Mom's Recipies

Carrot  Bottle Gourd  Halwa is an authentic dish which is perfect to serve on all occasions and festivals.
Pressure cooker carrot bottle gourd halwa  is the quickest and easiest method  as it doesn’t involve much of standing and stirring as in the traditional method.This recipe can be made just in 30 mins.So if you have sudden guests or the sudden sweet cravings you can try this method of making carrot bottle gourd halwa in pressure cooker.

Type - Dessert
Cuisine - Indian
Serves - 3

Ingredients

    carrot :- 1 cup  (grated or crushed in grinder)
    bottle gourd:- 1 cup ( half piece ) grated or crushed in grinder
    ghee:- 2 tbsp
    sugar:- 1/2 cup
    Milk :- 1 1/2 Cups
    cardamom Podwer:- 1/2 tsp
    For Garnishing:- 1 tbsp of roasted sunflower seeds , raisins ,chopped almonds
    Pinch of saffron soaked in  1 tablespoon lukewarm milk

Method:-

1) Wash the carrots thoroughly under water. Then peel the carrots and bottle gourd with peeler.


2)  Grate the  carrots and bottle gourd with a grater.
3)  Heat the ghee in pressure cooker on medium heat.


4) Add the grated or crushed carrot and bottle gourd in the pressure cooker and saute for 2 minutes.


5) Now add the milk and mix well. Close the  lid of the pressure cooker and cook till 3 whistles on medium heat.Or you can simmer and leave it for 10 mins.
6) Then let the pressure go down itself then open the lid.


7) When you open this is how it looks.Slightly goey with little milk.Now add the sugar.
8) Stir the mixture and keep the cooker on medium flame.


9) Cook in medium flame until it shrinks. Keep on stirring in between.The moment halwa thickens,add cardamom powder ,saffron with milk and add Ghee and give a continuous stir until halwa slightly changes color and it looks little glossy. Switch off the flame.


10)Garnish with fried raisins ,chopped almonds and sunflower seeds.
    Serve hot ,warm or cold.



Serving Suggestions :-

Serve carrot bottle gourd halwa as dessert after dinner or lunch.
To impress guests ,serve warm halwa with scoop of vanilla ice cream on top .

 Tips:

Ghee can be added to this recipe as per your choice.
Sugar can be added as per your choice.

Less or more dry fruits can be added as per your choice.

 
Masala Corn is a healthy, tasty ,quick and easy to prepare snack. It is almost every ones favorite.It is made from boiled Sweet Corn kernels by adding butter, lemon juice and a few spices.

Ingredients :-

2 cups boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ke dane)
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp chaat masala
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp black pepper powder (Kali Mirch ) (Optional)
salt to taste

Method:-

1) First Rinse the corn kernels with water. If you are using fresh corn on the cob, separate the kernels from the corn.

 






2) Boil the corn kernels in water for 6-7 minutes or until they become soft. OR You can also microwave them for 2-3 minutes instead.



3) Drain the water from the corn.
4) Heat the butter in a broad non-stick pan, add the sweet corn kernels, and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.



5) Add the chilli powder, chaat masala, lemon juice and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.


6) Serve immediately Warm.You can also prepare this recipe in advance and reheat it slightly at the time of serving.

Spiny Gourd /Kantola

Teasle gourd or Kantola is available across most parts of India during monsoons. Some may know it is as Akakarkaya , spiny gourd ,kekrol, kakrol, bhat korola, kartoli  ,Metha Karela etc .One cannot deny the health benefits of this vegetable. It belongs to the bitter gourd family but is not bitter in taste  but it tastes  delicious.

Health Benefits of the Kantola Vegetable-

     Rich in Proteins and iron .
     High in fiber and anti-oxidants and thus very useful for easy digestion
    Reduces blood sugar level in diabetic patients
    Reduces the chances of cancer
    Helps anti-aging
    Improves eyesight
    Reduces excess sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
   It exhibits anti-allergen and analgesic properties  that provide relief from cough and cold and also     prevent it.
   Lactating mothers can eat this veggie to decrease the problem of vomiting in infants.
  Great source of phytonutrients and low in calories
  Helps in weight loss as it contains very less calories .If we eat 100 gms of this kantola curry we get   only 17 calories.

How to use Kantola

The fresh green colored variety of this vegetable is edible. The skin packs a lot of nutrients and hence should not be removed while cooking.


Definitely include this vegetable in your diet and get its benefits.

Chintakaya Pachadi / Raw Tamarind Chutney is a tangy chutney prepared using raw tender Tamarind or fresh Tamarind, which is very famous in Andhra and Telangana households.This chutney is Lip smacking and is simply delicious with hot piping plain rice.

Ingredients :-

Raw tamarind : 15 to 20
Green chillies - 10
Salt to taste
Asafoetida / Hing - a pinch
Split Urad Dal -1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds _ 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tsps
Curry leaves - 1 springs.

Method:-

1) Wash thoroughly raw tamarind  and green chilles under running water .
2) Dry them fully. Wipe the tamarind pieces with cloth to remove the water. Cut in to pieces.
3) Grind all the ingredients green chilly, salt, raw tamarind in a mixer or blender to get the coarse texture.



4) Adjust the seasoning.
5) Add Oil to Kadai, add mustard seeds when it splutters then add cumin seeds , urad dal , hing ,curry leaves.
6) Add grounded Tamarind chutney to this seasoning , mix well and fry for 1 minute and switch off the flame.




7) Chutney is ready to eat or store.
8) Serve it with hot rice and dollop of ghee..

  
Tips:-

 Raw tamarind should be tender one otherwise it will have seeds.
You can either fry green chillies with/without oil or you can use raw ones.
The shelf life of this pachadi is 3-4 days without refrigeration and 10-14 days with refrigeration.

May Lord Ganesha destroy all your worries, sorrows and tensions and fill your life with love and happiness. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all of you !!!