Nendra Bale - Walnuts Halva

Nendra Bale is one variety of banana mostly eaten in Southa Canara and Kerala. I have prepared Halva using Nendra bale/Banana.  This variety of banana is full of carbohydrates and healthy properties. Halva prepared using this banana tastes excellent and keeps you hog the halva again and again.
I have used Walnuts, cashew nuts, jaggery and Nendra bale. I have used jaggery instead of Sugar which is a healthy concept.

Lets see some benefits of eating Walnuts in our diet.
Walnuts originated in the Mediterraneat regin and Cental Asia. They have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. They are rich in Omega 3 fats
Walnuts are rich in Omega 3 fats and high in antioxidants. Eating walnuts everyday may improve brain health. They are rich in copper, Phosporus, Manganese Folic acid which is also known as Vitamin B 9, Vitamin B 6 and Vitamin E. They help to lower the bad cholesterol and reduce the inflammation. They also help in functioning of the blood vessels well.
Let us see the recipe now.

Things Needed :

Nendra Bale (Nendra Bananas) : 2
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Walnuts : 6 to 8 pieces
Cardamom : 3 to 4 Pods
Chenna/Hurikadale : 1/2 Cup
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Powder or cut walnuts into small pieces. Powder hurikadale/Chenna with cardamom pods.

2. Steam cook nendra bale and let it be soft (3 to 4 minutes). Remove the outer layer once it is cooled.

3. Now mix cooked nendra bale, jaggery and keep it on low flame. (Powder jaggery before mixing with fruit).

4. Keep stirring until it mixes well. Now add ground chenna/hurikadale and mix it well.
5. Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it. Add milk powder and mix it well. Add powdered or cut nuts.

6. Keep stirring till it leaves the pan. Stir nicely for another 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Apply ghee to a plate/ tray.

8. Stir once again and put it to a ghee applied plate. Make it evenly by using a chapati roller. Let it cool. Spread some cut cashew nuts on the top. 

9. Cut Nendra Banana Halva once it is cooled. Cut it according to your wish.

10. Serve or store in a airtight bottle or container.

Note :

You can grind banana as they are and then mix it with jaggery. Steaming helps the banana to be thicken quickly. No need to use more ghee. Adding little more jaggery is optional. Adding milk powder is also optional. Adding chenna/hurikadale/pottu kadale helps to give a good binding to halva.
Time : 4o to 50 Minutes
Serves : 20 to 30 pieces (According to the size). 

Chocolate -Banana Cake

This Chocolate Cake is very special. I baked this cake for my son Ravikanth on his birthday. It came out yummy and just beautiful. I am Happy for that we had good time spent with Ravi during his lunch hours.

It is an eggless cake with minimum sugar, dates and dark chocolate. You can use more sugar if you love to have little more sweet. I have used curd, milk, cinnamon and cooking oil. 

Lets see the recipe now:

Things needed :

Maida /All purpose flour : 2 Cups

Sugar : 3/4 Cup

cooking Oil : (any) : 3/4 cup

Cinnamon : An inch

Chocolate : 2 to 3 Tablespoons ( any chocolate)

Dates : 8 to 10

Banana (ripe) : 2 

Salt : a pinch

Curd : 1/2 Cup

Milk : 1/4 Cup

Baking Powder : 1 Teaspoon (Heaped)

Cooking Soda : 1/4 Teaspoon

Method : 

1.Sieve maida , baking powder and cooking soda and keep it aside. 

2. Grind sugar, dates, cinnamon into powder.
3. Add oil and grind nicely till sugar is melted.

4. Add curd and grind. Add chocolate pieces and grind again. Add banana and grind till it mixes.

5. Add milk at the end and grind for a minute. Let the mixture be soft and fluffy. 

6. Add a pinch of salt and give a churn at the end.
7. Remove the ground mixture to a big bowl.

8. Mix maida baking powder, cooking soda mixture slowly. Let it mix well. 

9. Apply little oil on the tray. Pour the cake mixture to the tray.

10. Preheat the oven for 5 minutes.

11. Now keep cake try inside the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes on 180 dc. Take it out from the oven and allow the cake to cool down, 

12 Insert a knife or spoon edge to check the cake. If it sticks to the spoon end then bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Note : 

Using ghee or butter instead of oil is optional. Using fresh ghee is also optional. ( I have used 1 Tablespoon of ghee along with oil. It adds to the flavour). Adding any flavour is optional. Example , venila essence or cardamom or clove. Use of more sugar is also optional. Banana adds to the sweet and softens the cake. 

Time : Preparation : 5 minutes : Baking time 30 minutes : Total time : 35 Minutes.
Serving : According to the serving.

