Chocolate Cardamom Sandesh ... A Sweet Chocolate message



Autumn has started officially last week and its all colorful again all around...its like its second spring with so many shades of orange....roads and parks have started to cover with leaves...so beautiful.. In indian tradition to start any new thing we start with a sweet thing...so to kick start this season today recipe best match and it called "Sandesh".
Sandesh is a popular bengali dessert which is made with milk. Sandesh in english means message, so its called sweet message when you send a sweet along with any good news. Most of the bengali sweet desserts are made with milk solids called chenna/paneer, few to state are Rasgolla, Rasmalai.....these recipes made with chenna are so yum that you can't stop having one. Try out this chenna based dessert which is easy to do...but few steps to follow and keep in mind.
Presenting this recipe to the #foodiemonday #bloghop under #indiancuisine

Level: Easy
Total time: 50 min
Serves: 2-3

Ingredients
Milk: 1 liter
Cardamom powder: 1/4 teaspoon
Lemon juice: 2 tablespoon
Powder Sugar: 1/2 cup
Cocoa powder: 1 tablespoon

Directions
Bring milk to boil and let it cool for 5 mins.
Turn on the heat and add lemon juice to the milk and keep stirring. After 5 -7 mins milk solids and whey(water) gets separated. 
When it completely milks solids(chenna) and whey separates then drain the whey  using colander/sieve with muslin cloth on it. Run this under the cold water  to remove the lemony taste. 
Tie the corners of the muslin cloth and squeeze out the excess water or hang for 30mins.
Transfer milk solids(chenna) in a large bowl and start kneading it for 5 mins until smooth.
Add sugar,cardamom and mix well until well combined.
Transfer the mixture in heavy bottom pan and keep stirring and fry it for 5 mins on low flame until the mixture is little dry and still moist.
Turn off the flame and let mixture cools for 5 mins and divide it two parts. Add cocoa powder to one part and knead it till well combined. Even knead other part for a minute.
Wrap a cling film  to a small box and layer it cocoa mixture and then plain mixture and refrigerate it and serve cool.

Tips
While frying the mixture, if the mixture dries out then add milk (1 or 2 tablespoons) make it a paste and carry on the rest of the steps.




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Jeera/Cumin Rice Recipe | Flavour Diary



Are you looking for quick flavored rice with no hassle cooking then this is one great option. Its easy and uses very few ingredients and flavors great.  This Jeera rice best goes with korma curries or chicken or mutton curries. Lets dig in the ingredients and the procedure to do.


Level: Easy
Cook time: 20 min
Serves: 2

Ingredients
Jeera/Cumin Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Rice: 1 cup
Oil: 2 tablespoons
Fresh Coriander: 1 tablespoon (chopped)
Green Chillies: 2 big (to taste)
Salt: 1 teaspoon (to taste)
Water: 1 1/2 cup

Directions
Wash and soak rice for 20 min. Drain the water.
In a pan add oil, add cumin seeds to hot oil. Allow cumin seeds to splatter (make sure not to burn) add cut green chillies and fry for 30 secs.
Add drained rice to the pan and mix well with cumin seeds and roast it for 5 mins.
Add Water and salt.When water starts boiling reduce the flame and cover the lid. 
Add chopped Coriander and mix and Cook on low for 10-15 mins until the rice is cooked.

Tips
You can add finely chopped  onion along with Jeera(cumin seeds) and green chillies and fry till soften.





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Spaghetti Nest with Cabbage Balls | Vegetarian recipe | Flavour Diary


Spaghetti Nest with Cabbage Balls recipe

Pasta and noodles are the best recipes for a change apart from regular Indian cooking. Spaghetti with meatballs are one of the best combination but for meatless day these cabbage ball are best substitute which are made the same way but ingredients goes in it. These cabbage balls have indian touch in it. 
Instead of serving in regular way i one step further and baked them in muffin tin so these look like nests once they are out.This is one more fun way for kids to have pasta and they get surprised when they start digging in.

