Firni/Phirni#AlphabetChallenge

Firni / Phirni is a sweet pudding, made by boiling milk, sugar and rice, it's popular creamy sweet dish of India, made for festivals or important occasions/celebrations. The rice used in this sweet dish is coarsely powdered, it has dry fruits and am, sure you will love it.

Ingredients  

500 ML Milk
2 Tablespoons Heaped Basmati Rice 

½ Cup Fresh Cream  

¼ Cup Sugar  

2 Tablespoons Each Almonds & Pistachio - silvered 

½ Teaspoon Cardamom powder
Method 

Wash the rice and soak it for 2 hours.  After that drain all the water in a fine mesh colander and then dry it on a clean cloth  for an hour or so ( it should be slightly wet not completely dry).  After that grind it to a coarse powder. 

Boil milk, add  rice, bring it to boil, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Reduce the flame on medium low and stir continuously. Add more milk if starts to thicken and cook till the rice is done. 

Now add the sugar and again stir till the sugar melts. Then add the fresh cream stir it and switch off flame. Add half of the pistachio and almond slivers, cardamom powder and stir well.  Refrigerate it for few hours.  

Serve  this cold in kullad pots (terracotta clay pots) garnished with pistachio and almond slivers.

Enjoy!!!

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Firni, Pudding, Rice, Almond, Pistachios, Milk, Festival Sweets, Kullad, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "F"

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: French Onion Soup

Blogghetti: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Fluffy Focaccia with Garlic Oil and Herbes de Provence

Sneha’s Recipe: Firni/Phirni

Food Lust People Love: Fish Sauce Roasted Chicken

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Fattoush Salad

A Messy Kitchen: Fennel, Tangerine & Olive Slaw

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Roasted Vegetable Farro Bowl

Culinary Cam: Fig Leaf-Wrapped Cheese 

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sausage Meatballs with Vodka Fennel Sauce  

Milk Cream#SundayFunday

A dainty, delicate, taste so good, looks elegant , melt in mouth and is irresistible milk sweet. Milk cream is a must Christmas sweet in every East Indian household. Loved by all - children as well as adults. Its a sweet made with milk, the process is tedious and requires lots of patience but the end product is really worth the effort taken. Again this is another sweet which has no eggs, a complete vegetarian, eggless and gluten free.

Ingredients
A Liter Of Milk - (I used Full Fat milk)
400 Grams Tea Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cashew nut powder
1 Tablespoon Rose water
1 Tablespoon Ghee

Method

In a heavy bottomed base kadai or pan boil the milk and stir continuously till it reduces half of its quantity on a very low flame stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, taking care it doesn't stick to the bottom. 

Add the sugar, continue stirring till the sugar melts and again reduces , half of its quantity.

Now add the cashew powder and keep stirring it continuously, till it thickens, add ghee, continue stirring.

Once it starts leaving the sides take a teaspoon full and check if you can roll it into a soft ball if its rolled easily, the mixture is now ready or when touched does not stick to your hand.

Transfer to the greased plate and before it cools completely.

Form small balls and press into silicon moulds - shapes of your choice.

Take them out of the mold.

Store in a container, 4 to 5 days at room temperature and then refrigerate (not in the freezer).

My Notes

Stir this continuously on very low flame, to achieve a beautiful white color. Do not add too much of cashew powder if you want it white and creamy.

Labels: Christmas, Gluten free, Cashewnuts, East Indian, Festival Sweets, Milk, Sunday Funday, Indian, Eggless, Candy

• Chocolate Brigadeiros by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Chocolate Medallions by Mayuri's Jakoni
• Dark Chocolate Miso Rocky Road by Food Lust People Love
• Honeycomb Candy by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Honeycomb Candy by;A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Milk Cream by;Sneha's Recipe
• Snowberry Torrone by Culinary Cam  

Pressure Cooker Rice Kheer With Homemade Masala Milk Powder#Alphabet Challenge

This is a thick and super delicious kheer. You will not be able stop enjoying this sweet dessert, that I assure you!!

Cup Measurement - 250Ml
Ingredients
½ Cup Basmati rice
1½ Cup Cups Water
1 Cup + 1 liter Milk
1 Teaspoon Desi Ghee
¼ Teaspoon Saffron Pinch
1 Teaspoon Cardamom powder
1½ Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Homemade Milk Masala Powder
2 - 3 Tablespoons Sliced Almonds Pistachios
2 - 3 Tablespoons Sliced Pistachios
2 - 3 Tablespoons Sliced Cashew nuts

Homemade Masala Milk Powder
10 Grams Almonds
10 Grams Pistachio
10 Grams Cashew Nuts
10 Grams Charoli/Chironji /Cuddapah Almond
25 Grams Sugar
¼ Teaspoon Saffron Strands
¼ Nutmeg powder
10 Cardamoms
15 Grams Milk Powder
Method

Wash the rice well till the water is clear. Drain and keep aside.
In a pressure cooker the rice, water, 1 cup milk, desi ghee, pinch of saffron. 

