Lauki ka halwa

Lauki ka halwa is an Indian dessert made from bottle gourd. Lauki is also known as kaddu, and this dessert is a must try.

I generally fall short of ideas with bottle gourd. Either add it to dal or make curry. So this time I wanted to try halwa just like carrot/ beetroot halwa. It tasted so good, from now whenever I visit the market I am going to buy a large bottle gourd so that I can use some part of it to make this dessert.

This hot halwa is surely a winner in the cold winters. :)

Ingredients:

Bottle gourd, peeled and grated: 250 grams
Ghee: 3 tbsp
Cashew nuts: 3 tbsp
Raisins: 3 tbsp
Milk: 1 cup
Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp
Saffron strands: 5-6

Method:

1. Heat ghee in a pan, fry cashew nuts and raisins. Put them aside.
2. Now add grated bottle gourd and fry for 5 minutes on low flame. 
   
3. Add milk, sugar, saffron milk and cardamom powder. 
   
4. When the halwa is cooked and ghee starts leaving the sides of the pan switch off the flame.
5. Add fried cashews and raisins.
   
6. Serve hot.

Linking this recipe to Tanya

Shrikhand

Shrikhand is an Indian dessert which is loved even by non yogurt lovers. Plain yogurt is transformed into a delicacy by just adding 3-4 ingredients. It belongs to Gujarati and Maharastrian cuisine. Very simple to make but requires little time to refrigerate.

Ingredients:

Yogurt: 1 cup
Sugar: 1 cup
Cardamom powder: 1 tsp
Saffron color: 1 tsp
Dry fruits for garnishing

Method:

1. Hang the curd in a muslin cloth for 1 hour till all the water is drained. 
   
2. Take the hung curd into a bowl and mix sugar. 
3. Refrigerate for an hour and filter it again. If there are any left over yogurt pieces they will be separated. 
   
4. Now add cardamom powder, saffron color.
   
5. Keep it refrigerated so that the curd doesn't go sour.
6. Garnish with dry fruits and serve. 

Linking this recipe to Tanya

Ash gourd halwa

             

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time: 1 hour

I am back after a long time, almost 4 months. I hope you people are still with me and have not forgotten me. To make up for the lost time, I am presenting a sweet which is not made very regularly but which is equally delicious, White pumpkin halwa or Ashgourd halwa.
                Ash gourd is also known to have medicinal properties. It is suitable for diabetic people. Helps in reducing common cold, cough, sinusitis. It has cooling property which provides relief from acidity. So guys, head to the market and buy one.
               I would also like to tell, please make sure you have help available at home before starting off to make the halwa. Because grating the pumpkin is strenuous. Also frying the grated part till all the moisture is gone and it turns golden brown requires lot of effort.

Ingredients:

Ash gourd, grated: 2 cups
Clarified butter/ Ghee: 1/2 cup
Cashews: 2 tbsp
Raisins: 2 tbsp
Cardamom pods, powdered: 3
Sugar: 1 1/4 cup
Poppy seeds: 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Cut the pumpkin and remove its seeds. Grate and squeeze out the water. Save the water, do not throw it away.
   
2. In a kadai, add some ghee and fry cashews, raisins and put aside. 
3. Add little ghee if required and fry the grated pumpkin till it turns golden brown on low flame. Keep stirring it else it can get burnt.
   
4. Now add the saved water, sugar and cardamom powder. 
   
5. Cook on low heat till all the water evaporates and pumpkin mixture is dry.
6. When the mixture turns golden brown add the fried cashews, raisins and poppy seeds.
   
7. Remove from flame and turn off the heat. 

Notes:

• Tastes good when it is at room temperature, rather than very cold or hot.
• Can be refrigerated up to a month.

Linking this recipe to Beulah Arun's First anniversary giveaway

Mango milkshake

Milk and fruits are friends forever!! And when the fruit is Mango, the combination will never go wrong. Your kids are going to drink the whole glass of this milkshake in one gulp. I have used Dasheri mangoes, don't limit yourself, use mangoes of your choice. 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4 glasses

Ingredients:

Mangoes: 3
Milk: 1/2 cup
Sugar( optional): 1 tbsp
Tooty fruity( optional): 2 tsp
Ice cubes

Method:

1. Add the puree of mangoes in a blender.
2. Add milk, ice cubes and turn the blender on till you get a smooth texture. 
3. Taste the sweetness and add sugar if required. 
4. Pour in a serving glass and garnish with tooty fruity. 

Notes:

• Do not add ice cubes if you are using a blender which has glass jar. There is a risk of glass jar cracking. You can add ice cubes directly into the serving glass. 
• You can use honey instead of sugar. 
• Add some vanilla ice cream for a more rich taste.