ORANGE FLAVOURED SHEERA / SOOJI HALWA(SEMOLINA PUDDING)

ORANGE FLAVOURED SHEERA / SOOJI HALWA(SEMOLINA PUDDING)

I cannot resist eating desserts especially during festive season and so today’s Holi special dessert is my all time favourite Sheera with an Orangy twist.
Everybody loves eating a hearty bowl of sheera,its one of the basic Indian desserts made in every home.I love making flavoured sheera as I can get as innovative as I can with the flavors.

Do try this easy,fool proof recipe this festive season.

INGREDIENTS:(serves 4)

1 cup semolina/rava

2 cloves

2 green cardamom

2 small cinnamom

½ cup of mixed chopped nuts(almonds,cashews,pistachios,golden raisins)

A pinch of yellow food color

3/4^th  cup sugar

1 cup water

1 cup fresh orange juice

5 tsp ghee

METHOD:

In a saucepan,boil the water and orange juice together(if you do not want to add orange juice then replace it with the same amount of water)

In a pan,heat 2 tsp ghee then add the semolina.

Keep stirring till the semolina turns light brown and is fragrant(do not let it get dark brown)

Transfer to a bowl and keep aside.

In the same pan,heat 3 tsp ghee.

Add the spices i.e cloves,cardamoms and cinnamom sticks. Stir till fragrant.

Then add the chopped nuts.

Saute for a minute or till the nuts turn light golden brown.

Add the previously roasted semolina and stir everything well.

Then add the yellow food color and sugar.

Mix everything.

Quickly add the hot orange water to the semolina.

Keep stirring it so that there are no lumps.

When very little water is left in the pan, keep it on sim(dum) and cook for another 5 mins.

The orangy sheera is ready!!

BLUEBERRY BANANA PANCAKES

BLUEBERRY BANANA PANCAKES

 Its pancakes day today,yoohoo!!! Another reason for me to spoil myself and cheat off my diet.Tall,fluffy pancakes with loads of blueberry sauce- A perfect start to a lazy Tuesday for me.This recipe never disappoints me and I can even make them with my eyes closed,its that simple!

INGREDIENTS: (Makes 12 medium sized pancakes)

3/4 cup fresh milk

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 cup flour

2 tbsp castor sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

2 tbsp oil

Butter to brush on the pan

Blueberry compote/sauce

1 sliced banana

METHOD:

In a medium sized bowl,mix the lemon juice with milk and set aside for 5 minutes till the milk curdles.

Sift the flour,castor sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. 

Whisk the egg and oil in another large bowl and then add the curdled milk.

 Add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone. 

Heat a medium sized pan and brush some butter over it.

 Then pour a ladle full of batter onto the pan, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. 

Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

When serving,place sliced bananas between the pancakes and pour a generous amount of blueberry compote on top.