Shavige - Rava Banana Kesari Baat;

Vermicelli or Shavige is used very often in Indian culinary. We do prepare Upma, Payasam (Kheer) and other items.
Rava or semolina is also one of the main ingredient used in Indian kitchens.
Kesari baat or sheera or Sooji ka halwa is normally prepared with  medium size rava. Here is a little twist. I have used both semolina and shavige ( vermicelli). It is an easy dish and anyone can learn. I mean even people who are new to cooking and have interest can try this dish.
Shavige or vermicelli is prepared using rice or wheat or all purpose flour that is maida or moong bean.Vermicelli prepared from wheat is good for people who are suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is loaded with fiber.
Shavige -Rava Banana Kesari Baat can be prepared for breakfast or kitty parties or kids parties or when guest's surprise visit.  It is also can be prepared for festivals, functions and as Prasaadam.
Let us see the recipe Now

Ingredients :

Rava ( Medium size) : 1 Cup
Shavige ( thin variety ) :3/4 cup
Sugar : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 3 pods.
Well ripen  Banana : 1 (big or 2 small)
Cashew Nuts : 2 Table spoons (cut ones)
Raisins  (dry grapes) : 1 Table spoon
Water : 2 Cups .
Kesari (Saffron) : 5 to 6 Rakes
Ghee : 3/4 Cup

Method :

1. Powder cardamom and keep it aside/ Cut cashews into small pieces.

2. Keep water for boiling. Cut bananas in to thin slice and keep it aside.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 1 table spoon of ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry till they turn golden brown.

4 Add raisins and fry till they are fluffy. Add Shavige and fry for 2 minutes.

5. Add  rava (semolina) to the fried vermicelli and fry nicely till the raw smell disappear.

6. Add boiling water. Stir nicely it thickens.

7. Add sugar when it starts thickening. Add cut bananas and stir continuously on low flame. (It turns bit watery and starts to thicken again).
8. Add a spoon of ghee and saffron (kesari) flakes and mix it nicely. It starts to leave the pan.

9. Put off the fire. Add remaining ghee and mix it well.
10. Shift the ready kesari baat to a serving dish and serve hot Shavige - Rava Banana kesari baat .

 Note :
Adding more sugar (another 1/2 cup of sugar can be added). adding more or less ghee is purely optional. You should use boiling water to cook. Stir nicely till the pan leaves the kesari baat. Frying rava is a must to get the good result.
Total time : 20 minutes
Serves : 5 to 6.

Banana - Dates - Grapes Milk Shake

Banana, dates and grape Milk Shake is a drink which helps to keep your body cool. When it is screeching hot, you feel like drinking some thing again and again. The moisture in the body dries up quick due to heat. This drink helps to keep your body cool and it is a healthy drink too. I have used dates, banana, grapes and little honey to add the sweet taste.
Lets see some benefits of having dates in our diet.
Dates give relief from constipation, intestinal disorder, heart problem and anemia. Dates are good for gaining weight also. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. It contain calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium and they are beneficial for health. Eating a date is necessary for balanced and healthy diet.
Lets see the recipe now

Things Needed :

Banana : ( ripen) : 2
Dates : 6 to 8
Grapes : 8 to 10 or more
Honey : 1 Tablespoon
Milk Powder : 1 Table spoon ( or fresh milk 1/2 Cup)

Method :

1. Remove the skin of banana and remove the seeds from dates.

2. Put all the ingredients in the mixi jar, add a cup of water and churn till they get fluffy.

3. Remove the Milk shake from the mix jar.
4. Add water if required and serve.

Note : It should not be very thick or thin. You can add more milk to it. You can also add cardamom while grinding. Adding ice cube is optional.
Serves : 2
Time : 10 minutes.

Rava - Banana Poori

Ready to Serve Rava -Banana Pooris.

Rava - Banana Pooris can be eaten for breakfast, as snack or for dinner. Banana Pooris are done with Chiroti Rava, wheat flour and  banans. We Mangalorians love Buns that is normally prepared using Maida (All purpose flour) and sugar. Rava is Semolina.
Now a days people have become very very conscious. Many hesitate to eat food items prepared using maida. On the other side people are addicted to fast food which is harming the their lives. One must give little concern and avoid eating these items at least very often.Reduce it if you addicted to these fast food. Try out home made food and surely you will know the difference.
I have tried to prepare pooris using Chiroti Rava (small size semolina), bananas, little curd. No sugar or any sweet is added to this poori. The banana adds sweet to the poori and a mild taste of sweet really nice. You don't have to keep the dough for some time to rest. After mixing straight away you can prepare them.
Eating oily food is not a healthy habit though every one love to eat friend items. I am such one person and will be looking for a chance to grab. By good exercise you can burn out the extra weight.

Things needed :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Chiroti Rava ( Thin sized Semolina ) : 1 Cup
Banana : Ripen : 2 (Used small elakki bananas)
Curd : 2 Table spoons.
Ghee : 1 Tea spoon
Oil : 1 cup
Salt : a little

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and put curd and banana. Smash them nicely with the help of hand.

2. Add wheat flour, salt, chiroti rava, a spoon of ghee. Mix it and prepare dough. ( Do not add any water).

3. Keep a small pan on the fire. Put oil and heat.
4. Divide the ready poori dough in to small balls. Roll them as small pooris.

5. Fry them on medium flame on both side.

6. Remove from the oil and put it on a kitchen tissue. (It helps to absorb extra oil).

  7. Repeat the same and prepare pooris with the rest of the dough.

8. Serve them with the side dish you have prepared.
9.Hot pooris are very nice to have. We had it with Cucumber coconut curry and coconut mango Chutney.

Note :

Do not keep the dough for resting. It might absorb more oil. No need to add any cooking soda while preparing. You can add more bananas to give little more sweetness to the poori. Do not add more ghee while preparing the dough. It is easy and good for kids snack box and you can also take them when you go for long journey. Adding little salt adds to the taste.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4.