DESSERTS

CARROT CUSTARD PIE /TART

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This carrot pie is made with boiled carrots and has a great flavour and texture.This is a an old fashioned recipe like the pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie.

When the recipe called for boiled carrots,i was a little confused how the final result would be…

Amazing …is one word you could title the tart ,and surely it’s a winner! So do try this recipe and post in your comments!

INGREDIENTS

150 gm boiled and finely mashed carrots (1.5 cups)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1.5 cups milk

1/2 cup cream

2 eggs

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg powder

1/4 tsp salt

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients listed .Fill in a 9 inch pie shell and bake first at 200C and lower the

temperature to 175C and bake for 1 hour or until the centre of the filling does not jiggle.

You could add flaked almonds or any nuts of your choice before baking.

Can be served plain or with cream or vanilla ice cream.

For the pie crust

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

75 gm butter

1 tsp vanilla essence

pinch of salt

Beat butter sugar,egg,salt and essence (you can use powdered sugar ).

Mix in flour and bind to soft dough.Cover and refridgerate till you prepare the filling.

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COCONUT MILK HALWA

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This halwa is the recipe of Bombay halwa,but instead of water I have added coconut milk .I didn’t want to add any colour ,and wanted to have it’s natural graceful white.

I had pistachios to add to contrast look .The prompt to add rose petals on the top of the sweet was foiled by the rains and I had no entry to my terrace. So… if you are going to try,.. and love to add rose petals go ahead and add .The coconut milk should be thick and if you are using fresh coconut (I did use fresh )use only the first thick extract .I tried with only a cup as I was trying for the first time.You could use your calculations to make more.

To the recipe..

INGREDIENTS

1 cup thick coconut milk

3/4 -1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

3 tbsp cornflour mixed in a little water without lumps

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

5 tbsp ghee (adding more is your choice)

1/4 tsp salt

a few pistachios and watermelon seeds.

METHOD

Add water and sugar to a thick bottomed/non stick pan.

Once the sugar is melted and bubbling, add the cornflour mixture,and salt(lower the flame while adding).

Now, adjust the heat to medium heat and mix till you get a glassy look.

Add half of the ghee and the cardamon powder.

Add the coconut milk gradually, and mix till it becomes thick.

The correct consistency is when a spatula run in the middle of the mixture, you should be able to see the bottom of the pan.

Transfer into a greased mould and sprinkle nuts .

Allow to cool completely before cutting.

MOCHA- HAZELNUT CARAMEL PUDDING

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This caramel pudding is made with a mix of coffee powder and cocoa powder and then caramel is poured over after the pudding is steamed.

The hazelnut trapped in the caramel gives an amazing taste .Hazelnut with chocolate is undoubtedly a divine combination and this

pudding with a mix of coffee taste was unique.

So…do try this recipe and post in your comments !

INGREDIENTS

2 cups milk

4 eggs

4 tbsp sugar or to taste

1 tsp coffee+1 tbsp cocoa powder mixed in little hot water

1 tsp hazelnut/coffee/vanilla essence

METHOD

Beat the eggs, sugar and essence together lightly.

Add the coffee-chocolate blend and mix.

Add milk and mix well.

Pour into a bowl.Cover and steam till it is set firm.

For the caramel

3 tbsp sugar

1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts

2 tbsp water

a drop of lime juice

Heat the sugar and the water and cook till golden colour .Add the lime drop.

Spread the hazelnuts on top of the steamed pudding, and pour the caramel over .

Allow to set and serve.

Note :This pudding can be baked in a water bath.

FRIED PINEAPPLE KESARI

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This has an awesome flavour of pineapple.I have posted recipe for pineapple kesari before where ripe and crushed fruit was directly

added in the preparation.

In this new and innovated recipe I have added the pineapple pieces after it is slightly fried in ghee.This way the pineapple flavour is

predominant and the taste is fantastic.

So do give it a try and post in your comments and suggestions!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup roasted rawa (sooji, semolina,)

3/4 cup -1 cup sugar

1/2 cup chopped pineapple pieces

few cashewnuts and raisins

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

1/2 tsp pineapple essence (optional )

1/2 cup ghee ( you could add more if you like )

1/4 tsp salt

1.5 cups water

a pinch of edible camphor (optional)

METHOD

Heat a little ghee first and roast the pineapple till you see the edges turning light brown.

Roast the nuts and set aside.

