A VERY VERY HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL OF YOU

BADAM KATLI

Ingredients (for 35 Katlis approx)
Almonds (soaked overnight)-- 250 gm:
Sugar powdered--200 gm:
 Milk Few tbsp:
Silver foil (optional)  

Method: 
1. Drain and change water from almonds. 
2. Peel almonds. Keep aside. 
3. Wash once more to remove any traces of brownish ness. 
4. Grind to a fine paste using as little milk as possible. 
5. In a heavy large skillet mix paste and sugar. 
6. Cook, stirring constantly, using a large handled spoon or spatula. 
7. Take care of splattering in initial stages. 
8. Also, do not stop stirring because the mixture burnt and stuck to bottom of skillet will spoil the taste. 
9. When a soft lump is form, which leaves sides of skillet easily, take off fire. 
10. Grease a clean work surface and a rolling pin with melted ghee. 
11. Put lump on it. Roll quickly while still warm to 1/5" thickness. 
12. Apply silver foil and press lightly with foil paper. 
13. Mark out long diamond shapes with a sharp knife. 
14. When almost cool remove carefully with a sharp edged wide spatula. 
15. Cool completely before storing in layers between sheets of butter paper. 

The Story of KARVA CHAUTH

A long time ago, there lived a beautiful girl by the name of Veeravati. She was the only sister of her seven loving brothers, who was married to a king. On the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents' house. After sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen could not stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise. The seven brothers, who loved her dearly, were very disturbed watching the distress of their sister and decided to end her fast by deceiving her. Then the brothers reflected a mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taken it as moonrise, broke the fast and took food. However, the moment the queen ate her dinner, she received the news that her husband, the king, was seriously ill.

The queen rushed to her husband's palace and on the way, she met Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. Parvati informed her that the king had died because the queen had broken her fast by watching a false moon. However, when the queen asked her for forgiveness, the goddess granted her the boon that the king would be revived. Nevertheless, to achieve this, she would have to undertake the Karva Chauth fast under strict rituals, and then only her husband would come top life. Thus, by strictly following all the rituals of Karva chauth, queen Veeravati relieved her husband.

CHOORMA LADDO

Ingredients:
- 1 kg Semolina (Suji)
- 1/2 kg Sugar
- 1 kg Ghee
- 1/2l Milk 
- 20 gm Powdered Nutmeg,
- 50 gm nuts

- 1/2 tbsp Salt

Method: 
Fry semolina in 250 gm ghee and mix it with half-liter milk. Add salt. Keep this mixture aside for 3 and half hours so that the milk is completely absorbed by the semolina. Now, shape this mixture into small balls and fry in rest of the ghee. Let this cool. Now, grind sugar to a fine powder and mix it with the above. To this add heated ghee and other ingredients and shape into laddus. 

MALPUA

 Ingredients: 

       1.1-cup milk
2.1 tsp aniseeds
3.1 tbsp poppy seeds
4.1 tsp black cardamom
5.4 tbsp flour
6.2 tbsp powdered sugar

Method: 

1.       Mix the sugar and milk well and when the sugar is dissolved, add the flour and form a batter.

2.       Beat the batter until smooth and add the rest of the ingredients.

3.       Heat enough ghee for deep-frying, put two tablespoons of the batter in it, and spread it into a thin round shape.

4.       Fry until golden brown and drain the excess ghee. Serve when hot.

RABDI

Rabdi

Ingredients
1/4 cup condensed milk
2 cups milk
2 bread slices
A few saffron strands
1/4 tsp cardamom powder

Method
1. Discard crusts from bread slices.
2. Grind these slices in a processor and prepare fresh breadcrumbs.
3. Boil milk in a pan.
4. Add bread crumbs condensed milk and sugar altogether.
5. Simmer on a high flame, stir continuously for about 10 minutes.
6. Remove from the fire.
7. Add saffron and cardamom powder and mix well.
8. Keep it in a refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
9. Rabdi is ready to serve.

NAVRATRE SPECIAL RECIEPES

India is a land of festivals and festivals are 
incomplete without mouth waterin dishes. Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated for nine days in India and as all other festivals we have some special yummy dishes for this festival too. As some people keep fast on this nine days festival, there are specific recipes which are made only with the ingredients used in the fast.In these fasts onion and garlic are strictly prohibited.And also the grains ,pulses as any other fast.Watchout the following reciepes specially for navratre.