Authentic Recipes from the Kitchens of Shriya, Nithu & Arthi!

Seven Cup Cake / 7 Cup Cake

Posted by on Oct 22, 2011 in Desserts | 7 comments

I was thinking about some easy recipes and I got idea of making this seven cup cake recipe. One of friends told about this sweet. When someone needs to make something real fast this is the recipe. It is really easy to make yet very tasty. Time of Preparation : 30 to 40 minutes No of Pieces : 16 to 20 Ingredients: Besan flour / Chickpea flour – 1 cup Coconut (grated) – 1 cup Sugar – 3 cups Milk – 1 cup Ghee – 1 cup Method of Preparation: Mix all the ingredients in a vessel. Heat a nonstick pan and transfer the mixture and stir it. Stir it in a low to medium flame continuously till it leaves the sides of the pan. Grease a tray with butter or ghee and transfer the mixture. After 10 to...

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Badam Puri / Almond Puri

Posted by on Oct 22, 2011 in Desserts, Slideshow | 7 comments

I wanted to make some sweet which we don’t make often. Suddenly I got an idea of making this Badam puri. My sister-in-law makes this delicious sweet for special occasions. Everyone in our family like this a lot. This is my first time of making Badam Puris and they came out really well. Thanks to Anusha anni for this awesome recipe :). I have explained the step by step procedure of this sweet. Time of Preparation : 1 1/2 hrs (excluding the dough preparation time) No of Pieces : 30 Ingredients: For Puri: Maida / All purpose flour – 2 cups Almonds – 30 Rice flour – 3 tbsp Ghee – 6 tbsp Orange food color – a pinch Saffron strands – a few For Sugar Syrup: Sugar – 2 cups Water – 1 1/2 cups Method of Preparation:...

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Palkova / Milk Cake

Posted by on Oct 21, 2011 in Desserts, Featured | 10 comments

Palkova is a delicious and simple milk sweet. Though it is little time consuming, I love to make palkova. By adding nuts to palkova, we can make Doodh pedas. Quick and easy version of Doodh Peda recipe is already there in SpicyTasty. More milk sweets are coming in SpicyTasty. Enjoy the Diwali with milk sweets :). Time of Preparation: 2 1/2 hrs No of Servings : 12 pieces Ingredients: Milk – 16 cups Sugar – 1/2 cup (adjust according to taste) Ghee – 1 tbsp Method of Preparation: Heat milk in a heavy bottomed pan or a non stick vessel. Heat the milk in a low to medium heat and stir inbetween to avoid sticking at the bottom. Approximately after 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs, we can see the change of color in the milk to slight yellow...

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Palada Pradhaman – Rice Flakes Kheer

Posted by on Sep 2, 2011 in Desserts, Featured, Indian Festival, Onam and Vishu, Vinayagar Chaturthi | 9 comments

Palada Pradhaman is a popular dessert dish from Kerala, South India. It is prepared with rice flakes, milk and sugar. This pradhaman is made for festivals and special occasions such as Onam, Vishu and weddings. I have used the readymade rice flakes available in stores. A detailed procedure for making homemade ada is given here. There is another traditional version of this dish known as Ada Pradhaman which is also prepared using the same “ada” or rice flakes but with jaggery and coconut milk instead of milk and sugar. This recipe with rice and sugar is easy to follow and not time consuming. Try this delicious pradhaman for Onam festival or any special occasions and enjoy with your family. Ingredients: Palada or rice ada – 1/3 cup Whole milk – 4 cup Sugar – 1 cup (adjust to taste) Cardamom –...

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Moong dal Payasam (Kheer) – Lentil Pudding

Posted by on Apr 6, 2010 in Best of ST, Desserts, Featured | 19 comments

I’ve already posted a different version of Moong Dal Kheer in ST. I made little changes and tried this version. It came out really tasty. So I wanted to share it with everyone. With the goodness from the lentils, you can make this quick dessert without the usual guilt. Moong dal is more known for the signature dish – Pongal but it can also be used to make desserts such as this Kheer. It’s the easiest dessert which can be make it in 30 minutes. Ingredients: Moong dal/Yellow split bean : 1 cup Ghee : 3 tbsp Milk : 2 cups Jaggery /Unrefined sugar syrup: 1/2 cup Sugar : 1/4 cup Shredded coconut : 4 tbsp Cashews : 8-9 Dry grapes : 9-10 Method of Preparation: Soak the moong dal for 15 minutes, after that drain them and keep it...

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Boondhi Laddu – Gram Flour Laddu

Posted by on Mar 11, 2010 in Best of ST, Desserts, Featured | 5 comments

Laddu is an Indian sweet which is often prepared during festivals or any special occasions at home. You can also see Laddu at many temples kept as prasadham. There are different types of laddu such as Rava Laddu, Ragi laddu, Boondhi laddu, etc. I have given you the recipe for Boondhi Laddu. Here you go… Ingredients: Besan/Gram flour – 1 cup Sugar – 1.5 cups Milk – 100 ml Cardamom – 3 numbers Whole Cashew nut – 5 numbers Raisins – 10 numbers Yellow food color Oil for frying Clarified butter – 1 tsp Method of Preparation: Heat a deep bottomed pan or kadai, add sugar and a little water till the sugar gets wet completely. Once the sugar melts completely, add the milk. Milk helps to get rid off any dirt in sugar. Skim the dirt off the syrup. When...