Add water in the same pan and allow a boil .Add the rawa into the boiling water with salt .

Lower the flame, cover and allow to cook.When you see the sooji swelled up ,add the rest of the ingredients .

The mixture will turn watery (as the sugar melts).Keep mixing till thick .

Add a little more ghee (1-2 tbsp)after removing from fire.

Note:The kesari tasted more good the next day !

CARROT CASHEW HALWA

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This is excellent in taste and texture .Made with fresh carrot juice and lots of cashew.I have posted many delights with

carrot but this recipe tops it all.

The extracted juice is cooked in ghee till the raw smell of the juice is gone.This step is more important as the raw smell

will not give good results.

Next the rest of the ingredients are added and cooked to perfection .Nutritious sweet recipe worth the try!

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

Juice of 7-8 carrots (250 gm)

1 cup sugar or to taste

2 heaped tbsp of cornflour mixed in 1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup ghee (1/4 cup to cook the juice +rest to add later)

1/2 -3/4 cup cashew nuts

a pinch of edible camphor

1 tsp cardamon(elaichi)powder

1/4 tsp mace or nutmeg powder (optional)

METHOD

Heat half of the ghee and add the juice with salt and cook till the mixture bubbles well and raw smell is absent.

Next add sugar and cook till sugar is well dissolved .

Add the cornflour mixture and the rest of the ingredients and keep mixing till you see the bottom of the pan when the

spatula is slid through the mixture.

If needed you can add more ghee (the addition of ghee depends on the richness required )

Pour into a greased tray .Garnish with more cashew nuts if you like.

Allow to cool and then cut into desired shapes.

PINEAPPLE -CHOCOLATE CUSTARD PUDDING

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This is like the pineapple gateau cake, and the only difference is that the chocolate icing is replaced by the chocolate

custard.There wasn’t much of a differance in taste.When an icing cake is made at home,i always try to minimise the

icing on the cake even if it’s homemade.I never buy ready made fondant or icing and this thick custard on the cake

was a satiating dessert.

The sponge layer was a pineapple flavour, lightly soaked in pineapple juice and custard for the layers.

To the recipe now…

For the sponge (I used only half of this cake)

4 egg yolks

4 egg whites

1 heaped cup flour mixed with 1 tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

1 tsp pineapple essence

Method

Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt till light peaks form.

Add the sugar and yolks gradually and beat well (electric mixer )for 5 minutes .

Now fold in the flour,essence gradually and mix well.(do not beat at this stage)

Transfer batter into a greased cake tray and bake in a preheated 180C oven for 25-30 minutes.

To prepare the pineapple

1 medium sized pineapple peeled, cored and cut into small pieces

2-3 tbsp sugar

a small piece cinammon

a pinch of salt

1/8 cup water

Method

Cook the ingredients except the water for 2-3 minutes.

Add water and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove from fire and allow to cool.

For the chocolate custard

25 gm butter

3/4 cup sugar

2-3 cups milk

2 heaped tbsp cornflour

2 heaped tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Mix cornflour and cocoa powder in half cup milk (without lumps)and set aside.

Heat milk and sugar and once it reaches a boil ,add the cocoa mixture and keep stirring till it forms a thick custard.

Remove from fire.

Add butter and essence and mix well.

Allow to cool.

Assembling the pudding layers

Cut the sponge horizontally to fit the pudding bowl you are using.

Smear with pineapple juice and add half of the stewed pineapple.

Pour half of the custard over it.

Next place another layer of sponge on the custard and smear with pineapple juice and repeat process.

Top with stewed pineapple.

Keep in the refrigerator for some time and serve.

Link to pineapple gateauCHOCOLATE PINEAPPLE GATEAU

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD FROSTED CAKE

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This is an easy and moist cake with a frosting like a chocolate custard.Left in the fridge after a couple of slices relished

it was more delicious as the days passed …(daysss…I meant was 1-2 days )

There are many types of chocolate cake in my list to be posted, but whatever the recipe may be when it is chocolate

cake it surely does have a splendour of its own.So do try this moist cake and post in your comments and how you liked

it.

To the recipe….

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs

2 cups flour (teacup)mixed with 2 tsp baking powder+1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup brown sugar (powdered)

1/4 cup coffee (liquid)

1 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup oil

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

METHOD

Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in 2 different bowls.

When mixing wet ingredients, first beat the eggs with salt and then add the rest of the wet ingredients.

