Donut pudding cake

Preparation time :  10 mins

Cooking time         :  90 mins

Serves                         : 5

Ingredients:

• Donuts                  - 3
• Condensed milk  - 1 cup
• Whole milk          - 1/2 cup
• Milk powder        - 2 Tbsp

Method:

1. Break the donuts into small pieces. You can crumble them as well. 

2. Grease a baking tray.

3. Add the crumbled donuts in tray. Add milk powder, condensed milk, whole milk. Mix everything very well using a spatula.  

4. Preheat the oven at 350 degree F.
5. Bake the mix for 50 minutes.

6. Remove the tray from oven. Allow it to cool.
7. Give it another good mix using spatula. 
8. Transfer to another tray. 
9. Bake for another 40 minutes(or until it becomes brownish and milk evaporates).

Aloo Fulkopi diye Rui Macher jhol

Preparation time :  10 mins

Cooking time         :  40 mins

Serves                         : 4

Ingredients:

• Rui maach                      - 6 pieces
• Cauliflower                     - 1 medium sized
• Potato                              - 1 large, cut into long pieces
• Tomato                            - 1 medium, cut into long pieces
• Green chilli                     - 2-3, cut lengthwise
• Bay leaf                            - 1
• Methi seeds                    - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder          - 1 tsp
• Red chilli powder          - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder               - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder         - 1/2 tsp
• Cilantro                           - A fistful, chopped
• Mustard Oil                    - 2 Tbsp
• Salt                                   - to taste

Method:
1. Cut the cauliflower florets into medium sizes. Wash and keep aside.
2. Smear the fish pieces with little salt and half the turmeric powder.
3. Heat 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp oil in a pan. When  hot add the fish pieces and fry until done from both sides. Remove from oil and keep aside.
4. In the same oil(or add a little more if needed) add bay leaf and methi. 

5. When aroma spreads add cauliflower and potato. Saute till almost done.

6. While potato and cauliflower is getting cooked add red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and remaining turmeric powder in a bowl. Add 1 Tbsp water and mix well and prepare a nice thick paste.
7. Add the paste and mix everything well and saute for a minute.
8. Add the tomato and green chilli. 

9. Add one and half cup water. Add salt. Give it a good stir. Cover with a lid and cook on medium high flame till the gravy comes to a boil.

10. Add fried fish. Cover and cook for another few minutes. Then remove the lid and cook on high flame till gravy reduces to half.
11. Add cilantro and mix well.

12. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Shrikhand

I came to Pune for my college. 15 years I lived there before moving to the US. And in those 15 years there were so many local things that inculcated in me and my life was completely influenced by Maharashtrian culture. It still is. So I do try to celebrate all the major Maharashtrian festivals at home whenever I can. 
It was Gudi Padwa yesterday and I did not want to miss the big decorated thali with a lot of dishes in it that would cheer anyone up at any given time. So this is what we ended up preparing for our little celebration at home. And the special dish was Shrikhand and puri. It was a very satisfying feast and a great celebration altogether.

Shrikhand is pretty easy to prepare and a very delicious dessert. It goes very well with puri but not limited to this combination though.

I added a little twist in my recipe and used condensed milk  instead of sugar. In the authentic recipe sugar is being used. With condensed milk the texture was more smooth and creamy, which was marvelous. 

Preparation time :  8 hours

Serves                        : 3

Ingredients:

• Plain yogurt                   - 3 cups
• Condensed milk            - 200 grams(optional, you can use sugar too)
• Warm milk                     - 1 Tbsp
• Saffron                            - few strands
• Cardamom seeds          - 1/2 tsp
• Pistachios                       - 2 Tbsp, crushed
• Almonds                         - 4-5, chopped

Method:

1. Take a muslin cloth. Place the yogurt in it. Bring all the ends together and tie it tightly. Put on a seive and press with some weight. Place the whole apparatus on top of a deep vessel. Leave overnight. That how we prepare hung yogurt, also called Chakka.

2. Make a rough powder of cardamom seeds in mortar pestle. 

3. Soak saffron in warm milk for 30 mins.

4. In a deep bowl take the hung yogurt. Add condensed milk(or sugar), saffron milk, cardamom powder.

5. Using a electric beater mix everything well till you get a smooth creamy mix.

6. Fold in the pistachios and almonds.

7. Place in refrigerator and serve chilled.