Black Sesame Ladoos

Navratri - the nine sacred nights is one of the most celebrated festivals of India. This begins from the first day (Pradhamai) after Amavasya (New Moon Day) in the month of Purattasi as it is known in Tamil. This nine days festival is essentially celebrated to worship Devi and to commemorate the victory of good over evil.
Bommai Kolu is traditionally a women's festival that Tamilians celebrate during Dasshera. Every year, a series of steps is set up and kolu bommai or dolls are displayed. These dolls typically depict gods or village scenes and weddings, anything that interest u. This beautiful clay figurines of gods and goddesses are worshipped during Navaratri, viewing art as Divinity.

A kolu can be as simple or as elaborate as one likes. The woman of the house invites other women to come inspect the kolu, eat a few snacks, exchange a little gossip and go home with a couple of small goodies.
Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.
Ellu urundai is also one of Neivethiyam to be done during Kolu. Black Sesame Seeds with Jaggery syrup.
I was going thru DK's, Got this recipe Nugul Untallu - Black Sesame Ladoos (this way its easy  to pronounce, :) ).

Black sesame seeds are an extremely good source of calcium; studies have shown that one gram of seeds contains approximately 85 milligrams of calcium. Black sesame seeds also have high amounts of protein, phosphorous, iron and magnesium.

Here goes the recipe

Ingredients
75gms of Black Sesame Seed
5 tbsp jaggery
a pinch of salt (only addition, i made for that sweet-salt taste)

Method
Wash Sesame seeds and sun dry them. Dry Roast and Grind them to a fine powder along with jaggery.
Transfer the mixture to a plate and shape them into ladoos.
chutki mein ho gaya!!!!

Peanut Butter Frosting

My Hubby's Birthday was on Sep 19. Baking a cake is a bit easy now, Thanks to DK for the Eggless Chocolate Cake recipe.
I wanted to try my hand in Frosting. Searching the Net for some easy frosting recipes.
Got this recipe from cooksrecipes.com. It Came out well

Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup Peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
About 2 tablespoons milk
 
Method
 
With an electric mixer at low speed, mix the powdered sugar and peanut butter together. Once combined, add vanilla and milk. Increase speed of mixer to medium and beat for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth and of spreading consistency.
 
 

For Crumb Coating and Frosting a Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQgSatRiEHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gJZ75ahfs8

Navaratri Day 1 ~ Neipayasam & Vella Avil

I make  payasam for nivedhyam, after the pooja in the morning, during Navarathri. Sundals are for evening. So it is two prasadom at home for the nine days. This time I decided to make different payasams on all the nine days. Else it used to be vella payasam ( jaggery and rice payasam) on most of the days.

Day ~1
Neipayasam  & Vella Avil

I have already posted the recipe for Neipayasam .

Vella Avil  ~  Beaten rice flakes cooked in jaggery syrup

Avil/Beaten rice flakes - 2 cups


Powdered jaggery - 1 1/2 cup

Water -1/2 cup

Ghee - 2 tablespoon

Fresh grated coconut - 3 tblspn

Powdered cardamom/elaichi - 1 tspn

Thick variety of avil is usually used for making.. If you can get the matta/brown avil , all the more better. Wash and soak in enough water for 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze the water out of the avil. Leave it on the colander for 5 minutes.

Melt jaggery in 1/2 cup water. Strain to remove impurities if any. Heat the syrup to one thread conistency. check the consistency by dropping little syrup in a tablespoon of water. You should be able to roll it into a smooth ball. Stir in the soaked avil. Gently mix. Continue cooking till all the moisture dries up. Add ghee, grated coconut and cardamom and mix well. It might look sticky and goeey. When it comes to room temperature, avil will look separate and firm.