Tri-Flavor Kesar Pista Choco Malai Kulfi

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Since last week the temperatures has been rising in chennai and my younger sister who came to visit me had requested me to prepare a regular malai kulfi as she had seen on my blog earlier but I thought I could prepare a interesting variation . It came out pretty well and she was so delighted to have three flavors in one kulfi. So here is the recipe

Ingredients

• 8 cups organic whole fat milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 bread slice
• 1 tbsp corn flour
• pinch of saffron (kesar)
• 1/4 cup pista
• 1/4 tsp crushed cardamom
• 1 /4 chocolate chips
• drop of saffron color ( yellow )
• drop of green color

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Cooking Procedure

In a non stick pan boil the 8 cups milk, once it starts boiling reduce it to mediumflame n stir occasionally until the milk reduces to half quantity.

In the meantime finely chop the pista n keep aside. Take the bread slice n remove the sides n cut it into small pieces,soak it in the 1/3 cup milk, add the corn flour n blend it nicely to a smooth paste n keep aside.

When the milk which was kept for boiling has reduced to half, add the above bread mixture to it n stir for 2 min until it begins to thicken then divide to three portions.

Melt the chocolate chips in microwave and blend it nicely with the first portion and fill this mixture to 1/3 level into the molds and freeze it for 1 hour

To the remaining 2 portions add the sugar and cardamom powder and stir still sugar melts and let it cool.

Then to one portion add the chopped pistachio, cardamom powder and green food color and fill the mold to to 2/3 level and freeze for 1 hour

To the third and final portion add a pinch of kesar and yellow color and fill the mold completely and freeze for 3 hours

Before serving take the mould from freezer n keep it under running water for a min and slowly remove the kulfi.

Enjoy your tri-flavor kulfi

I am sending this recipe to two wonderful events :

Bookmarked recipe hosted by Priya and Aipi and to another wonderful event Hearth and Soul

I am also send sending this recipe to a new and exciting event

"Celebrate Sweets - Ice Cream" hosted by Niveditha

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Mesmerizing Grape Ice Cream

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One of my favorite ice cream is the black current ice cream in which dark black grapes are used for flavor. Recently I got some seedless black grapes n prepared this ice cream at home. It is got a mesmerizing color and taste.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups seedless black grapes
• 397 grams condensed milk
• 100 grams fresh cream
• 1/2 cup seedless black grapes pieces
• 1 tbsp sugar

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Procedure:

Wash the 3 cup grapes, pat them dry and blend it and stain the juice from the pulp.

Take the 1/2 cup grapes and slice into small pieces

Mix the condensed milk, fresh cream and sugar in a bowl with a hand blender in low speed till it become fluffy.

Now pour the grape juice and the cut grape pieces into it and mix nicely with a spatula.Pour the mixture in a freezer safe container.

Freeze it for 3 hrs and mix nicely with a fork to break ice crystals.Repeat this procedure three time in total at 3hr intervals.After the third time using an ice cream scooper, scoop the ice cream and serve.

Top it with almonds and chocochips for the extra nutty feel.

Tip: To get the scoop easily and smoothly dip the ice cream scooper in water.

I am sending this recipe to a wonderful event : Any One Can Cook ( With Less Ingredients )

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Celebrating Festival Moments With Malai Kulfi

Maa Durga . Source: Orissa Diary ( Click image for enlarged view )

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu,

Shakti Rupena Sansthita,

Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastsyai ,

Namo Namaha

Which means:

Prostrations unto Thee O Devi (Ma),

who resides in all beings as Shakti (Energy/Strength)

First of all I want to Wish You All A Very Happy Durga Puja...may Maa Durga bless you all with joy and prosperity.

Durga Puja symbolises the commemoration of good over evil and the divinity of god in a female form. Clay images of Goddess Durga are made and worshipped in gorgeously decorated pandals . On the day succeeding "Vijaya Dasami", the last day of Dussehra, the images are taken in a spectacular procession for immersion in the rivers. ( Read more on: Why do we celebrate Durga Puja ? )

Cuttack is the best place to witness the festival although almost all major cities of the state celebrate it with equal fervour. Cuttack is the the former capital and the commercial capital of the state of Orissa, India. Dusshera, the festival of goddess Durga, is very popular in Cuttack. Idols are worshipped in many streets and localities. In this city, Dussehra is famous for its Chandi Medhas, in which the idols are adorned with huge amounts of gold and silver.

