Sesame and Peanut Praline (chikki)

 

Sankranti was very busy and beautiful for us. My mom and mom-in-law were with us making lots of traditional Sankranti recipes:) I never knew Chikki was such an easy recipe to make. I wanted to try my hands on almond, cashew nuts, pistachios, melon seeds and many more!

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup sugar

1 cup roasted peanuts or roasted sesame seeds (any nuts desired) 

1 tsp ghee

 

Preparation

Heat a pan and add 1 tsp ghee, to this add sugar. Keep tossing the sugar on medium heat.



 The sugar melts this way as shown in the picture and changes colour.

 As soon as all the sugar melts add the crushed peanuts. Peanuts should be slightly crushed to give thick texture. Mix quickly turn off the heat immediately  and transfer it to a clean surface in the kitchen which is slightly oiled. The whole process should be done very quickly.

After pouring the mixture on a flat surface quickly roll it with rolling pin to make it flat.

 

Cut them into pieces and let it cool.

 After it cools down break them to pieces and enjoy.

Kids will enjoy the home made Chikkis!

Camp Fire Mini Cake made with Choco Sticks

This is what I tried to create with the choco sticks:) Camp Fire Mini Cakes!

 

 

 I got these Gone Mad Choco Sticks for Product review and frankly speaking my kids did the review of these chololate filled goodies! The verdict is YUMMMMMYYYY.....

The wrapper of the choco sticks is designed by school kids very beautifully. The wafer is crunchy and the chocolate filled inside is very moist.

 



Diya enjoying chocosticks!

About Gone Mad Choco sticks!

 

Ingredients

Mini chocolate Cookies (I used Lotte choco pie) Small chocolate muffins or cupcakes can be used.

Choco Sticks Cut into desired length

Candies of red, yellow, orange colours

 

Preparation

Break all the candies into pieces with hammer after putting them into a ziploc plastic bag.



 

 

Place them in a foil and bake it for 5 minutes!

 

After the melted candies cool down break them into pieces.



 

Assemble them like a camp fire on the chocolate cake or cookie! It makes a great treat for the kids parties and birthdays



 



DISCLAIMER: This is not a paid review. The opinions and thoughts mentioned in the post are purely mine and done by tasting the sample sent by Garuda Foods.

Happy Makar Sankranti Wishes!

Pongal and Boorelu

Lilva Thuvar Aloo Subzi (pigeon pea gravy)

 

Ingredients
1 cup fresh green Thuvar
1 cup baby potatoes
1 large onion
2 medium tomatoes
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 large green chillies (slit)
2 tbsp Poppy seeds
1 tbsp fresh methi leaves
2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves to garnish
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp kitchen king masala
1 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp cumin seeds
a dash of asafoetida
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Preparation

Soak poppy seeds in 2-3 tbsp water for 1 hour. Grind poppy and tomato to make paste. Pressure cook Green thuvar and potatoes separately in cooker for 2 whistles. In a pan add 2 tbsp oil and add the baby potatoes after removing the skin. Fry them till golden and crisp along with few methi leaves. Set aside. Heat a pan, add oil, cumin seeds and let it splutter. To this add asafoetida, onions, ginger-garlic paste, chillies and saute. When onion turns slight golden add the tomato- poppy paste, all the masalas except garam masala. Let it cook on medium till the mixture leaves oil. Add the thuvar and bring to boil. Simmer the heat,  add potatoes, Garam masala, mix and turn off the heat. Garnish and serve hot with Rotis!

Tangy plantain curry/ Aratikaya Kura

This recipe is my mom-in-laws speciality. It tastes very good with rice and rotis!

Ingredients
4 medium size Plantains cut in cubes
2-3 medium tomatoes pureed
2 tsp tamarind pulp (optional if you do not prefer lot of tangy flavour)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
salt to taste

For Tempering
2-3 red chillies
sprig of curry leaves
1/3 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp split urad dal
1/2 tsp chana dal
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
a dash of asafoetida
4 tbsp oil

Preparation

Heat a wide pan with 2 tbsp oil, add the plantain cubes and fry on high heat for 2 minutes.
To the Plantain add salt, turmeric, chilli powder, tomato puree, mix well and cover with lid. Cook on medium to low heat till the plantain absorbs all the moisture and becomes soft. This might take about 5- 7 minutes.
Open the lid, add tamarind pulp and cook on  high heat for 2 minutes till crisp. Turn off the heat.
For tempering in a pan heat 2 tbsp oil, mustard seeds. After they splutter, add urad, chana, fenugreek , asafoetida, red chillies and curry leaves in the given order! Add this tempering to the plantain and toss. Serve warm with rice or roti!