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Sweet Pongal for Makara Shankranthi

Posted by on Jan 15, 2010 in Desserts, Featured, Rice dishes | 3 comments

Sweet Pongal is one of the signature dishes made on Makara Shankranthi or Pongal festival. I got to spend this Pongal with my parents after a few years and it was lovely to have hot sweet pongal served on a banana leaf. Heavenly! Pongal is the Hindu festival that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. Here is how you can make it too.. Ingredients: Raw Rice:  1cup Moong dal: 1/2...

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Paal Kozhukatai

Posted by on Sep 15, 2009 in Best of ST, Desserts, Featured, Indian Festival, Vinayagar Chaturthi | 12 comments

I  got this recipe from my sister. She used to make it for special ocassions and “Paal Kozhukatai” is one of my favorite recipes from her kitchen. As many other not so often made dishes, I’ve always thought it would be pretty tough to make it. But I finally decided to make it on Gokulashtami (an Indian festival) and it came out really awesome. And its not at all tough to make. It just took like 30-40 minutes for me to make this lovely dessert. Hope you enjoy making this recipe. Ingredients: Rice flour: 1 cup Coconut milk : 1 cup water :1 cup Milk : 1/2 cup cardamom : 5-6 (crushed) saffron : a pinch Sugar : 1/2 cup (according to your sweet level) Method Of Preparation: Take a cup of rice flour in a pan and add...

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Gokulashtami Special – Vella Seedai/Sweet marbles

Posted by on Aug 13, 2009 in Appetizers, Desserts, Slideshow | 10 comments

Today is Gokulashtami. This festival is celebrated for lord krishna and it’s his birthday.  This festival is called in different names as “krishna jayanthi”, “krishnashtami”,” sri jayanthi” and “janma ashtami”. Last year my Mother-in-Law was here with us so she made it easy for me. This year I tried out my family recipes for the festival. This is one of the most popular festival in India. Today I made “paal kozhukatai/Sweet Rice Pudding”, Vella Seedai/Sweet marbles”, “Sundal/chick Peas Fry”, “Medhu vadai”. I was planning to make two more dishes but I don’t have time to do it. Now  I am sharing the Vella seedai(Sweet marbles) recipe here. This dish is used to make especially for the Gokulashtami festival. This is pretty popular snack in South India. I got this recipe from my sister and this is the first time...

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Coconut and Rice Kheer – Thengai Arisi Payasam

Posted by on Aug 11, 2009 in Best of ST, Desserts, Featured, Indian Festival, Navratri Recipes, Onam and Vishu | 6 comments

Kheer or Payasam is an Indian dessert made for festivals and special occasions. Coconut and Rice kheer is popular in South India and I love this kheer just for the combination of rice and coconut cooked in milk. To sweeten this dish, we can add either sugar or jaggery. I prefer sugar to jaggery for this payasam. Finally enhanced with the flavor of cardamom and fried cashew nut. It is a bit time consuming but very simple procedure. Try this and let me know how it turns out. Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours No. of servings: 6 t0 7 Ingredients: Basmati rice – 4 tbsp Shredded coconut – 1/2 cup Milk – 8 cups Sugar – 3/4 cup Cardamom pods – 4 Broken cashew nut – 2 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter) – 1 tsp Method of Preparation: Soak...

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Badam Kheer – Almond Kheer

Posted by on Feb 27, 2009 in Desserts, Featured | 8 comments

Badam Kheer/Almond Kheer is a popular drink in India. It is so simple to make but also a rich and creamy dessert. My mom and I love it. I was just thinking about her when I made this today for a get-together. My friends enjoyed it and I hope you all like it. Here you go… Ingredients: Almonds or Badam – 1/3 cup Milk – 4 cups Condensed milk – 1 can (or sugar of required amount) Cardamom – 3 count Saffron – few strands Method of Preparation: Soak almonds overnight or in hot water for 2 hours. Drain the almonds and peel the skin off and grind it to a paste along with some milk. Add milk to a thick bottomed vessel and heat it to boil. Keep on stirring the milk to avoid burning at the bottom. When...

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Jeera Poli – Sugar Syrup Pancakes

Posted by on Jan 27, 2009 in Desserts, Featured | 7 comments

Jeera Poli is delicious South Indian dessert made by dipping layered fried Puris in Sugar syrup. “Jeera” means Sugar Syrup. “Poli” is more like flat bread. We make this on the day of Bohi, the day before Pongal festival. It is very simple and tastes yummy. Ingredients: Maida/All Purpose flour – 1 cup Oil – 1 cup Sugar – 1 cup Cardamom – 4 Yellow Color – 1 pinch Method of Preparation: In a bowl mix maida and 3 to 4 tbsp of oil. Add water litle at a time and knead a soft dough. Keep it aside for 2 hours. Heat oil in a small deep bottomed pan In another pan add sugar and water till sugar gets wet. Do not pour excess water. Sugar should be completely dissolved and when it starts boiling remove it from heat...

