7 Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes- 2014

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7 Easy sweets recipes for Diwali - Click on the below pictures for the recipes

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Rava Laddu

Kaju Katli

Carrot Halwa / Gajar Halwa

Kerala Boli /Poli

Milk Peda /Paal Peda

Oat and Date Laddu

Besan Laddu

Milk Peda | Paal Peda | Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes

Milk Peda

Milk Peda using milk powder and condensed milk-quick and easy diwali sweets recipe.
Recipe source:Jeyashri's Kitchen,you can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 to 10 minutes
Makes: 30 to 35 pedas
Ingredients:

1. Milk Powder- 2 Cups
2. Condensed Milk - 1 Can ( 400 gms)
3. Saffron - 1 Pinch
4. Ghee / butter - 2.5 Tbsp

Instructions:

In a pan combine together milk powder,condensed milk,saffron and ghee.Mix well until combined,to form a thick paste.( Add 1 tbsp milk,if it is too thick.)

Cook over medium-low flame for 8 to 10 minutes or until it starts to leave the sides of the pan,and form a soft ball.Transfer to a large bowl and allow it to cool slightly.

Take 1.5 to 2 tbsp of the mixture and roll it into a  ball.Use the bottom of a patterned glass to stamp a design on the peda,if desired.Brush the bottom of the glass with ghee or butter to avoid sticking.

Place the peda on the bottom of the glass and gently press to flatten it .Carefully transfer it onto a serving tray.Repeat with the remaining peda mixture.

OR ,Transfer the mixture onto a greased surface and roll it to a thickness of 3/4".

Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter.Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for upto a week.

NOTES

• Do not over cook the peda mixture,if you do so it may turn hard / chewy.
  

7 Delicious Payasam Recipes for Onam Sadhya

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7 Payasam recipes for Onam - Click on the below pictures for the recipes

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Palada Payasam

Ada Pradhaman

Pineapple Payasam

Neipayasam

Semiya Payasam

Pal payasam

Healthy No-cook coconut milk payasam

Mysore Pak | Step by Step Recipe | Indian Sweets Recipes

Mysore Pak

Popular South India sweet usually made during festivals.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20  minutes
Makes: 12 to 16 pieces
Ingredients:

1. Besan / Chickpea  flour / Kadalamavu - 1 cup
2. Ghee - 1 cup
3. Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
4. Sugar - 1 cup
5. Water- 1/2 cup

Instructions:

Grease a tray ( i used 5" x 5" cake tin)with ghee and keep aside.Sift the besan flour through a fine sieve to remove any lumps.Keep aside.

In a pan heat ghee and oil together until it is smoking hot.Reduce the flame to low and let it heat.

In another pan  add sugar and water.Mix well until combined.

Cook this sugar mixture over medium low flame until it reaches single thread consistency.To check this , take a drop of sugar syrup between your thumb and index finger and pull gently ,if a single thread is be formed the sugar syrup is ready.( Note: the sugar syrup will be very hot.)

Once the sugar syrup is ready,add the sifted besan flour in batches and mix well until combined.Cook over medium heat for about  1 minute, stirring continuously.( Note:From now on ,till the final step you will have to stir this mixture continuously.)Now increase the heat of ghee- oil mixture to medium high.

Add a ladle full of hot ghee-oil mixture to this.Now the besan mixture will turn frothy.Keep stirring continuously until the ghee-oil mixture is completely absorbed and  it turns smooth again.

Again add a ladle full of hot ghee-oil mixture and mix well until it is completely absorbed and the besan mixture turns smooth again. Similarly continue adding the hot ghee-oil mixture in batches until all of it is used up.

Cook this ,stirring continuously until it starts to leave the sides of the pan easily.Soon this mixture will turn frothy and porous.

When the mixture turns frothy and porous switch off the stove and immediately transfer this into the greased tray.Gently level the surface using a greased knife or spoon.

Let it cool for about 10 minutes and then cut into desired shapes.Allow this to cool completely before removing from the tray.

NOTES

• Single thread consistency of the sugar syrup is very important to obtain the perfect texture.
• In the final step,make sure the besan mixture is frothy and porous while transferring it into the tray.If you transfer the mixture before this stage, mysore pak will turn out soft and will have a raw taste.If you over cook the mixture ,it will crumble easy and you will not be able to cut it into squares .You may have to use a spoon to eat it, but  it will taste great for sure!!!
• The top and the bottom surface of the mysore pak will cool easily ,while the middle portion remains hot for quite some time.Therefore the center portion gets cooked further and gets a slightly dark colour.
• Check this video for detailed procedure.
  
  

Carrot Halwa | Gajar Halwa | Indian Sweet Recipes

Carrot Halwa

Popular Indian sweet/pudding made using grated carrots and milk.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 5 to 6
Ingredients:

1. Ghee - 3 to 4 tbsp
2. Grated carrots - 4 cups( 4 to 5 large carrots)
3. Milk- 4 cups
4. Sugar - 3/4 cup( or to taste)
5. Cardamom powder- 1/4 tsp
6. Cashew nuts- 15 to 18
7. Ghee- to fry cashew nuts

Instructions:

Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan .

Add grated carrots and saute for 5 to 7 minutes.Next add milk and bring it to a boil.

Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes over low flame ,stirring well in between.Cook until the carrots are soft and the milk is evaporated.

Now add sugar and mix well.Cook until it turns thick for about 3 to 4 minutes,stirring well in between.Fry cashew nuts in ghee until it turns golden brown and add it to the halwa.Mix well and serve warm or chilled. and serve.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of sugar according to your taste.
• You can also add one pinch saffron along with the milk for better flavor.
• I actually scaled down the recipe to 1/2,as you can see in the pics.
  

Kaju Katli | Kaju Barfi | Indian Sweet Recipes

Kaju Katli

Kaju Katli- Poular Indian sweet made using cashew nuts.(Gluten Free cashew nut fudge)-
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Recipe source: Vegrecipesofindia, you can find the original recipe here.
Ingredients:

1. Cashew nuts - 1 Cup( at room temperature)
2. Sugar - 1/2 Cup
3. Water - 5 tbsp
4. Ghee - 1 tbsp( for vegan version use coconut oil)
5. Saffron - 1 small pinch( or use 1 tsp rose petals)-this is optional

Instructions:

Grind cashew nuts to form a fine powder.( Be careful not to grind it too much,or you will end up with cashew nut butter).keep aside.

In a heavy bottomed pan,combine together sugar and water.Cook over low flame until sugar is completely dissolved.

Now add cashew nut powder and mix well.Cook over low flame,stirring continuously.

Cook the cashew nut mixture for about 7 to 9 minutes ,till the whole mixture comes together and turns more like a soft dough.Transfer the cashew nut mixture onto a plate.

Add ghee and  saffron /rose petals ( if using).When the heat of the mixture is fine to handle,knead the mixture lightly.( if the mixture is dry,you can add 1 or 2 tsp of milk).

Place the warm dough on a parchment paper or a greased plate. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top .Using a rolling pin,roll the dough to a thickness of  3 to 5 mm.

Cut into diamonds using a sharp knife.Allow it to cool completely.Store in an airtight container.

.NOTES

• Sieve the cashew nut powder to remove tiny bits ,if desired.