KAKHARU PHULA BHAJA || PUMPKIN FLOWER FRITTERS RECIPE

 This is a very popular recipe in Odisha and West Bengal. It is an easy and quick recipe and loved by everyone.  🎃🏵️

It can be served  as an accompaniment with steam rice 🍚or you can enjoy this  as a snack in the evening with Tea. ☕

INGREDIENTS:

▪️ Pumpkin Flowers: 20

▪️ Rice Flour: 4 Tablespoons (Soak the rice      for 30-40 minutes before blending it)

▪️ Ginger: 1/2 inch grated

▪️ Jeera/Cumin: 1/2 Teaspoon

▪️ Green Chillies: 2

▪️ Turmeric Powder: A pinch

▪️ Chilli powder: 2 Pinches

▪️ Chaat Masala: 3 Pinches (Optional)

▪️ Salt: As per Taste

▪️ Water: As required

▪️ Mustard Oil: For Shallow Fry

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Soak the rice for 30-40 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cut out lower part/sepal (which contains a stalk, a bottom and at center a stigma (0.5-1 inch length and yellow in color) of the flower, except the petals.

3. Wash the flowers individually under slow running water and pat dry on a paper napkin and keep aside.

4.Then grind the soaked rice, green chillies and ginger in a Blender and make a smooth batter of medium consistency. Make sure your batter is not watery.

5. Add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, Cumin to the Batter and mix well.

6. Now, heat mustard oil in a nonstick pan/tawa on a medium flame.

7. Take one flower at a time, dip in batter, shake off excess batter and place on the tawa.

8. Follow the above step for rest of the flowers.

9. Cook for 2 minutes or till crisp on one side. Then flip and cook the other side by drizzling a little oil on the sides.

10. Fry until both sides of the pumpkin flower is crisp.

11. Serve Kakharu Phula Bhaja/Pumpkin Flower Fritters) hot with steam Rice or can be sprinkled with chat masala and be served with Masala Chai during evenings.

PS: We only use male flowers to prepare this as the female flowers are capable of growing into Pumpkins.🎃

CHOCOLATE BISCUIT PUDDING

 

There are many posts surfacing on the internet on Biscuit Cake Recipe. Well did you know you can make another mouthwatering dessert out of Biscuits which is super easy and quick.  

Moreover the taste of the pudding is similar to that of the Chocolate Mousse we all are very fond of🤤🤩

INGREDIENTS:

▪️ Full fat Milk- 1/2 ltr

▪️ Biscuit- of your choice( I used 10 thin arrowroot biscuits and 4 oreo biscuits and 2 table spoon bournvita).

▪️ Sweetened Condensed milk- 100-150gm( optnl).

RECIPE:

1. First boil the milk in a medium flame and let it cool down slightly.

2. Crush all the biscuits and bournvita and blend it into fine powder. You may add chocolates or coffee powder as per your taste.

3. Then pour the boiled milk and the biscuit powder in the blending jar and blend it for 10-15 sec to give it a good mix and fine texture. (You can blend it or whisk it if u want but blending is easy and time saving option).

4. Then take a heavy bottom pan and set the flame between low to medium and put the milk and biscuit mixture in the pan and continue stirring.

5.Here I added some sweetened condensed milk to speed up the process of thickening.. You can skip this process(it is completely optional). If u don't want to add sweetened condensed milk then you may need to add some powdered sugar according to your choice.

6. Continue heating the mixture until it thickens fully.

7. Then take any shape of pot or tray of your choice and brush its bottom and sides with butter and then put the thickened mixture and let it set tightly.

8. Let it cool down a bit and then put it in the fridge for over night or at least 6-7 hrs.

9. After 6-7 hrs take it out and transfer it to another plate.. garnish it with any dry fruits or choco syrup and enjoy your Chocolate Biscuit pudding.😍 This is an extremely delicious recipe for all those who are craving for sweet delicacies.. 

Do give it a try!!

P.S. - You can try it with any biscuit of your choice and you may use custard powder as well if u want to thicken more.

NADIA-AMBULA RAI RECIPE

 ନଡ଼ିଆ ଆମ୍ବୁଳ ରାଇ / Coconut-Dried Mango Raita

This is a traditional Odia cuisine and the name itself (Nadia Ambula Rai) justifies the major ingredients.

In Odia Rai denotes mustard.

Ambula are dried mango pieces seasoned with salt which will be readily available in the kitchens of odia people, as we use it in many dishes even in Fish curry.

This sweet and sour Savory dish can be accompanied with rice/pulao.

