82: Home Decor: White Love

I am really really exhausted and just want to cuddle up and sleep...however I just can not sleep in the mornings and wake up really early....been looking at some home decor websites to make myself feel better... and I found myself gravitating towards white bedrooms...is this telling me something...do I need a white fluffy, comfy bed full of soft white pillows?? Oh well!! I will keep myself happy for now with some comfort food for my eyes and mind...

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I'm off to catch a few winks if I can...Have a gorgeous Sunday!!

81: Luchi and Aloo Bhaji

Treated ourselves to a Diwali breakfast of hot luchis (Bengali pooris) and aloo bhaji :)

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup semolina (sooji)
a pinch of salt
3 Tbsp. oil
warm water (as needed)

Knead the ingredients into a soft dough , make small round balls ,roll them with roll pin into rounds and fry them in a pan in oil.  Luchis have an amazing texture, not as oily as pooris, thicker and fluffier..its somewhere between pooris and bhature. Enjoy luchis with some aloo bhaji...hope ya'll are having a wonderful weekend so far...Have a had a super hectic week and am so looking forward to relaxing....

80: Diwali Special: Diamond Cuts (Sweet Indian Biscuits)

Another one of my childhood favorites...

2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup warm milk
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
Oil for frying

In a bowl beat the butter, until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to whisk. Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract and knead the dough with warm milk. Keep the dough covered for about 1-2 hrs. Roll out the dough into a 1/2 inch thick circle. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut the dough into diamond shaped pieces. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Fry the diamond cuts in hot oil over medium to low flame till golden brown. Drain on a paper towel. Let it cool. The diamond cuts will become crispier once they cool.

79: Apple Tart with Walnut Crumble

Today is the fourth anniversary of when I started dating my sweetheart. And since he does not really remember all the different anniversaries that I keep track of, I surprised him with this heart shaped Walnut crumbled apple tart - a really simple and yum alternative to the apple pie.

For the tart,
1 sheet of puff pastry
1 apple, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp. nutmeg powder
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

For the walnut crumble,
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar

Pre-heat oven to 400 F. Combine the apple slices, nutmeg powder, cinnamon powder and lemon juice. Heat and pan and add the apple mix along with the sugar. Cook the apples until lightly browned and caramelized (approx. 8-10 minutes). In the meantime, line the greased tart pan with the puff pastry dough. For the walnut crumble, combine all the ingredients. Place the caramelized apple slices in the tart. Top with the walnut crumble. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Shared the warm apple tart with my sweetie....happiness...:)

78: Diwali Special: Besan Laddoo

1 cup gram flour (besan)
3/4 cup sugar
5-6 Tbsp. ghee (clarified butter)
1 tsp. cardamom powder
Few chopped and roasted almonds, raisins

Heat the ghee in a pan and roast the gram flour on low heat till nice aroma comes and the colour starts changing 7-8 minutes. Mix the rest of the ingredients with it well. Roast for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool. Make laddoos of desired size.

Hope y'all are having a wonderful Diwali!!

77: Crispy Murruku

Crispy Murruku's for Diwali. This Diwali, I decided to make all the things that remind me of Diwali in India. And homemade murruku's are definitely one of those things.

2 cups of Rice Flour
1-1/4 Gram Flour (Besan)
1-1/2 tsp. salt
a pinch of Asafoetida (hing)
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 Tbsp. cumin seeds (Jeera)
6 Tbsp. melted ghee (butter)
Water as required (approx. 1-1/2 cups)
3 cups oil to deep fry
Murruku press (you can substitute with icing cones too)

Combine rice flour, gram flour, salt, asafoetida, turmeric powder, cumin seeds and mix thoroughly without any lumps. Now add the melted ghee and enough water to make a stiff dough. Heat oil in a wide mouthed pan keeping it in high to medium heat. Fill the murruku press with the the dough and press into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 mins. until the murruku is a nice golden brown color. Cool and transfer to an airtight container.

76: Happy Diwali!!

Wishing you all a wonderful and fun filled Diwali!!

Diwali is my second favorite festival... (first being Holi..the festival of colors). It was always fun because you got new clothes, you made a list of all the firecrackers you want atleat a month in advance, save them up for the day of Diwali no matter how tempted you might be to burn the firecracker as soon as you get them, the food, family and friends. There is so much about this festival, but ultimately it is your family and friends who are around you that make this day so much more special. Been so excited about cleaning up my house, cooking and decorating my home with lights..but unfortunately had to go to work and had a super stressful day at work. Just got back home...but I was not ready to let this dampen my Diwali spirit. Lit up the diyas and decorated my house with flowers and voila!! I am a happy person having my own little Diwali with my sweetheart.

 

May everyone's life be filled with light and joy. Have a beautiful day ya'll...XOXO