You might be interested in other Cabbage Recipes
Kurkure Cabbage Pakora
Cabbage Carrot Kofta Curry
Vegetable Spring Roll

Level: Moderate
Total time: 1 hour
Makes: 12-15 nests 

Ingredients

Spaghetti: 200 gm
Pasta Sauce: 1 1/2 cup
Parmesan Cheese: 1 cup (for spreading)

For Cabbage Balls
Cabbage: 400gm
Ginger: 1/2 inch piece
Green Chilli: 2-3
Gram Flour (besan): 1 cup
Salt to taste


Directions

Prepare the spaghetti:
Boil the spaghetti according to the packet directions and keep it a side. Add 2-3 tablespoon of cheese and mix well.

Cabbage Balls:
Grate the cabbage and ginger and chop the green chillies. Mix all the ingredients and the mixture we get should be able to form ball. 
Fry the oil on medium heat and fry the cabbage balls in oil on medium heat until golden brown. Place it on kitchen towel, so that oil is absorbed.

Assemble:
Preheat the oven.
Spray oil to the muffin pan and place the spaghetti and place 1/2 tablespoon of pasta sauce and then place cabbage ball and then 1/2 tablespoon of pasta sauce again and sprinkle the grated cheese. Bake for 20-30 mins at 180c, until the cheese melts and becomes little brown and crispy.

Tips

You can add even other veggies like carrots,broccoli and so on.



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Random yummies
Badusha

Palak Lobia / Spinach and Black eye bean curry

Nutella Strawberry French Toast

Stuffed Dates

Lauki Puri


Ambada Gosht /Lamb curry



This recipe is ready for our #FoodieMonday #bloghop...


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Bread Butter Jam



Looking for a very simple snack or breakfast or wanted to do little mess with your kids in kitchen... then try out this yummy treat with bread. I know this needs no introduction....its a simple toasted bread with butter and jam. It has all the goodness of butter and jam. I go for this when i want to satisfy my taste buds with some sweet.  This dish can be done by under 5 year old kids with parents supervision.
Check out other kid friendly recipes here , and few of them are:
Mango Popsicle
Egg Mayo Sandwich
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Nutella Strawberry French Toast

Level: Easy 
Total time: 5 mins
Makes: 2 sandwiches 

Ingredients

Bread Slices : 4
Butter: 3-4 tablespoons 
Jam: 2-3 tablespoons

Directions

Toast the bread...apply butter on all slices one side and then apply jam on two slices on buttery side.
Then keep the other two butter sided slices on the jamed slices. Tada you are done...

Tips

You can go healthy by using whole wheat bread.



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Sweet Corn Halwa


Halwa's are very much famous sweet dish in India and many other parts of Asia and Africa. Any Halwa is mainly made of milk,butter and sugar combo.  In India we have lot of variations in halwa , few among them are Suji ka Halwa (Semolina Halwa), Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot Halwa), Moong Dal Halwa (made with lentils) and so on.... 
Todays post is a Sweet Corn Halwa which is variation from the regular halwa....this is a full fiber halwa which is creamy and soft....and you will be unstopable to eat one portion... Why me alone relish this dessert, so i am sending this to #bloghop #foodiemonday under #halwarecipes. 
Level: Easy 
Total time: 20-30 mins
Serves: 2-3
1cup = 250ml

Ingredients

Sweet Corn : 2 medium cobs
Milk: 1 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup (to taste)
Ghee/Butter: 3 tablespoon
Cardamom powder: 1 teaspoon
Chopped Dry fruits: 1/3 cup (optional)

Directions

Remove the seeds from the cobs and blend it (yields approx 1 cup) to paste. 
In a wide pan add 2 tablespoons of butter and add corn paste and fry until the raw smell disappears and the mixture comes together.
Add milk,dry fruits and sugar and cook (approx 5-10) until desired consistency on medium heat.
Add cardamom powder, 1 tablespoon of ghee to the mixture, mix and take off from heat.

Tips
You can make use of frozen or canned corn both works great.