It is also quick easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:

▪️Beaten curd

▪️Ambula / Dried Mango: 4-5 pieces soaked in water

▪️Grate Coconut

▪️Panchphoran / 5 spices mix

▪️ Mustard: 2tbsp soaked in water for 30 mins

▪️Green Chilli: 1

▪️Dried Red Chilli : 2

▪️Ginger: 1/2 inch cut into pieces

▪️Curry Leaves

▪️Jaggery/Sugar : 2tbsp

▪️Oil for tadka

▪️Salt as per taste

RECIPE:

1) Make a paste of soaked mustard seeds, green chillies and ginger pieces. Add little water to make a smooth paste

2) Let the paste sit for an hr before you use it. This is to reduce the raw smell of mustard seeds.

3) In a mixing bowl take the beaten curd and  add Ambula, Grated Coconut, Mustard Paste,Jaggery and salt to it.

4) Mix everything and keep aside.

5) Heat the skillet and pour some oil to it.

6) Add dried red chillies, Curry Leaves, PanchPhoran to the hot oil. Let them splutter.

7) Pour this tadka mix over the coconut mix and cover it for a while for the flavours to get infused.

8) And your Rai is done.👩‍🍳..

GULUGULA || INDIAN MINI DONUTS RECIPE

Gulgula is a popular sweet available in market places in various parts of India. This is also prepared in various festive occasions in rural areas.

Here is a simple and easy sweet recipe you can try on Festive/ special occasion.

INGREDIENTS:

▪️ 1/2 cup Jaggery

▪️ 1 cup Whole wheat Flour (Atta)

▪️ 1/2 Cup Rava (Sooji)

▪️ 1/2 teaspoon Fennel/Saunf, crushed

▪️ 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

▪️ Oil for Frying

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) First soak the Jaggery in hot water. Whisk and dissolve the jaggery.

2) Now add Flour(Atta), Rava(Sooji), Fennel (Saunf) and Baking Soda.

3) Add water if needed and mix everything well.

4) Knead it for 2-3 minutes until the dough is of thick consistency.

5) Cover and let it rest for 30-45 for it become soft and fluffy.

6) After 30 minutes, dip the hand in the water and make small balls of the dough.

7) Drop the small balls into hot oil.

8) Stir occasionally and fry on medium flame until it turns dark golden brown.

9) Drain off making sure all the oil is drained off.

10) Finally, enjoy Gulgula hot or store in an airtight container and have for 2-3 days.

Tradition Behind CHITALAGI AMAVASYA

 ଚିତଉ ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ "ଚିତଉ ପିଠା"

Chitau Pitha: Pancakes made from rice flour and coconut batter.

We all know that on the eve of this Amavasya we offer this to Lord Jagannath.

However very few of us might be aware of  this Odia tradition that is celebrated in villages. During early times when Agriculture was the essence of our income people used to offer this to "Gendesuni" deity to appease her.

Gendesuni was believed to be the female power of all types of insects, slugs, snails and serpents that come out during rain. Since during primitive days farmers used to go to their farms early in the morning and there was no light in the villages as well, there were chances farmers used to get bitten by these species during rainy season. So the females used to go the fields and offer this pancake to Gendesuni deity to appease her and pray to her to avoid the wrath of these species, so that they do not bite/hurt the legs of the farmers who go to work in the fields.

ଚିତଉ ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ "ଚିତଉ ପିଠା"

Remedy for Wrinkles under Eyes

 As one gets older, the skin loses its ability to renew itself. The skin in the under eye area is more sensitive to aging process as it is thin, due to which the wrinkles first appear in the under eye area.

Below is one of the quick and easy DIY to fade the wrinkles in the under eye area.

Step:

Mix equal parts of coffee and cocoa powder. Create a paste by adding honey 🍯 to it. Apply it on under eye area and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water later.

DIY Henna Hair Pack

 Want your hair to have that reddish brown glow under the sun....or you want to color that grey hair which is outshining the rest of your hair strands, then do follow the steps below for a herbal DIY hair pack for tinting your hair.

Some of you may ignore this as Henna will cause dryness n split ends and your hair becomes unmanageable after hair wash. Don't worry I have a perfect hair pack which is suitable for all hair types.

You will need:

▪️Henna Powder: 3 tablespoons

▪️Amla Powder: 1 tablespoon

▪️Curd: As required

▪️Egg: 1

▪️Tea Decoction: As required

Steps:

1. Mix henna with egg white and amla powder. 

2. Pour in required amount of tea Decoction to make a thick paste

3. Add some curd to the paste. Soak it overnight.

Apply the above mask for 45 mins - 1hr before washing.