Pour in the wet mixed wet ingredients, into the dry ingredients gradually mixing lightly with a spatula.

Once well corporated pour into a greased cake tray and bake in a preheated oven (180C)for 30-35 minutes.

For the frosting

You can cut the cake into 2 layers or just pour on the top and allow to set.I poured the whole icing on the top.

Ingredients

75 gm butter

2.5 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar (not icing sugar)

4 tbsp flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Put all the ingredients in a thick bottomed pan and heat on a medium flame stirring all the while till thick.

Pour over cake and sprinkle pecans or any nuts of your choice.

TENDER COCONUT CARAMEL PUDDING

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The idea of this pudding came up as there was much of the coconut meat after sipping the sweet water of the tender

coconut.

Normally when we buy tender coconuts only 1-2 will have thick kernels,but this time all the coconuts had thick fleshy

coconut meat,and I wanted to make something new.

I have tried and posted few desserts with tender coconut beforehand here’s the link to it..TENDER COCONUT JELLY PUDDING…TENDER COCONUT PUDDING.

Now an outline to today’s recipe with the nature provided ingredient.

I ground the tender coconut fine. Mixed with a little milk and few eggs and made this amazing dessert.

The taste and recipe is akin to a caramel pudding.So do try this dessert and post in your comments and suggestions!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups tender coconut meat ground with a pinch of salt

1 cup milk

5 eggs

3-4 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD

Beat the eggs ,and add the rest of the ingredients.

Pour over prepared caramel and steam for 30-35 minutes, or until the dessert is firm at the top.

For the caramel

2 -3 tbsp sugar

2-3 tbsp water

a drop of lemon extract (to avoid crystallisation of sugar)

Cook the sugar and water on medium heat till it reaches a nice deep caramel colour,without stirring till the sugar is

dissolved.

Pour into the mould and swirl the syrup to coat the bottom well.

BLUE PEA FLOWER,COCONUT JELLY

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Blue pea ,or Sungoo poo (Tamil),Aprajita (Hindi)is a flower with many health benefits.Like green tea it has

loads of antioxidants,and many other health benefits.Blue pea flower has potent to calm and relieve

stress , lower blood pressure, good for diabetics….and many more health benefits worth searching.

This tea is a visual treat when steeped in hot water ,and has colour changing abilities to pink and purple

when lime or lemon grass is added.

This flower is widely used in Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.Like chamomile tea ,if taken

before bedtime gives you a good sleep.Though the extracts do not contribute much to taste, considering

the health benefits it’s best to include this at least once a day.

Now to today’s unique dessert …Mixed the tea infusion with coconut milk and gelatine (you could use

agar agar ),and made a top layer with tender coconut and gelatine.It was a good combination of

coconut and tender coconut jelly .Do try this recipe and send in your comments and suggestions.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

7-10 dried blue pea flowers steeped in 1 cup hot water

2 cups coconut milk

Sugar to taste

3 tsp gelatine soaked in 1/2 cup water

METHOD

Strain the steeped tea and squeeze the remaining flower to get a darker shade .

Add bloomed gelatine and the sugar to the tea and heat till gelatine is well mixed.

Add the coconut milk whilst hot and remove from fire.

Pour into mould and allow to set.

After it is set add the tender coconut layer.

For the tender coconut layer

1 cup tender coconut water

sugar to taste

2 tsp gelatine soaked in a little water

1/4 water

Method

Heat the water and sugar till sugar is dissolved, and add the gelatine.

Add the coconut water and remove from fire.

Mix well and allow to cool .

Pour over set blue jelly.

Can be served with cream if you like.

BLUEBERRY ‘N’ VANILLA PUDDING

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Blueberries in season now,and in India this berry resembles the size of an olive .Fleshy,sweet,moist,and

a deep purple fruit.A berry containing many health benefits,whether eaten only with a sprinkle of sugar or

without sugar is very sweet and tasty.This wonder berry can be made into lovely desserts, cakes,

milkshakes,pancakes,waffles,smoothies,salads…….

Today’s recipe is an easy dessert with a biscuit base,vanilla custard in the centre, and a pannacotta with

blueberry compote to the top.

Now to the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

For the base

1 cup digestive biscuits

1 tbsp melted butter

2-3 tbsp sugar

Crush the biscuits sugar and melted butter .Press the mixture on a springform pan or dish at the bottom

and sides evenly and refridgerate till filling is prepared.

