Besan Ladoos

 Winter nights call for something that is warm, sweet and energizing. That's what these besan ladoos 

are, healthy and perfect  during cold winter weather. Ladoos are an Indian confection, that are prepared using gram flour, sugar, nuts,small cardamom, clarified butter and rolled into golf size or smaller ball shape. 

Growing up , most of South Asian households' prepared these ladoos and kids, as well as adults can benefit with nutritious values and energy one gets by having just one ladoo a day. Besan flour can come as fine or coarse. Usually for preparing ladoos the coarse type is used.

To get started just follow these simple steps.  Ladoos can be stored for a month, in refrigerator. Warm ladoos, a few seconds, before enjoying them.

Ingredients:

2 cups gram flour (Besan flour) available at Indian stores or also online

1 cup powdered sugar ( I like to grind sugar in the grinder to make it into a powder)

3 to 4 small cardamom seeds, deseeded and powdered

1/4 cup or approximately 20gms clarified butter (ghee)

1/4 cup thinly sliced almonds or pista (unsalted) to garnish ladoos.

Makes approximately 20 to 25 ladoos of medium size.

Ingredients:Cardamom powdered, pistachio, clarified butter, gram flour, powdered sugar

Add clarified butter to pan

Roast flour on low to medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes

As it cooks, the ghee appears on top

Continue cooking till flour appears drier

                                                         add cardamom powder.

Closer burner and add sugar as flour comes to room temperature

Garnish with thinly sliced pistachios or almonds :)

Besan Ladoos

Method:

1. Heat a heavy bottom pan , add ghee. Add gram flour and stir on low heat to allow the flour to cook and slow roast, using a spatula. Careful not to let it burn at the bottom.

2. Next, as the flour gets roasted, the house will get the amazing earthy aroma. Now add cardamom powder. Close burner.

3.  As the flour cools to room temperature, add powdered sugar and mix well. 

4. Rub a little ghee on the palm of your hand, add a tablespoon full of the mixture and using your palms

form the mixture into a ball. Arrange on a plate and add slivered almonds, and pista on the top.

5. Keep the plate in  fridge for approximately 20 minutes to set the ladoos. Enjoy daily one ladoo or for special occasions, like weddings, Diwali, etc.

Rasmalai

Hello Everybody....
Sweet treats is the best way to celebrate with friends and family and perfect to delight your guests.
Rasmalai is an Indian dessert that has sweet cottage cheese balls (rasgullas) dipped in cold thickened  milk.
 It's  my most favourite sweet dish.  I usually make them by first making the rasgullas at home but that is time consuming so I decided to make them with a recipe that is semi home cooked.  I bought  rasgullas (sweet cheese balls) and the rest of the recipe is home made. Any one can try making these and they taste delicious.

Ingredients.

1 can store bought rasgullas (cottage cheese dumplings)
Approximately 12 to 14 rasgullas in one can (available at Indian store)
1 litre milk 
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup almonds and pistachio powdered
1 tspn cardamom powdered.
1/4 tspn saffron (optional)


Method
1. Open the can and drain out the sweet syrup from the rasgullas.
2. In a pan boil  1 cup heavy cream with 1 litre milk on low to medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, till it appears thickened. Add in sugar, cardamom and stir in the almonds and pistachios. Close burner,allow the milk to cool.
3.Next add in the drained and slightly squeezed rasgullas to the cooled milk and refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours.

                                                     

Sweet cheese dumplings in thickened milk

Rasmali

Garnish with rose petals to give the dish a richer look and enjoy them cold.