GO NUTS!! - Baked Spicy Masala Nuts

Fall season has started and it's getting very cold each day, when you are at home or at office, you start to crave for hot, spicy and tangy things to munch on or during your T time. This is making me eat more too, so I wanted something both at home and at office that would help my cravings in a healthier way, instead of junking on chips and other stuff.

So I decided keep a small box of mixed nuts, but my problem is that I can eat almonds, cashews and peanuts plain, but not walnust or pistachios or macademia nut or any other nuts. So I came up with this idea to make my own spicy masala to it, so that I can snack on but keep it spicy. I should say at times, it keeps me awake during the afternoon hours at office.

I should definitely say this keeps me absolutely out of eating junk/fatty foods, fills up my tummy so fast and keeps me awake and healthy. :)

Method:
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1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add nuts and oil and mix well.
3. In another bowl add all the spice powders and salt and mix well.

4. Add the spice powders to the mixed nuts and mix once well.
5. Now sprinkle water little at once and keep mixing with a wooden spoon until all the spices coat the nuts well.
6. Take a Baking sheet and spray with little oil and arrange these nuts evenly and bake it around 20 - 25 mins or until the nuts turn slightly golden.

(Keep in mind that you need to turn the nuts once in a while gently, else all the masala with be seperated from the nuts)

7. After they are baked off the oven and allow it to cool and serve it warm or store it in a air tight container and enjoy them anytime guilt free.

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How to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

Here are some simple and basic tips for you:

1. Turn your furnace on now to make sure it is working. Better to know now if you need service.

2. Think about having your furnace professionally serviced prior to winter. Your furnace will operate more efficiently, saving you money.

3. Inspect your filter. The filter should be free of dust and debris. If the filter is dirty, replace it. Bring your old filter to the store so you purchase the right sized filter.


Here is a short video with more information: Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

Rasamalai / RasMalai

I prepared rasamalai for last Diwali potluck party and it tasted wonderful. but all them became hard after sometime as I made a small mistake while kneading and rolling the rasagullas. So when I prepared this time, I was taking extra care while kneading the chenna. As a result, all my rasamalais turned out good. Since we like rasamalai a lot, most of the time I prepare it instead of rasagullas.



Basic Information:

Preparation and Cooking Time: 45-1 hour

Makes: 10 rasamalais

Ingredients:



Rasagullas - 10 nos (Click to see how to prepare rasagullas)

Milk - 1 litre

Sugar Syrup from ragullas - 1 cup or 1/2 cup sugar

Cardamom powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Nuts(Cashew nuts, Almonds, Pistachios) - 3 tables spoons, roughly chopped

Saffron - 1 big pinch

Method:



1) Prepare rasagullas first. Save 1 cups of sugar syrup after preparing the rasagullas. Bring the rasagullas to room temperature. Slightly press it to form like a patties. You can even use rasagullas without pressing it. Keep aside.

 

2) Boil milk in a thick bottom pan.

3) Soak saffron in 2 tablespoons of warm milk.

4) Add sugar syrup from rasagullas to the boiling milk(Or add sugar) and continue boiling till the milk reduces in its quantity and became thick. It took 40-45 minutes for me to reduce.

 

5) Add the saffron to the reduced milk.

 

6) Add rasagulla patties to it.

7) Add cardamom powder followed by nuts.

 

8) Cook for 5-10 minutes in very low flame.

9) Turn the flame off and cool to room temperature and then refrigerate it.

10) Serve chill.

Note:

1) Take rasagullas from sugar syrup only when the milk is reduced to half. Slightly press it to form patties and squeeze out the excess water just before adding. This helps to get soft and spongy rasamalais.

2) Instead of a cup of  sugar syrup, you can directly add 1/2 cup of sugar to the milk.