Mango Fruit Burfi

Happy Vara Mahalaxmi to You all. Mango burfi is a sweet dish and you can serve them as desert.

Some time back I saw Mango burfi done very nicely in Foodie blog. Foddie blog is managed by Admins ..Mr. Sadashiva Rao Mailankodi, Shri Kripa and Madhura Pradeep...The blog is super and the members and admins are very creative. It is one of my favourite blog  too.
Sorry to say I forgot the name of the person who had prepared this sweet. It was looking superb. I wanted to try but was busy a bit. I had some Neelam Mangoes from sister Sujatha 's house. (Udyavara/Udupi/Karnataka). So Thought of the recipe and tried it with jaggery instead of sugar.
 I have used mango pulp, wheat flour, ghee and jaggery.
It is always better to eat /use seasonal fruits because they are fresh and filled with more nutrients and vitamins
Let us see the recipe :

Things Needed :

Mango Fruits : 3 to 4 (Medium sized)
Wheat flour : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup.
Almonds flakes /Powder : 3 to 4 Tablespoons.
Cashew nuts  : 6 to 8 or little more

Method :

1. Wash and clean mango fruits and squeeze out the pulp. Keep it in a bowl.

2. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan and put jaggery and put 1/4 cup of water and melt jaggery and filter it. (with a tea strainer). Keep it aside.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and put ghee. Let it melt. (Keep a tablespoon of ghee aside).
5.  Put cashew nuts and fry nicely. Add wheat flour and fry nicely till the raw smell goes off. (4 to 5 minutes).

6. Remove it from the pan to a plate/tray.
7. Add jaggery and let it get one string consistency. Add mango pulp and stir for some time. (10 minutes).

8. Add fried wheat flour and mix it well. Stir continuously till it starts to leave the edges of the pan.

9. Stir for another 10 minutes and add a tablespoon of ghee. Mix it nicely. Keep stirring for a minute.

10. Grease ghee to a tray or plate. Shift the ready Mango burfi to the greased plate and spread it around evenly.
11. Just roll a roller or spatula and make it even on all sides.

12. Spread almond flakes on the top and press it with spatulla. Let it cool. Cut it according to your desire once it is cooled.

13. Put the pieces in a clean airtight box.
14. Serve when some one visits you and your family.

Note :

Do not use much water to melt the jaggery. |Use of clean jaggry is a must. You can also use sugar instead of jaggery. Use of more jaggery helps the burfi to get it thick quickly. But too much of sweet dominates more. It gets harden once it is cooled.
Time : 30 to 40 minutes
Pieces : More than 30 pieces. ( According to your desired shape and size).

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. 

Cocoa (Choco) Cake

Just wanted to try brown cake, which most of the children love to have. Just before closing the class for summer holidays we wanted to have a small party for children who comes to our home for studying.

We had a beautiful time with children, playing " Jenga" and some indoor games like musical chair. Felt that we had spent good time playing and laughing and having fun. Anyways there was no tension of studying lessons or completing notes. They were really free because the annual exams were over. Summer holidays were started and they were free to enjoy their time.
I have used Maida, Cocoa powder, sugar and some essence.
Lets see the recipe : Eggs are not used here in this cake and curd is used instead of eggs.

Things needed :

Maida/Al purpose flour : 2 Cups
Cooking Oil : (any cooking oil) : Little more than 1/2 cup.
Sugar : 3/4 Cup
Vanilla essence : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Salt : A pinch
Baking Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Baking Soda : 1/4 Teaspoon
Cocoa Powder : 1 Teaspoon (Full).
Vanila Essence : 2 Drops

Method :

1. Sieve Maida, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder together. (Twice).

2. Powder sugar and add oil, curd and grind it nicely. Add milk and grind it.

3. Let it mix well and turn as smooth cream. Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a big bowl.

4. Add a pinch of salt and sieved maida, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda mixture.
5.  Add vanila essence. Mix it slowly without any lumps.

