Snowflake Cookies

Christmas may be over but holiday spirit is still up until school opens. I haven't  made holiday cookies yet. It's time to bake some Snowflake cookies to celebrate New Year. 

Christmas Stollen

December is a festive month that we look forward to celebrating with dear ones. As soon as Thanksgiving is over we listen to Christmas music on our favorite radio station throughout the day. 

More than a month, Christmas lights are sparkling in the neighborhood and trees standing tall in the malls. Stores shelves are filled with goodies. People are busy shopping and wrapping presents for loved ones. Santas are walking in the malls. It's truly Christmas spirits everywhere. To me Christmas is all about spirit of giving, reading Christmas stories, watching movies with kids, making festive drinks and baking.

Rum Soaked Christmas Fruit Cake

Growing up in India, Christmas Fruit cake was a must treat in our family. We called it "Brodiner Cake". We didn't have oven back then; so my father would to buy this seasonal fruit cake wrapped in a red or green cellophane with a ribbon the day before Christmas from a local bakery. It always tasted heavenly. 

Pomegranate Spritzers For Christmas

Christmas is in the air. Are you ready for your upcoming holiday get-together? If you are planning to serve non-alcoholic drink, try this Pomegranate Spritzers so no one feels left out from having fun during party. They are healthy and delicious.

Christmas Special Hot Chocolate

  
Christmas is right around the corner. Everyone is busy with holiday shopping and wrapping the gifts for loved ones. It's time to cheer up holiday spirits. No matter how hectic life is, it's always wonderful feeling to listen to Christmas carols with family and friends and toast the season with a delicious festive drink.

Rum soaked dry fruits

Christmas is right around the corner and Rum soaked fruit cake is one of a must treats in Christmas. So it's time to soak dry fruits in rum for at least 2 weeks so they absorb the flavor of rum that makes cake super delicious. I have used six types of dry fruits and soaked them in Bacardi Gold Rum. You can use any dry fruits, candid peels and nuts. Add alcohol of your choice to soak the fruits.

Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping

 
If you like pot pie this is a great way to use left over turkey meat after Thanksgiving. This one pot meal is quite satisfying in our household. The recipe includes slightly sauteed veggies like carrots, cut green beans, peas, onion, garlic, diced or shredded leftover turkey meat dunked in a creamy sauce and flaky biscuits on top. Bake this flavorful pie to please everybody in the family.   

Thekua

Thekua, a deep fried cookie, is a revered offering during Chhat pooja in Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of Nepal.

 
Chhat pooja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the god of sun. The word ‘Chhath’ means the number six in Hindi, that is how the festival gets its name. The festival begins on the sixth day of the Lunar month of Kartika(October or November) and observed for four days by fasting till sunset. Devotees gather on the final day of pooja at the banks of Ganges river or pond for rituals where they take a dip in the water and bow down to sun to pray with pure devotion. Surya, the god of energy is worshiped for sustaining life on earth and his continuous blessings for well being, prosperity to mankind. Devotees also make cultural bonds of compassion and forgiveness by distributing fruits and sweets to family, friends and neighbors. More about Chhat pooja read here.  
 https://myblog24091989.quora.com/Chhath-Puja

Kucho Nimki/Namakpara

It's almost time for bhai phoNta/bhaidooj, an auspicious occasion of Hindu festival celebrated in West Bengal and other parts of India on the second or third day of Kali pooja. 

Baked Rashogolla

        

Wishing a very happy Diwali to all my readers!! Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated on the new-moon (Amavasya) night with lighting up small earthenware lamp around the house called diya, filled with oil which signifies the victory good over evil. People decorate their houses with clay lamps, candles and electric lights. Everyone wares new clothes. Some households worship Ma Laxmi for peace, prosperity and happiness for this auspicious celebration. It's time to reach out to loved ones with gifts, some firecrackers and of course sweets.

As Diwali approaches Indian people(whoever celebrates) start preparing various types of sweet and savory confections. On this joyous occasion of Diwali I am sharing "Baked Rashogolla" recipe where Rashogolla( cheese dumpling) is well drained first, then dunked in the mildly sweetened creamy gravy and baked in the oven. This is a simple twist of Rashomalai where boiled cheese dumplings soaked in the sweetened milk and get cooked slightly again on the stove top instead of the oven. I just came to know about this recipe through a friend recently. 

Try this recipe to surprise your dear ones. For Rashogolla recipe click here http://earthycooking.blogspot.com/2015/04/rashogollasweet-cheese-ball_14.html
The recipe is for 20pcs. of Rashogolla but I used only14pcs. because the dish I used for baking didn't have enough space to fit all 20pcs. I could have used condensed milk for half n half but I am kind of obsessed with making all most everything from scratch. It gives definitely a better taste. 