Cook on high heat till first whistle and low heat for 10 minutes. Add 1 liter milk and mix well. Blend with a stick blender till you can see small grains of rice ( rice kani). 

Bring to boil and add 1½ cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of the homemade masala milk powder,

lots of sliced nuts like almond, chironji, pistachios and cashewnuts (reserved a few for garnish). Cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes, keep stirring at intervals. Cook till desired thickness and serve hot or cold as you desire.

Garnish with sliver varaq and chopped nuts.

For The Homemade Masala Milk Powder

Grind all in a small mixer jar to a slightly coarse powder. This stays good for months in the refrigerator.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Kheer, Rice, Gluten free, Festival Sweets, Dessert, Milk, Homemade, Masala

Let's take a look at the other R recipes being shared today.....

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Cheeseburger Broccoli Rice Soup Casserole
Food Lust People Love: Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto
Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Pan-Seared Scallops with Black Beans and Red Pepper Sauce
A Day in the Life on the Farm: Pineapple Fried Rice
Sneha’s Recipe: Pressure Cooker Rice Kheer With Homemade Masala Milk Powder
A Messy Kitchen: Rabrabrakake: Norwegian Rhubarb Cake
Mayuri’s Jikoni: Ragi Shavige Uppitu
Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Raspberry Ricotta Pancakes
Magical Ingredients: Red lentil Paratha
Palatable Pastime: Ring Noodle Tuna Salad (Minnesota Style)
Blogghetti: Roasted Rosemary Potato Peelings
Culinary Cam: Rose Petal-Strawberry Granita   

Mahalabia#SundayFunday

Mahalabia, also known as Mahalabi or Muhellabia , is a Middle Eastern dessert / pudding / custard made with milk, sweetened and flavored with rose or orange blossom water. Delcious and you will love it and takes just 10 minutes from start to finish. So easy and quick. While the dessert is called Muhallebi in Turkey and Iraq, the Egyptian variant is called Mahalabia.

Serves Two 
Ingredients
250 ML Full Cream Milk
50 Grams Sugar
2 Tablespoon Water
1 Tablespoon Level Corn Flour
100 ML Fresh Cream
1 Tablespoon Level Rose Water
Pistachios for garnishing as required

Method

Combine milk and sugar together in a saucepan; bring to a boil, let it boil till sugar dissolves.
Mix water and corn flour together in a bowl until smooth; stir into boiling milk. Cook milk mixture over medium heat until thickened to the consistency of a thick pudding, for 2 -3 minutes, add the rose water and give it a quick stir.. Remove saucepan from heat and add the fresh cream mix it well and keep stirring it till it cools / comes to room temperature or else a scum will form on the top. Pour into into two pudding glasses garnish with silvered pistachios. Refrigerate the pudding to chill. 

Serve this pudding chilled. Yum and delicious. 
Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Pudding, No Bake Desserts, Milk, Corn Flour, Fresh Cream, Middle Eastern, Glass Verrines, Vegetarian, Egypt  

We are sharing Egyptian recipes for this week's Sunday Funday.

• Culinary Cam: Hawawshi and Other Egyptian-Inspired Dishes 
• Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Egyptian Borek (Cheese Filled Hand Pies) 
• Palatable Pastime: Baked Chicken with Baharat 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Salata Baladi 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Mahalabia
• Karen's Kitchen Stories: Egyptian Sweet Rolls
• Pandemonium Noshery: Molokhia
• Mayuri's Jikoni: Egyptian Cookies

Palada Payasam#SundayFunday

Payasam prepared with palada (rice ada) is common gluten free sweet delicacy prepared in almost all Kerala households during festival of Onam and many other occasions. There are many variations of  this is gluten free desserts which uses only basic ingredients like rice ada ( Ada made of raw rice), milk, sugar to make best palada payasam. 

I used store bought rice ada from the Kerala store. Try this and you will love it, this rice ada you will find it online too.

Ingredients
3 Tablespoons Palada/Rice Ada
2 Tablespoons Chopped Almond
1 Tablespoon Raisins
1 Liter Full Cream Milk
1/4 Cup Heaped Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Cardamom Powder
1 Tablespoon Rose petals
A Big Pinch Kesar

Method 

Heat the milk add the palada and cook till the milk reduces and palada cooks and thickens. Then add sugar and rest of the ingredients. Cook till sugar melts. Stirring continuously. Take off flame.  

Serve warm with garnish of nut and rose petals.

Labels: Desserts, Kerala, Kheer, Gluten Free, Navratri, Vrat, Rice, Milk, Sunday Funday, Payasam

Sunday Funday

Gluten Free Desserts

• Motichoor Rabri Parfait by Cook with Renu
• Gluten-Free Matcha Chocolate Pie by Culinary Cam
• Palada Payasam by Sneha's Recipe
• Snickers Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Raspberry Mousse by Mayuri's Jikoni
• 3 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cookies by Amy's Cooking Adventures   

Nutella Hot Chocolate#SundayFunday

Easy, creamy Nutella Hot Chocolate is a quick to make cup of heavenly taste! It's a tasty twist on the classic hot chocolate. It’s chocolaty, creamy, and nutty – a perfect combo of hot milk and nutella.

