Channa Dhal (Kadalai paruppu) Halwa

This is my first recipe for SNC challenge. I got really hooked when I got to know about SNC. I am surprised to find the group to be more helpful and it is really fun to join the group. 

This month, Kirti of flavors from my kitchen has challenged the southern group with this channa dhal halwa, a Mughal recipe. She has explained it so well that I had no confusions or doubts to ask others. Actually, I've never heard of this recipe. I am glad that it turned out so well. 

I gave this to my tamil neighbors here; they too loved it. I thought of making burfies too; but it vanished as soon as I prepared. The taste was so good; that reminded me of the pooranam that we keep inside kollukattai. I think someone from the southern group mentioned the same. Well, anyway, kirti, very thanks for this wonderful, easy and tasty recipe.

Here it goes. I followed the exact proportions as mentioned by kirti except for cardamom powder.

Ingredients:

1 cup Channa Dhal
3/4 cup Ghee
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
Nuts for garnishing

Preparation:

Soak Channa Dhal for 4-5 hours. 

Method:

Remove the excess water and cook only with one cup of water in a pressure cooker for just 2 whistles and 5 minutes of simmering.

Remove again the excess water and gently mash it with a back of a large spoon. Make sure the cooked dhal doesnt go mushy. It needs to remain grainy.

Now heat Ghee in a wide mouthed pan, preferably non-stick. Pour in the cooked dhal and fry till the ghee separates.

Now add 1/2 cup of milk and continue stirring till dhal absorbs the milk and goes dry. Now add another 1/2 cup of milk and continue stirring until the dhal completely absorbs the milk.

Repeat the same procedure until 2.5 cups of milk gets used up in parts. When the dhal goes dry and completely absorbs the entire milk, add cardamom powder, sugar and chopped nuts. Fry for some more time until sugar is completely absorbed. Halwa is now ready.

This can be served hot. If need to prepare as a barfi, cut into desired shapes and then refrigerate for 3-4 hours so that it can be set in.

Notes: 

Add milk in parts; that prevents from halwa getting soggy. 
Never go unattended otherwise it may get stuck at the bottom.

Fruit Salad

This salad is very common recipe at my home. I prepare this quite often. I hate to eat fruits as such; so as my son. But when prepared as a salad, we love to eat. I love to try different combination of fruits but somehow settled down with this..

I used:

1/2 apple (big)
1 plum (big)
1 kiwi
1 tsp honey

Preparation: 

Peel the skin of apple and kiwi. Cut them and plum into small pieces.

Method:

In a bowl, combine all the chopped fruits. Pour in honey and then serve.

Serves: 1

Notes: We can add pineapple slices, pomegranate seeds, banana and any other fruit of one's choice. If adding banana, avoid mushy ones. Somehow, I find this combination better.I avoid pomegranate seeds as it is not my son's preference. But adding that gives nice color and tastes better. 

Linking this recipe to Healthy me & Healthy us event of Mharo Rajasthan's recipes and Hearty and Healthy event by vimitha of My Culinary Trial Room.

Chenaikizhangu (Yam) Fry

Chenaikizhangu is elephant foot yam but mostly referred as just yam. My son has started liking yam next to potatoes. So I have started preparing this more often. Though it takes some time for cleaning, it tastes really good and goes well with any curry or curd rice. Somehow I feel this fry tastes bland when only sambar powder is added. It tastes better when chilli powder or any other spice powder is included. So I have started following that. I think Pepper powder can also be added and of course, it depends on one's taste buds.. :)

Ingredients:

Yam 1/4 kg
Sambar Powder 3/4 tbsp
Chilli Powder 1/4 tbsp
Curry Leaves 5-6
Cumin Seeds 1/8 tsp
Oil and Salt

Preparation:

Remove the outer skin and thoroughly wash the Yam. Cut into small pieces. Grease hands well enough with oil before touching Yam.

Method:

In a Pan, heat oil in a Pan. When hot, add Cumin seeds. When they stop popping up, add curry leaves.

Now add the chopped Yam. Fry for a while and then sprinkle the Masala Powders and Salt.

Fry on a low flame till done.


Serves: 2
Serve with Sambar Rice or Curd Rice.

Notes:

I have come across recipes with Yam being cooked in water and then fried after draining. I prefer this method as there is no wastage of nutrients of yam this way. Cooking on a low flame makes the yam cook completely and makes it tasty too.

Moreover, I don't like to temper this fry much. I just use curry leaves and very little cumin seeds. I feel mustard seeds or urad dhal do not go that well with this yam as with other vegetables. But its one's personal choice.

Saudi champagne - My 100th post

I've reached my 100th post quite late. I had many reasons; I was not well and my site had many technical problems too. I was into food blogging on and off, though I never stopped trying new recipes though my trials were mostly towards easy recipes and for my toddler son.

This trial is again a simple but has become our favorite now. I've never had a refreshing drink like saudi champagne. When my Hus told me about this champagne, I was shocked and asked is champagne available in saudi? He told me this is like a juice cocktail prepared with fruit juice and slices. He had this drink in a saudi restaurant and so could remember the ingredients. When I browsed for this champagne, I almost got the same results. I don't really know why it got its name, may be, because of the addition of soda. I made this just to celebrate my 100th post.  The fruit juice and slices infused with mint leaves gives a unique and refreshing taste.

 
Ingredients:

1 part apple juice
3 parts soda
Few mint leaves
Few apple and orange slices

Preparation:

Chop apple and orange into slices.

Method:

In a jar, add apple juice and mint leaves. Shake it well.

Add few orange and apple slices. Leave it for 10-15 minutes.

Add soda when you are about to serve.

Notes: 

Use fresh mint leaves and use apple juice preferably with sugar. Soda can also be replaced by sparkling water.