Ingredients~  
14-20pcs. Rashogolla 
2 cups(8oz. measuring cup) half n half
1/8 cup sugar or as per taste
2 cardamom pods
A few saffron strands
1 tsp.chopped nuts

Method~
After Rashogolla is made let them cool completely, then drain well. Don't squeeze. Now half n half milk needs to be reduced. You can do it on the stove top or microwave. For me microwave method is easier because it doesn't stick to the bottom. So, boil half n half in a 2 1/2 quart bowl for 25 minutes until it reduces in half stirring every 2 minutes. Do not use smaller bowl. Use oven mitt when you take it out from the microwave. Pound the cardamom pods  into a fine powder with the pestle. Add sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well and cook for 2 more minutes. If you like to do on the stove top, take a 2 quart heavy bottom pan and boil the milk at low medium heat until it thickens stirring occasionally with a whisk, then add sugar and cardamom powder. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange Rashogolla in a baking dish and pour thickened half n half all over Rashogolla. Bake it for 20 minutes. It will be bubbly and light brown color on top. Take it out from the oven wearing a oven mitt. Garnish with chopped nuts and saffron strands. Let it cool completely. Serve it at room temperature. It tastes delicious!

Happy Cooking!

Fresh Pomegranate Juice

This year pomegranate tree in the backyard has given more fruits than last year despite the severe drought. 

No fertilizers or pesticides were used. Fruits tastes better when fully ripened on the tree before harvesting.

Organic Strawberry Jam

 The best part of California's summer is when juicy strawberries in full swing and I look forward to make jams. Homemade jams are delicious, simple to make and easy to get canned. I get to choose only the quality ingredients and no refined sugar in my jams.

Malai Chomchom

It's been one year since I published my first post. There were few things I didn't plan to do. Blogging was one of them. Blogging journey began with the huge encouragement from my family and friends. I appreciate their constant support and love. So, on behalf of one year anniversary of my blog I am sharing this delectable sweet recipe of Bengal. 

Strawberry Lemonade

It's a sizzling summer here in California. It's time to make lemonade to cool off on hot summer days. Strawberries are in bounty and it pairs well with lemon. Adding bit of salt gives this drink a distinctive taste. This is one of our favorite tangy sweet summer drinks made with fresh organic strawberry, lemon juice and raw sugar, just pure and simple. I love to serve this fantastic drink in a salty sugar rimmed glass. 

Black Forest Cake

Black Forest gateau/Black Forest cake, layers of chocolate cake with whipped cream and cherry filling in between and topped with again whipped cream is a luscious dessert to celebrate any occasion. Traditionally cherry flavor bandy "Kirsch" is used. But it can be simply left out because kids would eat that cake. I have been planning to make this cake for a while. But it was not just happening due to my everyday busy schedule. Now we are having wonderful summer break. My little one is very excited to cook and bake with me. Finally we just made it for Father's Day! 

Rashogolla/Sweet Cheese Ball

Rashogolla(the way most Bong would pronounce) is prepared by kneading soft cheese with little flour or semolina and cooked in the light sugar syrup. If you taste one its divine taste would  surely leave you craving for more. It is believed a confectioner from Phulia district of Nadia named Haradhan Maira first introduced Rashogolla. He passed the recipe to Nabin Ch.Das, a Kolkata based confectioner who perfected the recipe for its longer self  life. He also earned the sobriquet "Raoshogolla’s Columbus". His son, Krishna Chandra Das first introduced vacuum-sealed canned Rashogolla. Gradually Rashogolla popularized by Bengalis all over India and abroad.

Mandarin Orange Cupcake

Soft n moist cupcakes flavored with freshly squeezed Mandarin orange juice will surely satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. They are made with very simple ingredients and taste way better than store bought cake mix. This was one of my Spring break activity with kids. I tried my best to decorate these cupcakes with citrusy cream cheese frosting. 

Italian Sweet Easter Bread

Happy Easter!! I have made these delicious three strand breads just a while ago. They smell good, look good and taste fantastic. Traditionally Italian Easter braided breads are very rich and fluffy and flavored with orange zest. Boiled dyed eggs are nestled in the braided bread that symbolizes Easter. These mildly sweet breads are great for Easter brunch/dinner or any time of the year. 

Loquat Chutney

It's loquat season here in Bay Area. Loquats, native to China  growing in clusters are oval shaped with a yellow or orange skin. Their succulent flesh is tangy sweet. Each fruit contains three to five brown seeds. Loquat tree blooms in early winter and fruits in early spring. They make excellent chutneys, jams and preserves. Don't know why this fruit is so unpopular here. I haven't notice  any super market carrying this fruit. 

Kaju Burfi/Cashew fudge

                                                                 

Holi celabration, an ancient Indian festival of colors also known as "Phagwa" falls on full moon day in Phalgun month(February or March). Holi celebration starts on Holi eve with a public holika bonfire in an open space where people gather, sing and dance which signifies "good over evil". Next day it is a  riot of colors where people spray colored powder and water at each other. In west Bengal it is called "Boshonto utshov or Doljatra".  Holi also welcomes spring.

Chocolate covered strawberry

 Let's make elegant chocolate covered strawberries to celebrate Valentine's day or any other occasions such as baby shower, mother's day, father's day and birthdays etc. They are quite expensive to buy in stores and chocolates are not real chocolates most of time, just candy melts. It is so easy to make with best quality ingredients and takes just an hour or less. 

Steel Cut Porridge or Irish Oatmeal

Hello Everyone. Belated Happy New Year to you all.  It's not too late to make New Year's resolution with hearty staple breakfast on  weekday mornings.

 

A good day always starts with the wholegrain breakfast and a steaming bowl of hot porridge is the best. But porridge often gets a bad rap if prepared poorly. Porridge, dressed with fresh fruits, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, yogurt or milk tastes heavenly. I love porridge so much that I wouldn't even mind eating it again for dinner.