Serves One
Ingredients
1 Cup Hot Milk - Full Fat
2 Tablespoons Nutella
1 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Sugar or to taste
Toppings
2 Tablespoon Toasted Almonds - slivered
Few Marshmallows
Extra Nutella

Method

Heat milk in a medium sized saucepan on medium-high heat until beginning to warm and steam. Add the nutella, cocoa powder, sugar and whisk until dissolved and combined. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring and take off heat.

Serve with your desired toppings.

Labels: Hot Chocolate , Nutella, Milk, Cocoa powder, Sunday Funday, Marshmallows

For our event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. Our host for this week's event is Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. Sunday Funday: " Hot Chocolate"

• Cheese in Your Hot Chocolate? Yep. Chocolate con Queso from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Chocolat Chaud - French Hot Chocolate from Food Lust People Love
• Cinnamon Chilli Hot chocolate from Sizzling Tastebuds
• Homemade Hot Chocolate Bombs from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Hot Chocolate Cookies from Making Miracles
• Mexican Hot Chocolate from Mayuri’s Jikoni 
• Nutella Hot Chocolate from Sneha's Recipe
• Salted Caramel Espresso Hot Cocoa (Salted Caramel Mocha) from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Spicy Hot Chocolate from The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen

Chocolate & Banana Pancake#Improv

These fluffy chocolaty banana pancakes are so spongy that they soak up strawberry syrup and taste delicious. This recipe couldn't be easier! All you need is: eggs, banana and flour. I used a blender to mix this up.

Cup Measurement = 250ML

Makes 8 Pancakes
Ingredients

1½ Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Cup milk
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Butter - melted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla essence
1 Cup Mashed Bananas
½ Cup Chocolate chips

Method

Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter, mashed banana and vanilla.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, and stir until the batter is just combined.
Add the chocolate chips and gently fold to combine.

Heat a non stick griddle or skillet over medium low flame and grease lightly with butter. Pour ½ cup batter and do not spread. Cover with a lid and increase the flame to medium high for just 2 minutes. 

Reduce the flame to medium low flame and let it cook till bubbles appear and sides are lightly golden brown. 

Take off the lid and flip it for just 2 minutes. Take this on to serving plate. 

Like wise make the others.

Serve with strawberry syrup or maple syrup.  

We devoured these with strawberry syrup.

Labels: Chocolate, Banana ,Pancake, Egg, Milk, Sandwiches, Improv Cooking Challenge, Breakfast, Kids delight

Improv Cooking Challenge:March 2021

Banana & Chocolate 

• Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread from Palatable Pastime
• Chocolate Banana Muffins from Cookaholic Wife
• Chocolate Banana Smoothie Bowl by Magical Ingredients
• Chocolate & Banana Pancake from Sneha's Recipe
• Double Chocolate Banana Cake from Making Miracles

Doodh Poha/Rice Flakes In Milk#SundayFunday

I love to have a warm, balanced and healthy breakfast. Doodh Poha is one of those easy, quick healthy breakfast to make. Doodh is milk,  Poha is rice flakes. This is a delicacy from the Guajarati and Maharastrian  cuisine, which is a satisfying warm breakfast. 

Serves 2 - 3
Cup 250Ml
Ingredients
500Ml Milk
¼ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Poha/ Rice Flakes
A Pinch Cardamom Powder
A Pinch Saffron Strands
Dry Fruits as per your choice
I used Almond, Pistachios, Figs, Raisins, Apricots

Method 

Wash the poha and drain it in a strainer and keep aside.

In a large sauce pan, boil the milk , when it boils let it simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the sugar and saffron strands, stir till sugar melts. Switch off the flame, add the washed and drained poha. Stir it add rest of the ingredients and let it sit till warm. 

Serve into individual bowls and add the chopped dry fruits. Enjoy this warm, a healthy and delicious breakfast which is also light on the tummy.

Labels: Milk , Poha, Almond, Pistachios, Dried Figs, Golden Raisins, Apricots, Breakfast, Sunday Funday, Sweets & Desserts

In our today's event for Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. I thank our host Rebekah of Making Miracles for this week's event and the theme is "Celebrate Dairy".

• Blackberry Peach Overnight Oats by Palatable Pastime
• Cheesy Eggplant Pork Roast Rolls by Food Lust People Love
• Chocolate Pots de Creme by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Creamy Asparagus Soup with Ham Stock by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Creamy Steak Fettuccine by Making Miracles
• Doodh Poha/Rice Flakes In Milk by Sneha's Recipe
• Fresh Turmeric Chaas by Mayuri's Jikoni
• Homemade Chocolate Pudding by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Peanut Butter & Banana Ice Cream by Cooking With Carlee