Rose Petals Laddu.

Preparing Laadu in a healthy way is always my pleasure. I do use lots of dry fruits, jaggery, and other ingredients. It not only provides energy, it also fills the stomach and good for all age group.
Healthy laddu provide energy, vitamins and minerals to our body.

Rose petals are used here to add natural flavour of rose. The roses are from our pot plants. The roses are slightly pink and good for health.
This time I have used Oats, lion dates, wheat flour and some dry fruits like raisins, cashews.  Use little jaggery to add little more sweet. Rose petals adds to the natural flavour of Roses.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Oats : 250 Grams
Wheat flour : 2 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup (Powdered).
Poppy seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Lion Dates : 500 Grams
Raisins : 1 Cup
Cashews : 10 to 12 (Cut into small pieces.
Rose Petals : 4 to 5 Rose flowers.

Method :

1. Wash and dry rose petals.

2. Dry roast oats and dry grind it. Remove the seeds from dates and smash dates and make it soft.

3. Dry roast wheat flour till the raw smell goes off.
4. Add poppy seeds to dry roasted wheat flour and put of the fire. Put dry roasted ingredients, soft dates to a  a big bowl. Mix it well.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery and 1/4 cup or little less water. Let the jaggery melt.
6. Keep stirring till it turn one string consistency.

7. Add rose petals and stir for 5 to 6 minutes.

8. Pour this jaggery on the top of dry ground oats and wheat flour.

9. Keep a small pan on the fire and and put 2 to 3 tbs of ghee. Add raisins and let it bubble up.
Add cashews and fry.  Pour this cashew - raisins to powdered ingredients.

10. Now mix all the ingredients nicely and make laadu/Unde.

11. Have a Oats - wheat - Dates laadu as evening snack. It is one of the best snack for kids. So while preparing snack box add this unde.

12. Serve or eat whenever you like it.

Note :

If you find the ingredients are dry and if you are not able to prepare laddu, use 1/4 glass of hot milk or 2 to 3 tbs of melted ghee. So that you can nicely prepare laddu. Remember, milk added laddu get might get spoiled, so it is better to keep them in the fridge.
Time : 40 Minutes.

50 Small Laadu can be prepared. (According to  size).

Avalakki Pongal

Happy Sankranthi One and All.

Avalakki/flattened rice/Poha/Pova/Aval Pongal is a healthy dish that you can prepare for this Sankranthi. Sankranthi is celebrated most of the states in India. It is to mark the first of the season and people pray and thank God for the good harvest.
It is also known as Makara Sankranthi because The Sun starts moving towards north and is called
" Uttaraayana ".
In South India people prepare Huggi/Pongal on this day and do Nevedyam to God. In Karnataka it is called Suggi Habba and the festival is celebrated for two days. First it is for the kids and the festival celebrated by doing Arati to Kids and "Ellu -Bella" (Sesame seeds and Jaggery), is poured on them to get away with the evil eyes. Little girls distributes "Ellu Bella " to housed around their neighbourhood. It is very beautiful sight seeing girls in traditional dresses and running around. The second day Huggi/kichidi/Pongal is prepared and Nevedyam is done to God and tasty traditional food is prepared and feast food is served to people at home.
Huggi is prepared using Moong dal and Raw Rice. Freshly harvested pulse and rice is used to cook this Pongal.
Sankranti is called in different names in different places. 
It is known as Makar Sankrnti, Thai Pongal, Uttarayan, Maghi, Bhogali Bihu, Shishur Saenkraat, Khichidi, Poush Sangkrant
As I said Pongal is an easy and one of the traditional dish, I used Avalakki instead of rice which helps in eating less starch.
I have used Avalakki, little Moong dal/Hesaru bele, ghee, jaggery, cardamom, raisins and cashews.

Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Avalakki (Thick Variety) :  1 Cup
Moong Dal: 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Fresh Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom : 3 to 4 Pods
Raisins and Cashews : 1 to 2 Tablespoons
Pepper Pods : 2 to 3

Method :

1. Wash and soak avalakki/poha/Flattened Rice for 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Wash and cook moong dal till it turns soft. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
3. Add soaked avalakki and mix it well. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Add jaggery and mix it well. Add a spoon of ghee. Mix and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Let the avalakki -moong dal get the thick consistency. Add cardamom powder.
6. Mix it well and shift " Avalakki Pongal" to a serving dish.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and put 2 tablespoons of ghee. Fry raisins and cashews.
8. Add this fried cashews and raisins to " Avalakki Pongal" and serve with little ghee on top.

Note :

Use of jaggery More/Less is optional. Use of ghee more/less is optional. You can add same quantity of moong dal to avalakki. (Optional). Adding more/less nuts is also optional. Roasting the moong dal before cooking is optional. (According to your taste).
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves :  3 to 4. 

Walnuts-Besan Burfi

Walnuts Besan/Kadale Hittu/Channa flour Burfi is a sweet dish and you can have them at any time of the day. Walnuts are one of the healthy nuts and besan helps to bind the burfi. It is also one of the easiest burfi that you can prepare with in short time. It is simple and quick sweet.

Let us see the benefits of Walnuts in our diet.
Walnut trees have been serving the mankind since 7000 B.C. Two third of the world's walnut production is from California. Walnuts are very good for reduction of bad cholesterol in our body. It helps the metabolism and control diabetes. They have good anti oxidant and anti inflammatory properties. It is said that they are good mood busters.
As I said it is an easy recipe and can be done quickly. I prepared this sweet to take it for my sisters and in laws. Though I clicked pic after  I cut it and packed it inside the zip bag once it is cooled, I am not able to find those clicks. Will post some more pics later when I prepare this burfi again.

Things Needed :

Besan /Channa Flour/Kadale Hittu : 2 Cups
Sugar : 4 Cups
Ghee : 2 Cups
Cardamom : 4 to 5 pods
Walnuts : 1 cup

Method :

1. Dry grind walnuts. Powder cardamom pods with little sugar. (A teaspoon of sugar).
2. Put sugar in a big pan and add 1/2 cup of water. Mix it well and keep it on a low flame.

3. Mix in between and let it completely dissolve.
4. It starts boiling. Starts to bubble. Check with one thread consistency.
5. Add besan/kadale hittu/channa flour slowly and mix it nicely with sugar syrup.

6. Add ghee little by little while stirring. Add walnuts and stir little more. Keep stirring until it leaves the pan. Add cardamom powder.

7. Stir for little more and pour it a ghee applied tray or plate.

8. Cut it according to the desired shape once it is slightly cool.

9. Enjoy whenever you want a piece or serve .

Note : 

One should do it on a low flame to get the best burfi. Adding more/less ghee is optional. Adding any other flavour than cardamom is also optional. You can add paccha karpoor, clove or cinnamon powder. Adding any other nuts One should use the pure channa flour (Channadal powder). Do not roasted chenna/hurikadale/pottu kadale flour. Burfi may not taste the same.
Time : 20 to 25 minutes
Serves : as required.

Almond & Dates Kheer

Almond & Dates Kheer is a desert which is easy to prepare and healthy to have as a desert. It is simple easy and yummy to have it. It is sugar free and ghee free. This way you can reduce the sugar intake and quench your thirst of sweet bite. Many have a habit of eating some sweet after their meal. This desert will surely serve the purpose. It is completely diet recipe as no sugar or ghee is used.
Lets see some benefits of adding  almonds and dates in our diet.
Almonds or badam lower the bad cholesterol. They protects artery walls from damage. They reduce the heart attack risk. Almonds help to build strong bones and teeth. They also provide healthy fats and help in weight loss. Almonds lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals. They help provide good brain function. They nourish the nervous system. According to Ayurveda, almonds help increase high intellectual level.
Dates are good for heart problems, anemia , diarrhea, and constipation. They are good for gaining weight. They are rich in many vitamins, minerals and fiber. They contain oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. They are very beneficial for good health. Eating one date per day is good for healthy diet.
Now lets see the recipe.
This is a sweet dish and we can have them after lunch or dinner.

