250th post - Badam Halwa /Almond Halwa

This is my 250th Post...A Big Thanks to You All..I have made so many friends through Blogging.Without My Blog Friend's Support and encouragement the Blog would not have been a Success. 

THANK YOU

Ingredients

Almonds/Badam   : 1 cup
Sugar                   : 3/4 to 1 cup
Ghee                    : 1/4 cup
Milk                     : 1/4 cup
Saffron

Method

Soak almonds overnight.
Soak saffron in 1 tbsp milk.
Remove the outer skin of the almonds.
Grind almonds with milk to a very smooth paste.
In a heavy bottomed pan, add sugar and 1/4 cup water and let it boil.
Once it begins to boil,add pureed almonds and mix well.
Keep stirring the mixture on low flame.
As the mixture cooks,it will thicken.
At this stage add sugar and ghee and mix well.
Add soaked saffron.I don't add any colour. Saffron will give a nice colour .
Stir well until fully cooked  and the halwa leaves the sides of the pan.
Serve Hot .

Sending this to Sara's Dish in 30 minutes event  & Nupur's Celebrate Indian sweets event..

Maladu / Fried gram Balls/Pottukadalai Urundai

Ingredients

Powdered Fried Gram   : 1 cup
Powdered sugar            : 1 cup
Ghee                            : 3/ cup to 1 cup
Cardamom powder      : 1 tsp
Fried cashew nuts          : 2 tbsps

Method

Mix both the powders, cardamom powder and fried cashews.
Heat ghee on low flame.
Add the ghee to the powder mixture and take a small quantity from it and roll like a ball.
Repeat the above steps for the remaining mixture.
Store in a air tight container.

Khandvi

Ingredients   

Besan flour    : 1 cup
Yogurt           : 1 cup
Water            : 1 cup
Ginger + Green chilly paste   : 1 tsp
Mustard seeds       : 1 tsp
Sesame seeds        : 1 tbsp
Grated coconut      : 2 tbsps
Turmeric powder
Salt
Asafoetida
Oil
Coriander leaves 

Method

Grease the reverse side of a plate with little oil and keep aside. 
Mix besan, yogurt, water, ginger -green chilly paste, salt and turmeric powder well.
Cook this mixture on low flame stirring continuously till it becomes a smooth batter.
Quickly spread the mixture over the greased plates and let it cool.
When cool, cut into stripes and roll them tightly and arrange them in a plate.
Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan add mustard seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves ,Sesame seeds, when they splutter pour it  over the khandvi pieces. 
Garnish with grated coconut and coriander leaves.
Serve and Enjoy.

Eggless Dates & Walnut cake

Ingredients 

Maida /All Purpose flour   : 11/2 cups
Dates                               : 20 
Walnuts chopped             : 1/4 cup 
Raisins                            :  2 tbsps
Butter                             : 1/2 cup 
Condensed milk             : 1/2 cup 
Baking soda                  : 11/2 tsp 
Baking powder              : 1 tsp 
Water ( for soaking dates ) : 1/2 cup

Method

Preheat oven to 180 C
Soak dates in warm water for 1/2 an hour.
Sift the maida, baking powder and baking soda together for 3 times.
Grind dates to a smooth paste.
In a wide bowl and condensed milk,pureed dates, butter and mix together.
Add flour little at a time and keep mixing.
Make sure there is no lumps.
Fold in the walnuts as well.
Pour the batter into a greased Baking tin/ pan and bake for 40 minutes.
Once done , take the cake out and allow it to stand for few minutes.
Serve and enjoy..