Anjeer Barfi/ Fig Barfi

First of all let me apologise for the bad picture. I wanted to take a better picture. But we gobbled it as soon as it was ready. We also had our friends come over so I had to give them a piece of Barfi. It is one of the simplest recipe.

Ingredients :
Figs : 8 to 9
Khoa : 1/2 cup
Slivered Almonds : To garnish
Ghee : 1tsp

Procedure :
1. Soak the figs for 7 to 8 hours till the figs swell up.
2. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. Keep the khoa outside at room temperature.
3. Grate the khoa and add the 1/2 cup grated khoa to the melted ghee.
4. Puree the soaked figs in a mixer  and add them to the softening khoa.
5. Cook till the ghee leaves the side of the pan.
6. Spread it on a greased plate and garnish with slivered almonds; cut them into tiny pieces.

Cantaloupe and Cranberry Popsicle

Cantaloupes are in season. And I never knew what to make out of them. Other than the milkshake. Then I found there are so many things you can cook out of cantaloupe.

Ingredients :
Cantaloupe : 2 cups
Milk : 1 cup
Cranberry : 1/4 cup
Almond : 2 tbsp
Agave Nectar : according to taste

Procedure :
1. Soak the almonds in hot water for half an hour so that they become soft and easy to grind.
2. In a blender grind the cantaloupe, almonds and milk (you can avoid the milk completely if you are a vegan) and add the required amount of agave nectar.
3. Now fold in the dried cranberries with the cantaloupe paste.
4. Now add them into the popsicle moulds and freeze for 4 to hour hours.

Custard Halwa

On the occasion of Guru Poornima I made Custard Halwa. An instant dessert that can be made easily. And the jelly like consistency was yummy.

Ingredients :
Milk : 2 cups
Sugar : 3/4 cup
Cardamom : 1
Custard Powder : 5 tbsp
Water : 1/2 cup
Ghee : 1 tsp and for greasing the Mould
Cashew : 2 tbsp (Crushed into small pieces )
Almond and Pistachio's : for garnishing

Procedure :
1. In a deep bottomed pan boil the milk with sugar, crushed cardamom pods and crushed cashew pieces.
2. Meanwhile mix the custard powder with water.
3. Once the milk comes to a boil add the custard powder mixture and ghee.
4. Cook on a low flame till you get the consistency of halwa. The ghee starts leaving the sides.
5. And pour the mixture on a greased thali. Garnish with pistachio and almond slivers. Once it cools down cut in into small squares.

P.S : You can use any custard powder. I used strawberry flavoured ones.

Mango Barfi

Well summer time is my favorite, not for the like of the weather but for the like of Mangoes. One of my favorite. I recently found yummy Mangoes in Fry's store. 3 mangoes for $1. And I was not sure how they would taste. So I bought 6 of them. And later I went on to regret why I didn't buy more of them. Well I came across this yummy recipe in one other food blog.

Ingredients :

Khoa/ Mawa : 3/4 cup (Softened and grated)
Sugar : 1/2 cup (According to the sweetness of mango)
Mango Pulp : 1/2 cup (Or from one large mango)
Saffron : A pinch
Milk : 1 tbsp
Ghee : 1 tsp
Cardamom : 1 (Crushed)


Procedure :
1. Keep the mawa/khoa at out of refrigerator to bring it to room temperature.
2. Heat a pan add ghee and add the crumbled khoa/mawa.
3. Add the pureed mango and mix well with khoa/mawa and cook it well.
4. Add a pinch of saffron in warm milk and add it to the khoa mixture and cook till it starts releasing ghee from the sides.
5. Add the cardamom pods (I skipped this step).
6. Pour it in molds and refrigerate for some time.

No bake Choco Coconut Roll

One of the easiest and non fussy dessert to make.

Ingredients :

For the outer Layer :
Marie Biscuit : 20
Cocoa Powder : 2 tbsp
Sugar : 2 tbsp
Milk : for making into dough

For inner layer :
Shredded Coconut : 5 tbsp
Vanilla Essence : 1/2 tsp
Butter : 1 tbsp
Sugar : 2 tbsp

Procedure :
1. Mix all the ingredients under outer layer and make it into a dough. ( should be of biscotti dough)
2. Then roll it flat using a pin (Grease the bottom layer so that it doesn't stick to the surface in which we are rolling it.
3. Now mix all the inner ingredients and spread it on the rolled dough.
4. Slowly roll the outer layer tightly in a aluminum foil.
5. Refridgerate the roll and cut into small coins.

Fruit Salad with Condensed Milk

Milkmaid is a kind of condensed milk which you get in India. You just have to chop the fruits and add the condensed milk over it.

Ingredients:
Fruits : Apple, Banana, Grapes, Mango, Pomegranate and any other fruits you prefer
Dry Fruits: Almond, Cashew, Dried Grapes, Pistachios

Procedure:
1. In a bowl add the chopped fruits and dry fruits.
2. Add the condensed milk over it and mix well.
3. In case the condensed milk is too thick you can add milk to bring it to the consistency of your choice.

Note: Make sure that the quantity of fruits does not exceed that of the milk.