Walnut Halwa - Old Recipe Revisited

This Recipe is one of the oldest recipes in my blog. When i posted it for the first time, i didn't take any picture of it, i just posted only the recipe. Made this again after a very long time for my DH Birthday. We had a Halwa-Cutting Ceremony, instead of the traditional cake-cutting!!! :) 

I was planning to post it by last week But, Navrathri Celebrations and the Pooja, i really couldn't find time to sit and do a post.  Lets move on to the recipe of Walnut Halwa,  an Healthy Combination of Vegetable and Nuts.

Ingredients
2 Cups Walnut - (Soak in warm water and remove the skin) 
2 cups  Grated carrot 
1 Cup Milk 
11/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Ghee
5-8 pods Cardamom Crushed
Nuts For Garnishing

Method

• Grind Walnuts and Carrot adding little milk. 
• Heat a heavy bottomed pan add walnut-carrot paste, the remaining milk, sugar and ghee. Keep the flame low and Stir occasionally. 

• When ghee start leaving the sides add cardamom and mix well. Take it off the flame and garnish with nuts.
• I used two small Silicon Heart-Shape Moulds for shaping the halwa.  Before pouring them to the mould, i scattered some roasted almond flakes in the mould and spread the halwa on top. 

Sending this Healthy Dessert to

•   Only Sweets and Desserts happening @ Gayathri's CookSpot, an Event by Pari of Foodelicious
•  Diwali Special, Sweets and Savories, Happening @ Tickling Palates
• Celebrate Sweets - Fruits and Veggies, Happening @ Raks Kitchen, an Event by Nivedita
• 100 Yummy Diwali Sweet Recipes, Happening @ Indus Ladies, They are actually releasing an E-book will all these recipes, so do send in your Yummy treats there.

Brazilian Coffee Cookies

I am not a regular coffee-drinker, but would not say no to a cup of joe on busy and cranky days. It is my pick me up. But I love coffee flavored bakes very much. The wonderful aroma of coffee which fills the whole kitchen when baking reminds me of the smell of the filter coffee brewed at home. I baked these Brazilian Coffee Cookies from Sailu's space before a couple of weeks for my friends. 

VIJAYADASHAMI PRASAADAM - Kesaribaath - Saffron Semolina Pudding

KESARI BAATH

                                                  


VIJAYADASHAMI - It is the day to celebrate the victory of virtue over vice, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness. It is the day when Goddess Chaamundeswari annihilated the buffalo headed demon Mahishaasura - the dark lord who symbolised evil might and ignorance. By slaying him after waging a war against him for nine days Mother Goddess Chamundeswri restored peace and happiness among  the terrorised mortals.
Vijayadashami - the victorious tenth day of Navaraatri / Dasara is an auspicious day to begin new endeavours and to start Vidyaabhyaasam ( initiation ceremony for learning ) for children.
Though sweet shops are abuzz with roaring business on this day,  preparing a special sweet at home as an offering to the Goddess is a most fulfilling experience.
Kesari baath is a traditional sweet dish of Karnataka which is very quick and easy to make. It is served with the morning breakfast or with the evening tea and snack. As far as the children are concerned it is an all time sweet. Kesari baath the all time favourite is an appropriate prasaadam for Vijayadashami as well.



                                                 
.
     THANKS TO AKKI AND D2 FOR THE BEAUTIFUL KOLU AND THE LOVELY CLICKS


                                                  

OTHER THAN CLAY, DASARA GOMBES ( DOLLS ) ARE MADE OUT OF VARIOUS OTHER MATERIALS LIKE METAL,WOOD, PLASTER OF PARIS, PORCELAIN AND PAPIER MACHE. THE DOLLS ABOVE ARE MADE OF PAPIER MACHE.

INGREDIENTS

Semolina - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Ghee - 6 tbsps
Cashew nuts - 2 tbsps
Raisins - 2 tbsps
Saffron strands - 1 pinch
Edible saffron colour - 1 /2 pinch
Powdered Cardamom and edible camphor - 1 pinch

METHOD

1.Soak saffron strands in little warm water and keep aside.
2. Heat two tbsps of ghee and fry the cashew nuts and raisins and remove with a slotted spoon and keep aside.
3.Decrease flame and fry the semolina in the same ghee till it emanates a pleasant aroma.
4.At the same time boil three cups of water in a saucepan on the second burner of the stove.
5. Dissolve the saffron colour in the boiling water and pour it gently into the semolina.
6. Stir well until the semolina is cooked well on low flame.
7. Add sugar, blend well and keep cooking till the kesari baath thickens.
8. Add the soaked saffron strands and the remaining 4 tbsps of ghee and cook till the sweet comes together and leaves the sides of the pan. Adding more ghee gives it a great texture.
9. Mix in the cardamom powder and garnish with the fried raisins and cashew nuts.



                                                 

Offer the flavoursome Kesari Baath to Mother Goddess to celebrate Her victory, and share it with the near and dear ones.

WISH YOU ALL SUCCESS ON THE HAPPY VIJAYADASHAMI DAY.