut ivy gourd, green chilly and coriander leaves. Grate coconut and dry grind it with green chilly..
Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add curry leaves and cut tondekai pieces. Mix it nicely and add required water. (1/2 cup). Let it turn soft. Add little turmeric powder, rasam powder and tamarind pulp. Add salt. Mix it nicely. Let all the moisture disappear. Now add dry ground coconut and mix it nicely. Put this ready tondekai palya in a serving dish and add cut coriander leaves. Palya is ready to serve.

3. SoutheKai (Mangalore cucumber) Sasive 

This is one of the side dish and served in the beginning of the lunch.
Things Needed :
SoutheKai  : 1 Cup
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Ingh : a pinch
Curd/Yogurt : 1 Cup
Salt : Required
Jeera Seasoning :  Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon, Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon, Curry leaves : 5 to 6 , Ingh : a pinch

Method :
Wash and cut cucumber (with its skin) into small pieces. Grate or cut coconut. Now grind green chilly, cut cucumber pieces, coconut, mustard seeds and little ingh. Grind it to paste consistency and remove from the mixi jar. Put it in a bowl. Add curd and required salt. Shift it to the serving bowl.
Add jeera seasoning and serve.

4. Seeme badane kai (Chayote Squash) & Sweet Potato Curry

Things Needed :
Moong Dal : 1/4 Cup
Seeme badane Kai : 2
Sweet potato : 1
Coconut : 1 Cup
Jeera : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2
Ingh : a little
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Salt : as required
Mustard seasoning : Oil :1 Teaspoon, Mustard season : 1/2 Teaspoon, Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves, ingh a pinch

Method : 
Wash and remove the outer skin of seeme badane kai, sweet potatoes.
Wash and cook moong dal in a pressure cooker. Cook seeme badane kai pieces and sweet potatoes.
Grate and grind coconut with green chilly and jeera with little water.
Keep a big pan on the fire. Add cooked vegetables and moong dal. Add salt, turmeric powder and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut jeera mixture to the curry. Add water if required. Mix it well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift this curry to a serving bowl and add mustard seasoning and serve.

5. Channa dal Kheer (Payasa)

Things Needed :
Channa dal : 1/2 Cup
Coconut : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5 pods
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Thick Avalakki : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Method : 
Wash and pressure cook channa dal (8 to 10 minutes). Wash avalakki and keep it aside.
Grate coconut and grind it nicely with cardamom. ( You can add a spoon of raw rice while grinding).
Keep a big pan on the fire and put cooked channa dal, jaggery and avalakki. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut and cardamom mixture and cook for another 2 minutes and put it in a serving dish.

6. Channa Dal Holige :

CHANNA - TOOR -COCONUT -HOLIGE

7. Soft Mysore Pak (It can be prepared on previous day)

Things Needed :
Channa flour/Besan/Kadale Hittu : 1 Cup
Sugar : 2 Cups (or little less)
Ghee : 2 Cups
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods

Method :
Melt the ghee into complete liquid form. Apply ghee to a tray or plate. Powder cardamom.
Dry roast or fry channa dal till the raw smell disappear. Powder it nicely by hand once it is cooled.
Keep a pan on the fire and put sugar and add 1/2 cup of water. Mix it nicely and stir till it dissolve nicely. Keep stirring. Sugar content starts bubble. Let it bubble for 1 to 2 minute.
Add roasted channa flour and mix it nicely. Add a little ghee and keep stirring. Add ghee in between little by little. Stir continuously till the content starts changing its colour and starts coming up.
It starts leaving the edges. Stir for  another 2 to 3 minutes. Add powdered cardamom and stir again and pour this content to a ghee applied plate. Cut according to your desired shape once it is slightly cool.
Happy Soura Yugadi to Each and Every One.