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Colorful Egg Dosa | Dosa Recipe | Flavour Diary

Egg Dosa Recipe

Looking for a healthy after school snack which is colorful and exciting to have, then this is one good option and my personal favorite. The main ingredient is dosa batter to make pancake/dosa, which you can buy it from Indian grocery store or you can make it at home*.   This colorful pancake is quite filling snack even if you have 2 of it.You can even make these whenever you want a change from regular dosa for breakfast also.

Check out my other dosa recipes here.

*For making dosa batter at home take 1/4cup of urad dal and 3/4 cup of rice, wash and soak for 4 hours and drain water and add 1/3 cup of water and blend to fine paste. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for instant use or you can let it sit overnight for fermentation. Add 1 teaspoon of salt before use.

Level: Easy 
Cook time: 20 mins
Makes: 4 dosa
1cup = 250ml

Ingredients

Dosa Batter : 1 cup
Egg: 4
Mixed Vegetables: 1 cup (Red Bell Pepper,Spring Onion and Carrots)
Oil: 4 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Directions

Finely Chop up the vegetables.
Whisk one egg in a bowl.
Heat up the pan and pour 1/4th cup of Dosa batter, with help of the spoon spread the batter in circular motion and make big thin circle.
Pour egg on the pancake ,add pinch of salt and chopped vegetables. 
Sprinkle a teaspoon of oil and cover the lid and cook for 30 secs.
Serve hot with tomato sauce or chutney or pickles.

Tips
Always cook the pancake/dosa on medium flame.
Add your favorite veggies and make it more healthy.
You can whisk eggs and veggies together and pour  it on pancake but all your veggies will be coated with egg (personally i don't like).

You may like to try other kids Snack Recipes and here are few
Egg Puffs

Stuffed Dates

Cute Deviled Eggs

Apple Doughnuts - No bake No cook Healthy




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Mango Popsicle


Having healthy food on a daily basis would be fun if they are served in different shapes and forms...so here is one of the forms which kids and adults love to have at anytime....its Popsicle time.
Popsicle's are easiest thing to do with very less effort involved and is always hit if the ingredients are tasty. Today's post is Mango Popsicle ... 

I am happy to be part of  #foodiemonday #bloghop and this is my first entry  under kids Special Monday .... do check other blogger entries too using #foodiemonday hash tag..



Level: Easy 
Prep time: 5 mins
Serves: 4
1cup = 250ml

Ingredients

Mango Pulp: 1 cup
Milk: 1/3 cup
Sugar: 1/3 cup (to taste)
Lime juice: 1 teaspoon

Directions

Bring milk to boil and turn off the heat. 
Add Mango pulp, lime juice and sugar, mix until all gets in-cooperated and sugar dissolves.
Pour into Popsicle molds and freeze overnight or upto 6 hours.
Serve: Take the mold and run under hot water for few seconds and now squeeze and pull the popsicle.....and enjoy

Tips
You can use plastic cups and sticks instead of popsicle molds.



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Donda / Dondakaya/ Tindora Coconut Fry




Here is yet another Everyday Cooking recipe to share...This stir fry is one of the simplest side dish to serve along with plain boiled rice and rasam. This takes less than 30mins to prepare and easy to do. 


Level: Easy 
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 2-3
1cup = 250ml

Ingredients

Tindora/Donda: 250gm
Desiccated Coconut: 1/4 cup
Garlic Pods: 2
Mustard Seeds: 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder: 1/8 teaspoon
Red Chilli powder: 1 teaspoon
Chana Dal : 2 teaspoon
Oil: 3 tablespoon
Salt to taste


Directions

Chop tindora medium length wise. 
In a pan add oil, once its hot add mustard seeds (be careful it will splatter). Once mustard seeds start cracks, add cumin and then add chana dal, tindora, turmeric powder and salt.
Fry on medium flame for about 10-15 mins or until its almost cooked.

Add desiccated coconut and red chilli powder, fry for 1-2 mins and you are done with cooking. Serve with boiled rice.




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