Chandi Mandir Cuttack . Source: Sriradhakund . ( Click image for enlarged view)

The greater part of my childhood has been in Cuttack. The Durga Puja festivities is very prominent in Maa Katak Chandi Temple. Maa Cuttack Chandi is the presiding deity of Cuttack.In cuttack the goddess popularly called as Maa Katak Chandi, sits and rules on the heart of the ancient city. She is worshiped as Bhuvaneswari. Maa Chandi is worshipped in various incarnations of Durga during the puja. In Cuttack, people strongly believe Maa Katak Chandi as 'The Living Goddess '. ( read more about the appearance of Maa Chandi)

Prayer to Maa Durga

My early memories of this durga puja would be the drumming and chants from the pandal next to my house, to welcome her when the day would begin,I would be awakened by this wonderful atmosphere of festivity.

Even before the festivities the artisans would arrive at the pandals to create the diety. We school kids would watch the creative process taking shape day by day n fill us with wonder.

Artisan at work . Source: Picture By Nilanjan ( Article: Durga Puja on Washigtonbanglaradio.com)

Among the numerous pandal there were two very famous pandals near my house in cuttack at that time

Chandi Chowk Cuttack . Source: Orissa Diary ( Click image for enlarged view )

One of the famous medho near my house was the Chandi Chowk Medho, the complete background of the deity would be prepared with gold

Chowdhary Bazaar Cuttack . Source: Ayaskant ( Click image for enlarged view )

And the other one would be the Chowdhary Bazaar Medho where the whole decoration is with silver.

It would be heavily crowded with every lane filled with people to see the wonderful pandals. It would a five minute between each pandals and the nights are wonderfully flooded with lights.

Nightlife of Durga Puja in Cuttack

Some would walk it like me and my friends and some families would engage a rickshaw for the sightseeing. Within 2-3 mile there would be a about 30 pandals.Wow I can never forget those days.

Bisarjan of Maa Durga . Source: Flickr ( Click image for enlarged view )

The last three days asthami, navami and dasami the whole of cuttack would on the street.And on the last day bisarjan(immersion of deity) we would go to the mahanadi( huge river).

My mom would prepare some traditional stuff like bobattu(sweet channa dal stuffed roti), pulihara(tamarind rice),dahi wada(curd dumplings), besan ke laddu(chickpea flour sweet balls), kara posa(spicy fried snack), gulab jamun and so many other stuff for distribution to all neighbours, friends and relatives to celebrate this festival.

Street Food Cuttack . Source: Ayaskant on Picasaweb. ( Click image for enlarged view )

We kids would roam the streets eating some tasty street fare too.... we would also have spicy chaat like pani puri, or a combination of dahi wada, aloo dum and gugani (above image) topped with onions and some sev,aloo chaat, fresh crumbled paneer topped with rabri, kulfi... any many more

We would eat all the spicy stuff first and then search for the kulfi cart : )...We were was a real gang of friends !! On this auspicious occasion which brings back memorable moments, I want to share the most simple delicious indian street dessert "kulfi". The real authentic Kulfi is about three things milk,sugar and flavor. Along with my sweet memories I am sharing this indian street dessert.

Pista Malai Kulfi

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Ingredients

• 4 cups organic whole fat milk + 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup pista
• 1/4 tsp crushed cardamom
• 1 bread slice
• 1 tbsp corn flour

Cooking Procedure

In a non stick pan boil the 4 cups milk, once it starts boiling reduce it to medium flame n stir occasionally until the milk reduces to 2 cups.

In the meantime finely chop the pista n keep aside. Take the bread slice n remove the sides n cut it into small pieces,soak it in the 1/3 cup milk, add the corn flour n blend it nicely to a smooth paste n keep aside.