• This mask will give you deep conditioning and good colour to your hair. 
• For dandruff treatment you can mix lemon juice to the pack instead of amla powder.

For better Results:

1. Soak the mask in an iron bowl overnight

2. Apply the mast for 45mins-1hr. Wash your hair with homemade Shikakai, Reetha and Amla Shampoo. Leave it for a day and next day wash your hair with SLS free shampoo and apply a SLS free conditioner.

DIY Home Remedy for Frizzy Hair

 We all have few exceptional good hair days and deal with the bad hair days almost the rest of our life.

One of the frequent hair problem we come across owing to our lifestyle is Frizzy Hair.

Like you guys even I made a lot of mistakes in choosing the haircare products. Pollution, heat and all sorts of chemical products not only damaged my hair but made it dry and Frizzy. 

Below are two home remedies which are quick, easy and above all Herbal.

Remedy 1:

▪️ Mix quarter cup of yogurt with 2️⃣ tbsps honey 🍯 and one 1️⃣ tbsp fresh Aloe vera gel. Let is stay for 35 minutes before washing it off with cold water.

Remedy 2:

▪️ Mix 2️⃣ tbsps of fresh Aloe Vera gel with 1/2 cup of Rose water. Mix it well and spray  it on hair. Let is stay overnight.

These are the best remedies to get silky smooth hair at home.

7 Fun Facts About CHOCOLATE

 A Chocolate lover would understand the pain in sharing Chocolate, especially how it feels when someone takes a big bite from you. 😠

       You might be getting advice from your well wishers to reduce Chocolate intake as  you are putting on weight, your sugar levels are increasing, tooth will decay, and you will have other health issues.🥴

     Henceforth if anyone says Chocolate is bad, show them these fun facts about Chocolate😜

Fun Facts:

1. Chocolates are known to be stress-busters, relaxants and aphrodisiacs.💞

2. Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants.💞

3. Chocolate acts as a fantastic moisturizer.😻

4. Chocolate helps you reduce your food Cravings.🥰

5. Chocolate can help to fight sunburn and soothes skin irritation.🥰

6. Chocolate helps promote hair growth and nourishes hair locks.🥰

7. Chocolate definitely puts you in a better MOOD.😍

Well no matter Chocolate has benefits or not we Chocolate lovers will always choose Chocolate over anything 🥰🍫

"A Chocolate a Day keeps the Negativity Away"🌞

CHATU BESARA (ଛତୁ ବେସର) || MUSHROOM cooked in Tangy Mustard Gravy RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

🔸Mushroom (Locally Grown)– 250 gms

🔸Potato – 1 Medium sized

🔸Tomato – 1 Large size finely chopped

🔸Mustard Paste – 2tbsp

🔸Panch Phoran – 1 tsp

🔸Green chilies – 2 pieces finely chopped

🔸 Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp

🔸Dry Mango or Ambula – 2 slices

🔸Turmeric Powder – 2 tsp

🔸Salt – According to the taste

🔸Mustard Oil – 2 tbsp

🔸Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

INGREDIENTS for the MUSTARD PASTE:

🔸1-1/2 tablespoons Mustard seeds

🔸1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)

🔸5 teaspoons Coriander (Dhania) Seeds

🔸5 Dry Red Chillies

🔸4 - 5 pods garlic

INSTRUCTIONS:

💠Soak the Dry mango in a small cup for 30mins prior to cooking.

💠Clean the mushrooms.

💠Next, prepare the mustard paste. Soak the black mustard ,cumin, coriander seeds along with the garlic and green chillis for 30 minutes. Grind this to a fine thick paste by adding little water. Add as little water as possible in order to ensure that the paste is thick and not runny.

💠Cut the Mushrooms into thin slices and soak in turmeric water and Potato to thin slices and soak in the water.

💠Heat a pan and add mustard oil to it after it’s heated up.

💠Squeeze excess water from the mushroom and add to pan.

💠Stir Fry the mushrooms till all the water is evaporated and it dried up and cooked properly.

💠Keep aside the sauted mushrooms.

💠 Add oil to the same heated pan, add the Panch Phoran, if not available you can use Cumin seeds as a replacement. After it crackles add the chopped green chilies and add chopped tomatoes.

💠Add the potatoes and sauté it for 4-5 mins.

💠After the potato is semi cooked, add the mustard paste.

💠Add the turmeric powder, red chili powder and salt to the pan.

💠Cook it for 2-3 mins and then cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 4-5 mins.

💠After the potatoes are cooked properly, add the mushroom and mix it well.

💠Then add the soaked dry mango and the water it was soaked in and cook as per your choice (dry or gravy). 

💠Serve with hot white rice.