Vanilla filling

2 .5 cups milk

2 tbsp cornflour mixed in a little milk

2-3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

Heat the milk and sugar, and when it reaches a boiling point add the cornflour mix and essence.

Keep stirring as the mixture will thicken quickly.

Once thick remove from fire and allow to cool .

Once cool pour over the biscuit base ,and return to refridgerate,till the blueberry layer is made.

For the blueberry pannacotta filling

2 cups blueberries lightly boiled with 2 tbsp sugar,seeds removed mashed and strained(1 cup )

1 cup cream

1 cup milk

2-4 tbsp sugar or to taste

3 tsp gelatine soaked in a little water

Heat cream and milk till warm.

Add gelatine and heat on a low flame .

Remove from fire and add the blueberry mix and stir lightly .

Pour over the vanilla custard and allow to set in the fridge(minimum 2 hours)

Your preferred choice to serve with blueberry sauce.

ORANGE-WHITE CHOCOLATE BLONDIES

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Blondies are nothing but a variant of a brownie without the dark chocolate.This tastes more of a cookie.

This recipe that I’m going to share with you today has a mix of orange juice, orange rind and white

chocolate chips.The combination was absolutely excellent.

An excellent bite for tea!So do try this combination and post in your comments and suggestions.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

100 gm butter

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp cornflour

1 heaped cup brown sugar(100-125 gm)

Juice of 1 big orange

Grated rind of 1 orange

1/4-1/2 cup white chocolate chips

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

a pinch of mace powder

METHOD

Melt butter lightly and add the sugar.

Beat well,add orange juice, eggs and continue to beat for 2 minutes.

Sift the flour, cornflour,baking powder together, and add to the prepared egg mixture.

Mix in the remaining ingredients,and mix lightly using a spatula.

Transfer to a greased and lined tray.

Bake for 30-35 minutes at 180C.

Addition of nuts is your preference.

CARROT -KESAR CASHEW KATLI

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Carrot a root vegetable packed with all the nutrients,is one vegetable which is irresistible when made into any type

of desserts.

Today’s dessert is variation of cashew katli,made with carrot extract.This katli variant recipe is purely my innovation.

So do try this recipe and post in your suggestions..!

To the recipe…

INGREDIENTS

Extract of 3 carrots (1/2 cup juice)

1 cup powdered cashewnuts

1/4 cup milk powder (optional)

a few strands of saffron/kesar

1 cup sugar

a pinch of salt

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

2 tsp ghee

few pistachios coarsely ground (optional)

METHOD

Heat the carrot juice with 1 tsp ghee till raw smell is gone.

Add the sugar and heat till it bubbles and slightly thick .

Next add cashew nut powder, and the rest of the ingredients and keep mixing till thick (if you run a spatula in the

mixture it should divide )

Remove from fire and keep mixing till warm or transfer to a different plate and keep mixing till partly cool.

Pour into a greased tray and add pistachios and allow to cool completely .

Cut into desired shapes.

JAGGERY PANNA COTTA

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This is a dessert with jaggery, milk,cream and gelatine.Taste in relation to an eggless wattalapan.

Adorned with praline it was amazing .You could try this with thick coconut milk for a variant .

This is another innovation from my kitchen, and as my passion is to share recipes I am greatly excited and would love

to hear your suggestions and comments.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

2 cups milk

1 cup fresh cream

3 tsp gelatine

100-150 jaggery or jaggery to your taste

1 tbsp brown sugar

a pinch of salt

1/4 tsp cardamon

a pinch of mace powder

1/2 tsp vanilla essence/rose essence

METHOD

First sprinkle gelatine in a little water and set aside.

Heat jaggery in 1/2 cup water till the jaggery melts.Add cardamon powder and the rest of the spices after removing

from fire.

In the same heat add the bloomed gelatine and the milk and mix well.

Next add in the lightly beaten cream and mix well.

Strain the mixture to avoid any little lumps.

Pour into moulds of your choice and allow to set in the refrigerator.

Serve with praline .

PECAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

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This is a rich brownie recipe, with a pecan layer .Moist and incredibly tasty with a dominant crunch of pecans is surely

a treat for any occasion.

Pecans could be substituted for walnuts, or any nuts of your choice.

In this recipe the brownie layer is baked for 15 minutes, and then the pecan layer is poured on the partially baked

brownie, and baked again for another 12-15 minutes.