When the milk which was kept for boiling has reduced to half, add the above bread mixture to it n stir for 2 min until it begins to thicken then add sugar,cardamom powder n chopped pista and stir it nicely for another 2 min.

Remove from flame n once it cools pour it into the kulfi moulds, if you do not have kulfi moulds you can popsicle moulds (like me) or just pour it into a freezer safe containers and cover it. Freeze it for 6 hrs.

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Before serving take the mould from freezer n keep it under running water for a min and slowly remove the kulfi. Serve with a little of pista flakes n enjoy.

I am sending post to a wonderful event " Beyond Five Days of Durga Puja " hosted at Preoccupied

Hearth n Soul

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Tags: Durga Puja, Cuttack, Dashara, Kulfi, Celebration, Street Food, Festival Moments

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Yummy Mango Ice Cream

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I always imagined making ice cream is a big procedure but after coming to the blog world I realized it is actually a easy process. I bookmarked this recipe from Nayna's blog. I maintained the same measurements , but used canned mango pulp in place of fresh mangoes. The original recipe is here.I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did : )

Ingredients:

• 2 cup canned mango pulp
• 397 grams condensed milk ( 1 full can)
• 100 grams fresh double cream

Procedure:

Mix the condensed milk and cream in a bowl with a hand blender in low speed till it become fluffy.Now pour the mango pulp into it and mix nicely with a spatula.Pour the mixture in a freezer safe container.

Freeze it for 3 hrs and mix nicely with a fork to break ice crystals.Repeat this procedure three time in total at 3hr intervals.After the third time using an ice cream scooper, scoop the ice cream and serve.

Tip:To get the scoop easily and smoothly dip the ice cream scooper in water.

This recipe goes to 5 wonderful events

Bookmarked Recipe Every Tuesday hosted by Priya

Two for Tuesday

Cold Desserts hosted by Akheela

Monthly Mingle Party Treats hosted by Sara

Kids Delight hosted by Pari

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Tags: Cold Dessert, Ice Cream, Mango Ice Cream, Mango Dessert, Easy Recipe, Tasty Recipe, Kids Recipe, Eggless Ice Cream, Homemade Ice Cream

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Carrot Malai Kulfi

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I had some carrots at home from so many days, i was planning to make carrot halwa but my hubby was telling me yesterday only you prepared sago halwa for your 50th post and why another halwa !! so i thought he was right and let me try something different, so i blend the concept with kulfi and created this carrot malai kulfi which came out very well and satisfied both our tastes.

This is my first kulfi i prepared at home, we enjoyed it very much and i am sure you would too.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium size carrots (grated)
• 3.5 cups high fat milk (whole)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup grated paneer
• 2 crushed cardamom
• 1 tsp finely chopped almonds

Cooking Procedure

Take the grated carrots and boil in 1/2 cup milk until cooked and let it cool.

After it cool keep aside one tbsp cooked grated carrot.

Blend the remaining carrot into a nice paste.

Take 3 cup milk and boil till it become half quantity.

Now added this carrot paste to the milk and stir nicely and boil for 5 min.

Add the grated paneer,sugar,cardomom, chopped almonds and also the grated carrot which was kept aside.

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Stir for 2 minutes, take it of the flame and let it cool.

Once it cools pour the mixture in the kulfi moulds and freeze for 6-7 hours.

To remove the kulfi from the kulfi moulds, keep the kulfi mould under running water for 1-2 min and slowly pull it out and your kulfi is ready.

Tip: If you have left over carrot halwa you can use it for making carrot malai kulfi too by adding it directly to the boiling milk.

This carrot malai kulfi goes to 4 wonderfull event's

Iftihaar Moments Hijri 1431 hosted by Ayeesha

Healing Foods Carrots hosted by Suma started by Siri

Monthly Mingle Party Treats hosted by Sara started by Meeta

Cold Desserts hosted by Torviewtoronto

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Tags: Carrot Malai Kulfi, Indian Ice Cream, Nuts, Almonds, Kulfi, Dessert

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