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Happy Pongal 2009

Posted by on Jan 14, 2009 in Misc | 4 comments

Just wanted to wish all our readers a Happy Pongal! For those who are unfamiliar with Pongal, (not to be confused with the south indian breakfast pongal) Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. Once again, wish you all a Happy...

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Thiruvadirai Kali – Arudhra Darshan Festival with Kali

Posted by on Jan 10, 2009 in Desserts, Featured, Indian Festival | 3 comments

Thiruvathirai Kali (Rice Pudding) is South Indian sweet dish made on the festival of Thiruvadirai. Thiruvadhirai or Arudhra Darshan festival on the full moon day of Margazhi(Tamil calender month, between Dec 15- Jan 15) is auspicious to Lord Nataraja, the dancing Shiva. Arudhra is the largest of the stars. It is two-and-a-half crore times bigger than the sun. There will be 10 days of festival in Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu, South India) during this month which involves a grand scheme of traditional observances commencing with the hoisting of the temple flag on the first day, followed by colorful processions of the five deities (Pancha Murthys) on the first eight days on various mounts. The fifth day features Mount Kailasam, while the sixth day features the elephant mount. It is only on the ninth day when Arudhra star and new moon coincide,...

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Basundi-Creamy Milk Pudding

Posted by on Nov 11, 2008 in Desserts, Featured | 17 comments

Basundhi is one of my and my Husband’s favorite sweets. We love  Adayar Anadha Bhavan’s Basundhi to the core. It used to be my favorite place to eat basundhi in Chennai. But luckily, after marriage I came to know that its my husband’s favorite too. But after moving to U.S we really missed it.  My elder sister used to make great basundhi, So I decided to make this at home and surprised my husband. You know what, it actually became  a sooper dooper hit and he loved it very much. A big thanks to my sister for sharing this recipe with me. Ingredients: Milk : 2 litres (I used 2% Milk) Condensed Milk: 1 can Pistachios : 4 tbsp cardamom : 1 1/2tbsp (Preseed) Sugar : 1/2 cup Method Of Preparation: Boil the milk in a thick  wide bottomed...

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Baklawa – The Sweetheart Middle Eastern Dessert

Posted by on Oct 16, 2008 in Best of ST, Desserts, Featured, Middle Eastern | 27 comments

Baklawa is a signature middle-eastern dessert and is a favorite favorie favorite sweet of mine. I used to pester my hubby often to get this from a middle-eastern restaurant in town. It is even our make-up dessert after our little fights. That’s how much I like it. Even though I have tried my hand at baking a little, Baklawa seemed very intimidating to make it in my kitchen. And just the other day, I was talking to an old time school friend of mine, Subash. He is now a chef and when we started talking about food, he mentioned he had a simple to make yet an authentic recipe for Baklawa from a Labanese chef. He was kind enough to share it with me and a huge THANKS to you, Subash. Ingredients: Phillo pastry : 1 pack Sugar :...

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Rasmalai

Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 in Desserts, Diwali Recipes, Featured, Indian Festival | 71 comments

  Rasmalai (rasa malai to some) is an Indian delicacy often categorized as a Milk Sweet. It is made from Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and it makes a great dessert and is served chilled. Just because this dessert is so delicious, I thought it would be difficult to make. But, it turns out to be quite an easy recipe. One of my friends recently shared this recipe with me. It’s my husband’s favorite dessert and he loved it. We have always bought the canned ones but never made it at home. But, this time I made it and he kept asking me where I bought this and that it tasted better than ever. 😉 Ingredients: Milk : 3 cups ( For Paneer) Milk : 3 cups (for malai) Cardamom: 1/2 tbsp Sugar : 2 cup (for making syrup) Sugar...

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Neyyappam – Rice Pancake

Posted by on Feb 27, 2008 in Desserts | 27 comments

Neyyappam is another type of Indian pancake (sweet) which is made in Kerala. I had a neighbour called Aartee who is a wonderful cook. She make this sweet often especially for her two year old kid, Arya. Whenever she made neyyappam she used to give me some because I am a big fan of it. Now that she moved to Miami, I miss it. Finally, I got the recipe from her and started doing this delicious appams. Here you go… This is my entry for Kids food event which is conducted by vanamala of Nalapaka.blogspot.com. Ingredients: Rice flour – 1 1/4 cup Banana – 2 Jaggery – 1 cup Coconut – 3 tbsp whole cashew nuts – a handful Raisins – a handful Cardamom – 3 Ghee – to fry Method of preparation: Heat 1/4 cup of water in...

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