6. Heat the oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
7. Grease the tray with oil/ghee. Put the ready cake mixture and tap the tray, so that the mixture sets evenly.

8. Put the tray in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Insert a knife/spoon edge to check its done.
9. Put off the oven and remove the cake tray. Place it on the top of the oven for 5 minutes.

10. Now take it out the tray and let it cool. Cut the cake according to your wish. Yummy cake is ready to serve.

Note :

This is a simple cocoa cake which has turned very nice and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Our children enjoyed it. Adding more sugar is optional. Adding butter/olive oil instead of cooking oil is optional. Adding eggs instead of curd is optional. You can add some chocolate chips and bake.
Time : 10 Minutes for preparation and 35 Minutes for baking. I have used Mixi Jar (Liquidizer) to mix all the ingredients except maida. You can use egg beater instead.
Happy Summer Holidays 2017. (Children already gone for vacation). The very few around attended the Summer Holiday Party....☺☺☺

Mixed Nuts Laddu

Mixed Nuts Laddu is a mixture of grond nuts, sesame seeds, chenna, poppy seeds and jaggery with a very little ghee. All these ingredients are oil content. During winter our body's moisture dries up and we need to consume the requirement of the body through the food habits. During Sankranti we share and eat ellu bella (sesame seeds - jaggery - coconut mixture). I thought of doing the same ingredients and turned as laddu.

Mixed Nuts Laddus are very healthy munching stuff during winter season. During winter out body dries up and these food helps to provide the need.
I have used Seseme seeds, poppy seeds, ground nuts, jaggery etc.
Lets know the benefits of having " Poppy Seeds " in our diet.
Poppy seeds contain anti - oxidants and health promoting properties. They contain mono unsaturated fatty acids that helps to lower the bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels in the blood. Poppy seeds outer coat is a good source of dietary fiber that helps to eases the constipation problems. These seeds are rich in B - complex Vitamin sources. Poppy seeds contain good level of minerals like iron, copper, calcium , potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium.

Things Needed :

Ground Nuts : 2 Cups
Chenna : 1 Cup
Poppy seeds : 50 Grams.
Coconut (dry) :1 cup
Sesame seeds : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1 Table Spoon

Method :

1. Dry roast ground nuts and remove the outer skin and keep it aside.

  
2. Keep a pan on the fire put jaggery and add 1/4 of water. Let it boil nicely and jaggery completely dissolve.
3. Now sieve the jaggery water and remove the dirt from it.

4. Now keep a pan on the fire and dry roast sesame seeds and poppy seeds one by one until the raw smell disappear.
5. Let the roasted ingredients cool. Dry grind dry coconut (Copra - kobbari ) and poppy seeds together.

6. Dry grind chenna nuts and ground nuts ( just 2 to 3 churns will do) one by one and put all the ingredients together in a big bowl.

7. Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery content and boil till they bubble up.
8. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes to get the right consistency. (One string pakam).
9. Add a table spoon of fresh grated coconut.

10. And then add the ground dry coconut, chenna, ground nut, poppy seeds and sesame seeds.
11. Mix it nicely till they get mixed and put off the gas.

12. Add 1 Table spoon of fresh ghee and mix it well .

13.. You can divide the mixture in two to three parts. Cover the mixture to retain the heat.

14. Take a handful of mixture and with the help of your palm and fingers prepare Laddu.

15. Laddus are ready to serve.

Note :

You must roast the ingredients nicely till the raw smell disappear. ( Do not over roast and burn). Do it on low flame slowly).
You can add more ghee if you wish. Adding cashew nuts adds to the taste. ( I did not add).
Adding more jaggery is also an optional. If you are not able to prepare ladu use a spoon of melted ghee on the mixture and then try. It holds it tightly or use fresh warm milk and prepare laddu. (The laddu may get spoil ) It may be kept only one or two days outside.
Time : 30 minutes
40 to 50 Laddus can be prepared.