Pooshanikkai Halwa - Ash Gourd Fondant

POOSHANIKKAI HALWA TO CELEBRATE

VARUSHA PIRAPPU ( Tamil New Year's Day) 

 Here is an additional sweet which can be prepared along with the customary menu to celebrate Varusha Pirappu. 
Wish you a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.



 INGREDIENTS

Grated ash gourd - 2 cups
Milk - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 3/4 cups
Ghee - 2 tbsps
Cardamom - 2 ( Powdered with a small flake of edible camphor)
Almonds and raisins -  for garnishing

METHOD 

1. Remove the peel of the ash gourd piece . 

2. Grate the vegetable and squeeze out all the water.



3. Boil milk and water in a heavy bottomed pan and add the squeezed out gourd gratings.
4. Cook till the gratings are half done and almost dry.
5. Add sugar and cook till the sugar syrup becomes sticky.



6.When the halwa comes together and acquires the colour of honey, add the powdered cardamom and edible camphor, stir in one tbsp of ghee and remove from flame.
7. Blanch almonds, remove the skin and chop into thin slivers.
8. Fry almond slivers and raisins in the remaining ghee and pour over the Pooshanikkai Halwa.



Enjoy the warm Pooshanikkai Halwa with family and friends on the happy occasion.

Spinach,Green Beans and Red Lentil Saute

Sometimes I try to make a dish where I try to combine 2 or 3 vegetables or greens to make it healthier. This time  I tried all the different combinations and it turned out good. It's always healthier to include greens in our food at least few times a week.

Ingredients:
-------------
1/4 cup Red Lentils
1 pkg Frozen Spinach or fresh
1 pkg French Cut Beans frozen
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
2-3 Garlic pods peeled and chopped
1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Olive Oil

Method:
----------
1. In a pan add oil, when it's hot enough add the garlic, lentils, and beans frozen, so that u don't need to add more water for the lentils to cook.
2. Cover and cook until the lentils and the beans are almost cooked for about 10 mins.
3. Now add the spinach and nutmeg powder and again cover n cook for abot 2-3 mins.
4. Now add salt and red pepper flakes and stir it again.
5. Serve this as a side dish or with roti or just eat it like that.

You Might Also Like:

	Healthy Lentil/Dal Vada with Collard Greens, Urad and Moong Dal
	Red Swiss Chard and Lentils
	Baked Kale Chips

Orange and Peanut Salad

Chennaites are going through a punishing weather these days. I am drinking gallons of water and juice to beat the heat :) Sometimes I also include fruit salads to this list.



What about a salad which is a bit spicy and crunchy? Would be an amazing combination right? I loved it completely when I prepared it for first time. Give it a try and I am sure you'll like it.



Basic Information:


Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:



Oranges - 2 nos, skin and seeds removed, sliced

Unsalted peanuts - 1/3 cup, roasted and skin removed

Onion - 1/4 cup, chopped

Lemon juice - 1 teaspoon

Olive oil - 1 tablespoon

Cumin seeds - 1/4 teaspoon, crushed

Dry red chilli - 2 nos, crushed

Red chilli powder - 1/4 teaspoon

Coriander leaves - 3 strings, finely chopped

Salt - A small pinch (optional)



Method:



1) Mix, oranges slices, peanuts and onion in a mixing bowl or wide plate or whichever is convenient to you.

2) Add lemon juice, olive oil, cumin seeds, dry red chilli, red chilli powder and toss well. Make sure all the ingredients are mixed well.

3) Sprinkle coriander leaves and serve this dish.