"Sweet Treats"- Pineapple Sheera

Past week and a half has been pretty rough.'M' was out for work for 4 days..the kids were sick...then the Connecticut tragedy got me shaken to the core...and..illness in the family in India...All in all... I don't feel like doing much...

I  had made this Sheera for lunch before 'M' left for Mexico last week.Even a simple thing like Sheera with variations...can become a whole new dessert!

Ingredients:

1) 1 cup rava/sooji/cream of wheat

2) 1&1/2 cup water

3) 1 cup whole milk

4) 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar

5) 1/4tsp Cardamom powder

6) 1 pinch saffron

7) 1 pinch salt

8)1/8tsp nutmeg powder

9) 3/4 cup butter/ghee

10) 1/2 cup Canned pineapple pieces(bite size)

11)4tsp sugar to saute the pineapple

12) Dried cranberries

Method:

1) Boil water+milk together

2) Roast the rava in butter/ghee till golden in a deep pan

3) Add the hot water+milk to the roasted rava,mix.Cover and steam for 1-2 mins on low flame

4) Add saffron,cardamom,nutmeg,sugar,salt and mix well. Keep aside.

5) Saute the pineapple pieces in 4tsp sugar for 3-4 mins.

6) Mix the sauteed pineapples in the sheera. Mix

5) Garnish Dried cranberries

6)Serve warm.

 

 

"Sweet Treats"- Butternut Squash Sheera

I love making 'traditional' foods with a new twist. I think, 'Changes' in the daily routine are welcomed by all. Similarly a traditional favorite with a new twist is surely loved by the crowd. Apart from that, if you can improve the nutrition value in dish ....by all means----- Do it!!! I used to take 'E' to a playgroup when he was little. It was pretty much a international playgroup with moms and kids from many countries. A Turkish friend had baked a cake as snack for the kids. You know what was in there?????? It was a Plain vanilla sponge cake with finely chopped Spinach!!!!! And believe me.....it was WOW!!!!
So, last week I made this Sheera for the 'Mantra Mugdha Assemblage" at our house. The 'pumpkiny' taste was not that apparent....and they didn't guess the Butternut Squash in it.But everyone said....it tasted different but Delicious!!! Also, the orange hue that the butternut squash imparted to the Sheera...... was gorgeous!

Ingredients:
1 Cup grated Butternut Squash
1 Cup Sooji/Rava
1/2 cup + 1 tsp butter/Ghee p
3/4 cup Sugar
1tsp Cardamom powder
1/2tsp nutmeg powder
1 Cup Milk
1 cup Water
Raisins for the garnish

Method:
1) In 1tsp Ghee, saute the grated butternut squash till tender and cooked. Keep aside
2) Warm the milk and water together
3) Roast the sooji in 1/2 cup butter/ milk till very light golden color.
4) Add the warm milk, water and sauteed butternut squash. Keep lid and cook till the Sooji cooks.
5) Add the sugar, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and mix. Again keep lid and let it steam for 2-4 mins.
6) Form into molds and garnish with raisins and nuts if you like!

"Sweet Treats"- Moong daal sheera/ Halwa

There are certain foods, which are not your favorites, or you have had them only a few times...but their taste is unique and makes you crave them at times!!! 'Moong Dal sheera' is one such dish for me. I have had it may be just 5-6 times at the most... in some weddings in India or other special occasions.I don't remember my mom making it that much....
But couple months ago....when the 'pregnancy' cravings kicked in....I just wanted to eat that!!!
It is considered a 'healthy' breakfast because it is entirely made up of Moong daal ..so has lot's of protein.....and if you 'ignore' the Butter/ghee or sugar that goes in there.....it is a pretty good breakfast!!
To tell you the truth....'Pure Ghee(Clarified butter)' was never considered 'Unhealthy' at our homes in India....it was supposed to be 'nourishing' and 'had many benefits'....in my mom's words....

Ingredients:
1 cup Moong daal
1 and 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup Milk
1 cup water (or use milk....to make it richer)
3/4th cup Ghee/ Clarified butter
1/2tsp Cardamom powder
Saffron-few sticks
Raisins-few
Almonds-few sliced
Cashews-few

Method:
1) Soak dal for 3-5 hrs
2) Grind it well with minimum water to make fine paste
3) Mix water and milk and boil them.
4) Heat the ghee in non stick pan.Add the daal paste and roast till it becomes golden.
5) Then add the milk+water and let it cook for 2-3 mins
6) Add the sugar , mix well and cook for another 5-7 mins and stir in between.
7) Add cardamom, saffron, raisins, almonds, cashews etc.
8) Serve warm.You can 'mold' it in different shapes for better presentation.

"Sweet treats"-Sheera/Sooji Halwa

Just yesterday,I wrote in the blog ... 'M' being very busy (@work+studies) and being lazy to cook in the kitchen, and that his 'helping' in the kitchen is ordering a Pizza to 'take care' of the meal..blah blah blah....

But....yesterday evening....he himself offered to make 'Sheera/Sooji Halwa"(needless to say ...one of his favorites) !!!!

He asked me for the recipe and instructions and was all enthusiastic about making it himself.Though I believe in him, I couldn't help myself looking over his shoulder to make sure he was doing as I instructed.That is a bad habit and the 'chef' should be given all the freedom when he cooks but 'head chef of house' in me....wouldn't let me do that...

'M' did a great job and the 'sheera' tasted perfect! Thank you 'M' for being such a 'sweet' husband!

Ingredients:

1) 1 cup rava/sooji/cream of wheat

2) 1&1/2 cup water

3) 1 cup whole milk

4) 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar

5) 1/4tsp Cardamom powder

6) 1 pinch saffron

7) 1 pinch salt

8)1/8tsp nutmeg powder

9) 1/2 cup butter/ghee

10) Cashews and raisins

Method:

1) Boil water+milk together

2) Roast the rava in butter/ghee till golden in a deep pan

3) Add the hot water+milk to the roasted rava,mix.Cover and steam for 1-2 mins on low flame

4) Add saffron,cardamom,nutmeg,sugar,salt and mix well.

5) Garnish with cashews and raisins.

6)Serve warm.

Variations:

1) Mango puree can be added to the sheera to make 'mango sheera'.

2) Pineapple pieces can be added to make 'Pineapple sheera'

3) When offering to god,we usually add banana cut into small pieces.