Chocolate

Ingredients :
Cocoa Powder : 50 Grams
Milk Powder : 200 Grams
Butter : 2 Big lemon size
Sugar : 200 grams
Dry fruits (Optional) : Crushed : 1/2 cup

Method :

1. Mix cocoa powder & milk powder well.
2. Sieve both powder together 2-3 times, so that no lumps are present & both powders are mixed properly. Keep aside.
3. In a heavy bottomed pan, add sugar & 1/2 Cup of water. Boil till 1-string consistency.
4. Add butter, continue to heat till butter dissolves completely in sugar syrup.
5. Add sieved cocoa + milk powder mix. 
6. Keep stirring to avoid the burning.
7. Continue to heat till the mixture leaves the pan on sides / bottom. Switch of the flame.
8. Now add dry fruits & mix well.
9. Spread on greased  plate, cut into desired shape,when the mixture is warm.
10. Once the mixture is cool, take out the pieces & store in refrigerator.

wheat flour - sesame seeds - coconut laddu

I love sesame seeds laddu (Til ka laddu) , wanted to try at home. But I had left only one and half cup of sesame seeds, which means not worth trying out laddu with only sesame seeds. So I have added wheat flour & grated dry coconut.  The combination is heavenly when tried out with ghee & jaggery.

Ingredients :

Grated dry coconut : 1 Cup
Black sesame seeds + white sesame seeds :  1 1/2 Cups
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Jaggery powder : 2 cups
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Dry fruits (Crushed ) : 1/2 Cup

Method :

1. Dry roast grated dry coconut till they turn brownish in colour.
2. Now add sesame seeds &  roast till they splutter.
3. Add wheat flour, roast/fry till nice aroma of wheat flour spreads around. Switch of the flame & keep it aside.
4. In a heavy bottomed pan,add jaggery powder & 1/2 cup water.
5. Boil the mixture, till two string consistency.
6. Add ghee & boil for 3 minutes. 
7. Add dry-fruits & saute.
8. Now add roasted mixture (Step 3), to the jaggery syrup.
9. Heat in medium flame, till the mixture the leaves the pan surface.
10. When the mixture is still hot, prepare small lemon sized balls.
11. Now laddu is ready to eat.

Notes :

• You can even use fresh coconut instead of dry coconut.
• You can even add roasted peanut / ground nut powder for added flavor.
• Even cardamom powder can be added for flavor.

Alu-bhindi Dry (Okra/Lady's finger - Potato dry)

Ingredients :

Onion : 1 No
Potato : 1 No
Tomato : 2 Nos
Lady's Finger : 250 g
Coriander leaves (Chopped) : 1/2 Cup
Dill leaves (Chopped) : 1/2 Cup

Coriander Powder : 1 Spoon
Cumin Powder : 1/2 Spoon
Chilli Powder : According to taste
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Spoon
Turmeric Powder : 1/2 Spoon

Cooking Oil : 2 Spoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Spoon
Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Spoon

Grated fresh coconut : 3 Spoons
Salt

Method :

1. Wash lady's finger & pat them dry.
2. Cut lady's finger into slightly longer pieces ( around 1 to 2 cm).
3. Chop onion & tomato into small pieces.
4. Peel the skin of potato & cut into small cubes.
5. Chop green leaves.
6. Heat oil in a wok , add mustard seeds, while it spluttering add cumin seeds.
7. When cumin seeds changes its colour, add chopped onion & sauté.
8. Once onion turns pink, add potato cubes & fry for 3-4 minutes.
9. Add chopped green leaves & sauté for 1-2 minutes.
10. Add chopped tomato & sauté till tomato becomes soft. 
11. Add lady's finger pieces & turmeric powder. Mix.
12. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder & garam masala powder. Sauté.
13. Add salt to taste .
14. Continue to cook in low flame till lady's finger & potato cubes are cooked well.
15. Garnish with fresh grated coconut & serve hot with rice/chapati.

Notes :

• You can use little water if required while cooking.
• Keep stirring while cooking, to avoid the sticking of vegetables to wok.

Girmit / Mandakki upkari / Huri akki upkari / Puffed rice snack

After roaming around pattadakallu, in such a horrible hot weather we were so tired & hungry.  Outside there was one small shop , heavily crowded. They were selling hot tea, Bajji & girmit. The girmit is the common road side snack available in north karnataka region, which was prepared from puffed rice, chooped onions & some gojju type of masala. They tasted just awesome.I couldn't resist by asking the recipe from shop owner. When I asked about the recipe, she explained something, but I couldn't understand. She was very busy with selling girmit, so could't ask her again. So I thought of experimenting with puffed rice.  To make it healthier & tastier  I have added some more vegetable & green leaves.

Ingredients :
Puffed rice : 150 g
Cooking Oil : 2 Spoons
Cumin seeds : 1/2 Spoon
Ground nuts : 4 Spoons
Onion (Big) : 1 No
Carrot : 1 No
Sprouts : 1/2 Cup
Tomato (Big) : 1 No
Coriander leaves(chopped) : 1/2 Cup
Chilli powder : According to taste
Cumin powder : 1/4 Spoon
Coriander powder : 1 Spoon
Garam masala powder : 1/2 Spoon (optional)
Lemon juice : 2 Spoon
Dalia split / hurigadale/ putani : 1/4 Cup
Salt
Mixture/ sev : 1/2 Cup (optional)

Method:

1. Chop onion, tomato & coriander leaves. Keep aside.
2. Grate carrot.
3. Dry roast dalia split , grind to fine powder , keep aside.
4. Heat oil in wok, add cumin seeds while seeds changes its colour, add ground nuts. Let them splutter.
5. Add chopped onions & fry till they turn pink.
6. Add grated carrot & sauté.
7. Add chopped tomato & sprouts. sauté. 
8. Add coriander leaves, mix well. 
9. Add chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder &dalia split powder. Mix well. Add salt & mix well. Switch off the flame.
10. Add lemon juice & mix properly.
11. In a big bowl , take puffed rice & add 3-4 cups of water.
12. mix well & squeeze puffed rice to remove water.
13. Take out squeezed puffed rice & add to wok. (step 10).
14. Mix well & garnish with coriander leaves & mixture/sev.
15. serve.

Notes:

• Use vegetable/ green leaves of your choice.
• Grated raw mango can also be used.