Custard Powder Halva

Custard Powder Halva is a sweet dish prepared using custard powder. It is an easy task and you will like it at the end when it is completely done. The taste of the Halva invites you to have more and more pieces. It can be cut it into pieces nicely and the colour is also so rich. I have seen many people prepared this Halva and put up pics in Foodie group. The pics inspired me to prepare this halva .
As I said it is very easy to prepare and do not take much time too. Any brand of custard powder can be used. You can use milk or water. Option is yours. Using more sugar helps to thicken the halva very quickly and gives a good shape too.
Lets see the recipe :

Things Needed :

Custard Powder : 1 Cup (Any flavour)
Sugar : 2 1/2 to 3 cups
Ghee : 2 Table spoons
Water :  4 Cups.
Cashew nuts : 2 Table spoons. (cut it into small pieces).

Method :

1. Take a big bowl or pan. Put custard powder and sugar in it.

 2. Add water and mix it nicely until everything dissolve in water completely.

3. Keep the pan on the fire and stir it slowly on medium and low flame.

4. Stir it till it leaves the side of the pan.

5. Add ghee and stir for another 5 to 10 minutes.

6. Apply ghee on a plate.
7.Add cut nuts and then mix it well.
8. Put this mixture in the ghee applied plate and spread it around.

9. Cut it according to your wish when it turns cool.

Note : Adding more ghee is optional. It does not take much ghee. Adding more sugar (3 cups) helps to get the good shape. You can use any flavour of custard powder. Did not use any cardamom or any other spice here. The Halva is soft . It does not turn hard or chewy.
Time : 20 minutes
20 to 25 pieces of Halva.

Almond - Poppy Seeds Drink

Almond - Poppy Seeds Drink is one of the traditional drink from Udupi. 

It helps to cool your body and mind during the very hot seasons of April to May. This drink is energetic and filled with proteins and other minerals. It keeps you healthy and take care of you. 

Almond - Poppy Seeds Drink helps to cool your body. Both the ingredients are cooling agents. This is one of the healthy drink I have seen my aunt used to prepare.She used a table spoon of fresh coconut along with poppy seeds instead of almonds. Fresh coconut helps the poppy seeds to grind nicely since they used the grinding stone with hands. Fresh coconut milk is adds the value to the health. Consuming fresh coconut is good for increasing good hormones in our body. In those days almonds consider to be very rich people food and it was used in rare and special occasion by common man.

I have used poppy seeds, almonds, jaggery (liquid form of fresh jaggery) and a pod of cardamom.

Ready to Serve Almonds -Poppy Seeds Drink.

Lets see some benefits of adding almonds, poppy seeds and jaggery in our diet.
Almonds are good resource of mono unsaturated fats. They help to lower the bad cholesterol(LDL). Eating almonds regularly in our diet help to raise good cholesterol.(HDL). It protects against cancer and prevents diabetes. It helps to boost energy and helps to prevent birth defects.Strengthen the bones and teeth. It is a good remedy for anemia and takes good care of our hair.

Poppy seeds contain good amount of minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. They are rich in dietary fiber and essential fatty acids and they help to maintain overall health  Poppy seeds are used for mouth ulcer which is caused by heat, since they have the quality of cooling the body. Poppy seeds contain good amount of fiber and it is good for people who suffering from constipation. Poppy seeds are known for inducing the good sleep. It is well known fact that,  drinking Gasagase ( in Kannada language) payasa, puts the person to a good sleep. :) .They help to improve heart health and prevent bone damage. They help to boost energy and fight against the  skin infections. They also help to boost immune. They contain minerals like calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus and copper.

Jaggery helps for good digestion and prevents constipation. It helps to cleanse the liver. It also helps to increase the immunity in our body. It balances the hormones and helps you to stay in good mood.
Having a glass of Almond- Poppy seeds Drink helps you to be good energetic, keeps you fresh, helps to glow your skin in hot summer.

Things Needed:
Poppy seeds : 1 Table spoon full.
Almonds : One handful
Cardamom : 1 Pod
Jaggery : 2 to 3 Table spoons.

Method :
1. Clean and soak poppy seeds for 5 minutes.
2. Soak almonds in hot or normal water and remove the outer skin and keep it aside.
3. Grate jaggery and powder it. ( I used fresh jaggery (liquid form).
4. Remove the cardamom seeds from the pod.
5. Grind all the ingredients except jaggery with little water till it turn into paste.

6. Add jaggery and churn for 2 minutes and let it mix well.

7. Now pour out the mixture and add required water and make the drink into little thin.

8. Put it to the serving glass and serve. Add ice if you like just before serving . ( I did not).

Note :
Clean the poppy seeds since it might contain small particles of sand. Soak it nicely. so it turns into paste when it grinds. No need of roasting the poppy seeds. You can also add fresh coconut while grinding. It adds to the aroma of the drink. ( I did not).
Adding more or less jaggery is optional. No need of adding milk to it.
Time :  10 minutes
Serves : 2.