Coconut Ladoo

Diwali..the festival of light is coming....this is my first sweet for this up coming Diwali... This sweet is dedicated to my friend Thara .

I made this for my daughter and for her kindergarten friends....:)


Grated coconut fakes - 2 cups
Sweetened condensed milk -1 can
Cardamon powder- 1tbsp
Ghee- 2 tbsp.
Nuts/raisin - 1tbsp

Fry coconut flakes in pan for medium heat for 2 minutes.Add cardamon powder and condensed milk and stir it for 3 minutes.Then it will leaves the edges of pan and come out together.Add ghee ,nut and raisin.Mix it well.Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.Once it is cooled you can take a small quantity and roll it like ladoo..

Baked beans

Finely chopped large onion-1
Beans-1 can (Anasazi Beans,Black beans,Cranberry and borlotti beans,Pink beans,Pinto or mottled beans,
Red or kidney beans,Shell beans,White beans,Yellow beans)
If you are not using canned one then  place beans in a large pot and cover with 2 inches of water. Soak overnight and drain. Alternatively, bring a pot with the beans covered with 2 inches of water to a boil, remove from heat and let soak for a hour, then drain.

Tomato ketchup -3 tbsp
Barbecue sauce -2tbsp
Mustard sauce-2tbsp
Brown sugar -2 tbsp
vinegar -1 tsp
salt -1tsp

Saute Onion in a pan until brown.Mix all ingredients in a casserole dish.Just cover and bake for aprroximately 40minute. If you are puting in microwave, then keep it for 15-20 minute in medium heat.Serve it with bread toast or with scrambled egg.

Ellunda(Sesame Balls )

This recipe is dedicate to grand parents.My mothers Place is in a small village called Muthukulam ,small backwater village in Central Kerala.Muthukulam is blessed with so many legends.The Malayalam film artist  Shri Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai and late film director Padma Rajan were born in Muthukulam. The noted mural artist Suresh muthukulam is born in muthukulam. Important Congress Leader and Freedom fighter late .Mr. Ambazhavelil Velayudhan Pillai, Drama Artist. Akabar Shankarapillai of Srivilasm were also born in Muthuklulam. So many political leaders like. Mr. Murali(CPM), Mr. Babu Prasad and the Poetress, Muthukulam PARVATHI AMMA, Born in Muthuklulam.

Long back we had sesame seeds cultivation in my Mother's house.Because of that Sesame Balls are one of our ingredient in Onam Vishu and all..Reminiscences of my childhood days automatically come to my mind whenever I ate sesame balls.


sesame – 250 gms
jaggery –125 gms
powdered Cardamom  – 1 tsp



Soak sesame in water and roast.Melt jaggery in a pan along with a little water.Add roasted sesame along with powdered cardamom to the melted jiggery and mix well. When it cools a little, make it into small balls.

Gopi Palak

Sliced Onion - 1 
Chopped garlic - 2 cloves,
Grated ginger - 1/2 tsp
bay leaf - 1
cloves - 2
cinnamon - 1/2 inch
Finely chopped tomato - 1 
green chilies - 1 or 2
spinach - 3 bunches , chopped
garam masala - pinch
coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
red chili powder - 1/4 tsp
Cauliflower - 1/2 cut into small pieces
Pepper- 1tsp
Corn flour-1tbsp
Oil 
salt to taste

Marinate Cauliflower with salt, pepper ,turmeric pwd and corn flour.Keep it for 30 minutes.Then Deep fry the cauliflower.Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan. Add cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf. Add onion and saute till pink.Add fried cauliflower, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt and saute.  Cook it  for 2 minutes.Add tomatoes, green chilies and spinach and cook till spinach is done. Add some more salt to taste. Keep frying on high heat till oil starts to separate and all the water has evaporated.

Same recipe can be used for Aloo Palak and for Palak chicken.Instead of Cauliflower use Potatoes for Aloo Palak and chicken for Palak chicken.You can even put marinated cauliflower with out deep frying.

Fried Bananas Thai style

Peeled and sliced Bananas  - 3
Rice flour - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Baking Powder - 1/4 tsp
Toasted White Sesame Seeds - 1 tbsp
Shredded Coconut - 1/3 cup
Cold water - 1/2 cup
Oil for frying

In a large bowl, combine the rice flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, sesame seeds and shredded coconut.  Pour in water and whisk thoroughly to prepare the batter. If you find the batter is too thin, then add 1-2 tablespoon rice flour. Heat up oil in a hot skillet  over medium high. Reduce heat to warm and place the batter coated banana slices into the oil, one by one. Fry the bananas  until nicely golden brown on both sides. 
Enjoy the snack with a cup of coffee.


Even we can use the same batter for frying sweet potatoes.

Omelette

Egg: 3
Finely chopped Onion,Red Pepper,Mushroom, Broccoli,Tomato-1 cup 
Green chilly:2
Smashed  Potato :1
Pepper and salt: for taste.

Heat cooking oil in a non-stick frying pan.Beat the eggs, add salt and pepper and smashed potatoes and mix well. Add finely chopped ingredients and mix it well. Pour batter into hot skillet and make the omelet until done, remove from heat. Serve warm with fried potatoes or with toasted bread.