Things Needed :

Almonds : 1/2 Cup
Dates : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 2 to 3 pods
Milk : 1 Cup;
Cashew nuts : 1 Table spoon

Method :

1. Dry roast and dry grind almonds and keep it aside. (Medium size rava consistency).

2. Remove the seeds from dates and dry grind it nicely to powder form.

3. Remove the outer skin of cardamom and powder it.
4. Keep milk for boiling in a pan.
5. Add almond powder and mix it well and stir for a while.

6. Add powdered dates and mix it well and boil it for 2 to 3  minutes. Stir in between.

7. Put off the gas and add powdered cardamom and mix it well.

8. Add cashew nuts and mix it well just before serving.

Note :

Cut cashew nuts in to small pieces. Adding more milk to get little thinner consistency is optional. Adding more dates is also optional. It adds to the sweet taste. Frying cashew nuts in a spoon of ghee is optional. ( I have used as it is, did not fry in ghee). You can also dry roast them. Heat a pan or tava and just roast them on it with out oil or ghee.
Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 5

Dates - Rava Burfi

Rava - Dates Burfi is 100%  sugar free burfi which is very easy to prepare and a way healthy to chew and to satisfy the sweet crave for the taste bud.

Actually I came to know about this burfi, when I read it in Poornima hegde's blog. Some thing interesting is,  This burfi contain no sugar or jaggery in the original recipe. I have given a little twist by adding Kallu sakkare (Rock Candy). I have used Chiroti Rava, dates, ghee 2 Table spoons of Kallu sakkare ( Crystal form of sugar).

Now Lets see some benefits of having Dates in our diet.

Dates are delicious and one of the most popular fruits that contain essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals which are required for normal growth. 

Fresh dates are soft, easily digestible, good energy boost and revitalize the body instantly.The fruit is rich in dietary fiber. 

They are good source of Vitamin A, and they have antioxidant properties and essential for vision. 

Eating fresh fruits, help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.Dates are excellent source of Iron, potassium, calcium, manganese,copper and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is essential for strong bones and teeth. 

Dates also contain moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins and Vitamin K.and Vitamin B-6 . These vitamins act as co -factors and help the body metabolize, carbohydrates, protein and fats.

Having all these good qualities in them, The dates are an essential fruit that we must add in our diet. Now lets see the recipe. As I said earlier it is easy to prepare and we can munch them any time of the day. It is healthy munch you can munch any amount too. I am sure all family members and all age group will love to have this Rava - Dates Burfi.

Things Needed :

Chiroti Rava (Smaller size Rava):  1 To 1 1/2 Cup
Dates : 2 Cups
Kallu sakkare (Small sized) :1/2 cup
Mixed Nuts :2 to 3 Table spoons.
Poppy Seeds : 2 Table spoons
Cardamom : 5 to 6 pods
Ghee : 1/2 Cup or little more

Method :

1. Dee seed Dates and fry them in one tea spoon of ghee till they turn soft.

2. Fry poppy seeds in the same pan using a tea spoon of ghee, till the raw smell disappear. (2 minutes)

3. Fry Rava using 2 table spoons of ghee till the raw smell disappear.

 

 
4. Cut nuts in to small or dry grind them a little and add it to the fried Rava. Put remaining ghee and mix it well.
5. Now mix dates, kallu sakkare  with fried rava and kneed it nicely till every thing is mixed properly. 

6. Spread them evenly on a ghee spread plate, Sprinkle Poppy seeds on the top

Adding /Extra Nuts on the top

7. Cut it according to your wish when it is slightly warm.
Dates - Rava Burfi is ready to Serve.

Note : 

You can use more dates. It adds to the softness of the burfi. Adding jaggery or sugar is optional. ( I have not added).
Adding more ghee adds to the taste of burfi. You can also dry grind all the nuts and add it to the burfi.

Time : 30 minutes      :   25 to 30 pieces of  Dates -Rava Burfi can be prepared ( according to the size).