Seethaphal Kesari Baat

Kesari baath is a sweet dish. It is prepared using Rava (semolina), sugar and ghee. We can add fruits while preparing this sweet dish. For example bananas are used to prepare sapatha (prasadam for Satyanarayana Pooja). Like wise we use pineapple, apple and mango and many other fruits. Here I have used Custard apple/Seetha Phal (sugar apple / custard apple) and prepared Kesari baat.
Seethaphal goes well with semolina and it adds beautiful aroma to the Kesari Baat.

Lets see some benefits of Eating Seethaphal/Custard apple/Sugar apple fruit.
Seethaphal/Custard apple is rich in copper. It helps in good digestion. It also helps to ease bowel movement and good for people who suffer from constipation. It has a good source of potassium and magnesium and they help to keep the blood pressure in control. It has a abundance of dietary fiber and helps to slow down the absorption of sugar. It also helps to reduce the cholesterol level. Seethaphal is rich source of iron and good for people who suffer from anemia.
Seethaphal Kesari Baat is a tasty sweet dish and can be eaten any time of the day.

Things needed : 

Semolina/Rava/Sooji (Medium) : 1 1/2 Cup
Sugar : 3/4 to 1 cup
Seethaphal fruits : 2
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5 Pods
Saffron : 3 to 4 Rakes or Turmeric powder
Dry fruits : (Raisins and Cashew nuts) : 2 Tablespoons
Water : 3 Cups

Method :

1. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
2. Keep water for boiling.
3. Remove the seeds and put Seethaphal/Custard apple pulp in a bowl.

Seethaphal fruit Pulp

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 2 Tablespoons of ghee and let it melt.
5. Put cashew pieces and fry for 10 seconds. Add raisins and let it fluff  and turn golden colour.
6. Add Rava and fry till the raw smell disappear. (at least 5 minutes).

7. Add boiling water and mix it well and let it cook for 2 minutes.
8. Add sugar and seethaphal pulp. Mix it thoroughly (Stir continuously). First it turns as liquid.

9. Keep stirring it. Slowly it starts to thicken. Add remaining ghee at this stage.
10. It starts to leave the sides. Now put off the fire and add Saffron and cardamom.
11. Mix it well and shift it to the serving bowl.

12. Serve as snack or with breakfast dish or as a desert after lunch or dinner.

Note :

You need to fry rava nicely till the raw smell disappear. You can add more nuts if you wish. Adding more ghee is also optional. Keep water for boiling, Use of food colour is optional. (better not to use any artificial colour). Good and natural turmeric powder should be used.( very little or it might give bitter taste). Adding more sugar is also optional.
Time : 20 minutes (All together)
Serves : 5 to 6

Beet - Pomegranate Salad

Beet and Pomegranate salad is an easy munching dish, it can be a good snack too. It is very simple to prepare and quick too.
Eating pomegranate helps the blood to to refresh and get strengthen. Beet helps in many ways like increase of red blood cells, helping the anemic to get back to normal etc etc.

I have used fresh beet (raw) and some pomegranate and little chat masala. You can add your own choice of fruits or vegetables and make it more creative.
Lets see some benefits of eating Pomegranate fruits in our diet.
Pomegranate fruit is one of the most nutritious rich fruit. The fruit contain moderate amount of calories and no cholesterol or saturated fat. It is very good source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and it helps in the easy digestion. It also helps people who suffer from constipation and bowel movements. Eating pomegranate helps in boosting immunity. It has antioxidant properties and Vitamin C in it. It is also good source Vital B complex groups of vitamins and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium and manganese.
Beetroot, tomatoes, pomegranate are red in colour. It is because of a red pigment in them, called Lycorpene. It gives red colour to the vegetables and it is rich source of antioxidant properties and it takes care of the healthy heart.
As I said earlier this is an easy, simply simple, quick and yummy salad or kosumbari as we say. I have not added any oil to it. You can eat this salad as it is or roll it inside chapatis or just munch it as snack.
Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed :

Pomegranate : 1
Beetroot : 1
Chat Masala : 1/4 Teaspoon
Coconut : Fresh and grated: 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of beetroot and grate it.

2. Wash and cut the pomegranate in to halves and collects the seeds from pomegranate and keep it aside.
3. Grate some coconut and keep it aside.

4. Now take a serving bowl, add grated beetroot, pomegranate seeds, chat masala and mix it well.

5. Add grated coconut, mix it well and serve this salald or kosumbari with rice items, chapatis or rotis as one of the side dish. (salad dish).

You can also fill or spread this Pomegranate Salad in the chapati and have Pomegranate Salad Rolls.

Note : 

I have used only beetroot and pomegranate. You can add grated carrots, capsicum etc etc (according to your wish). You can use onions but it does not go well with this salad. You can also add a spoon of olive oil. (I have not added). You can also use honey instead of chat masala and make it sweet salad. Use of coconut is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Servings : 2 to  3.