I baked it the previous day and served the following day for the flavours to set in.For the chocolate you could use a

mixture of dark and milk chocolate.The sugar for the brownie can be muscovado or brown.

Now to the recipe….

INGREDIENTS (For brownie base)

100 gm butter

100 gm dark chocolate

100 gm milk chocolate

75 -90 gm brown sugar (Demerara sugar)

100 gm flour

1 tsp vanilla essence or 2-3 tbsp rum

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

a pinch of salt (if you are using unsalted butter )

METHOD

Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler .Once you see the butter melted remove the bowl from the heat and

mix the butter and chocolate well till creamy and set aside.

Beat the eggs and sugar together till slightly foamy.

Add in the chocolate mixture gradually into the sugar mixture and keep beating lightly for 5 minutes.

Fold in the flour,baking powder and essence .

Pour into a greased tray and bake in a 180C oven for 12-15 minutes.

Remove from oven and add the pecan layer.

Return to oven and bake for another 15 minutes.

Allow to cool completely and then cut into squares.

For the Pecan Layer

2 eggs

1 cup pecans

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup golden syrup

1 tbsp fresh cream

1 tbsp flour

1 tsp vanilla essence/rum

Beat eggs, mix in the rest of the ingredients and pour over the baked brownie layer.

Allow to cool completely and cut into squares.

GUAVA CUSTARD TARTS

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Guava that too the pink centred guavas are really my favourites.The pink entered ones are best for juices to get the colour and

the taste.The best combination of juices is with strawberry, and that tops the list of guava juices.

There were many in the fruit basket, and I searched the internet for guava recipes.There were many recipes for jams, jellies,

candies and even guava cheese (I don’t know why they call it cheese).Confusions apart this guava cheese recipe attracted me,

and my innovations birthed this tart.This is the first time I have made a dessert with guava, and the taste was really

good.There’s a messy part of straining the thick pulp, but worth the try.

First you have to make the custard and allow to set in the fridge.Next the tart shells have to be baked and then filled (akin to

lemon curd tarts)with custard.Adorning further may be your choice of whipped cream, sour cream or even chocolate.

Now to the recipe…

INGREDIENTS

For the tart shells

50 gm butter (room temperature)

2 tbsp powdered sugar

1 egg yolk

1 cup all purpose flour

a pinch of salt

a little milk to bind

Bind all to a firm dough, and keep in the fridge for minimum 15 minutes.

Divide into portions, roll out pastry and press into tart tins.

Prick the base with a fork, fill with some beans or raw rice and bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes.

Allow to cool and fill with custard.

For the custard

4-5 ripe guava

juice of 1/2 a lime

2 tbsp butter

sugar to taste (1:1 ratio of pulp)

a pinch of salt

Method

Cook the fruit till soft (preferably in a pressure cooker).

Blend well and strain out the pulp.

Measure the pulp and add sugar accordingly.

Cook the sugar and pulp till thick.

Add the rest of the ingredients and cook till thick .

Remove from fire and allow to cool.

Fill in the baked cases and add swirls of sour

cream, whipped cream and serve.

UBE-SPINACH-SAGO KHICHIDI

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This is the same recipe as the sago khichadi I posted before.The only difference was, that potato was replaced with ube and

coriander leaves were replaced with spinach leaves.

Colourful and healthy breakfast.

For those in India,who love ube and can’t find in your area, please do check Amazon.The yams I received were of good quality and

neatly packed too.This is only an information .

SAGO,POTATO,PEANUT KHICHIDI(click link for previous post )

To the recipe right away …

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pre-soaked sago (use any cup for measurement )

1 small piece of ginger chopped fine

1 cup peeled and cut ube (boiled )

2 green chillies chopped

a handful of spinach leaves chopped

salt to taste

For tempering

1 tsp mustard seeds

a pinch of asafoetida

3-4 tbsp ghee/oil

Roast and coarsely grind

a handful of peanuts

2-3 dry chilies

1 tsp cumin seeds

METHOD

Heat oil in a non-stick kadai, and add the ingredients for tempering.

Next add the green chilies and ginger and saute for a minute.

Add the soaked sago with salt.Reduce flame, cover and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes.Stir once, cover again and let it cook for 2-3

minutes.

Add the spinach,roasted peanuts, and boiled ube.Mix well for a minute, and remove from fire.

Serve with raita or chutneys of your choice.You could serve plain too.