Quick Peanut Laddus

Diwali is round the corner and as usual its time for preparing sweets. I am sure you will all agree with me when I say that we all try and look out for those recipes which not only take less time to prepare but also tastes good, is healthy and also easy on the pocket.

In my opinion, this peanut laddu fits the the description perfectly.

Wishing you all a A very Joyous and a Prosperous Deepavali.

Ingredients:

Peanuts	1 cup /100 gms
Powdered Jaggery	2 cups / approx.230 gms
Powdered cardamom	1 tsp
Ghee (clarified butter)	1 tsp

Method:

1. Roast peanuts on a low flame for about 10-15 mins. Then allow it to cool.
2. When cooled, remove the skin of the peanuts. This can be done easily by taking a few in the palm and rubbing it vigorously.
3. Then remove the skin from the peanuts and discard the skin.
4. Next grind the peanuts coarsely in a mixer or a food processor.
5. Remove the coarsely ground peanuts in a bowl and add the powdered jaggery to it and mix it well.
6. Lastly add the powdered cardamom and mix well.
7. Now take a small portion of this mixture in the palm of your hand and prepare laddus (balls) as shown in the picture.
8. If necessary, you may grease your palm with a few drops of ghee (clarified butter) and then prepare laddus. It is not necessary; but helps in binding.
9. All the laddus can be prepared in this manner.

Peanuts

Peanuts being roasted

Skin being separated from the roasted peanuts

Roasted peanuts - skin discarded

Roasted peanuts being coarsely ground in a food processor

Powdered jaggery being mixed

Powdered cardamom being added

Laddus in the making

Preparation time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 15 mins

Makes: 21 laddus (depending upon the size)

Note:

• If you are using food processor, then powdered jaggery can be added to the the ground peanuts (after changing the blade) and then run it for a few seconds for mixing.
• In this recipe, I have used organic dark jaggery. It is said that the dark jaggery is healthier than the regular golden colour one. Appearance wise however, the golden one scores over the dark one. 
• Powdered jaggery can be adjusted as per one's taste.

Churm Oondo

Churm Oondo ('Oondo" Konkani word for laddus) is a typical Konkani sweet and this is the second easiest sweet next to "Sheera" that we all learnt from our mothers as we were growing up. The making of these "Oondos" (i.e. binding the mixture in the palm of your hand to form a laddu) can be done at leisure while watching TV (which I generally do). The whole family can also join in for  making these "Oondos" . However, take care to see that the size is uniformly maintained ! Or else you will have a container filled with Mamma Laddu, Pappa Laddu and Baby Laddus! That is how I learnt to prepare them at a very young age during our school vacations. My brothers too would volunteer to help but they would mostly help out in eating instead of making them !!

"ChurmOondo" apart from being tasty and easy to prepare, the ingredients needed for preparing them, are generally readily available in most homes.

This is also the second item from my "Diwali Sweets" platter. The third being Chocolate Fudge; the recipe for which has already been posted earlier in my blog.

Ingredients :

Wheat flour	2 cups
Besan (gram flour)	4 tbsps
Ghee (clarified butter)	4 tbsps
Raisins	2 tbsps
Cashew nut bits	2 tbsps
Cardamom powder	1 tsp
Powdered sugar	11/2 cups

Method:

1. Wash & fry the raisins and the cashew nuts bits in a little ghee.
2. Pour the remaining ghee in  frying pan, add besan (gram flour) and stir constantly on a medium fire till it gives a nice flavour, but take care to see that it does not turn brown.
3. Add the wheat flour and stir as before till the mixture becomes light brown in colour.
4. Remove from flame and allow it to cool down.
5. When it has cooled down, add powdered sugar, cardamom powder, fried raisins and nuts and mix well.
6. Take some of this powder in the hollow of the palm, press gently and prepare oondos or laddus or balls.
7. In this manner prepare all the laddus and store it in an airtight container.

Makes : 32 laddus

Note :

• The amount of  ghee can be varied. However, if lesser quantity is used, then the laddus will crumble easily. If more ghee is used, then the laddus will be more firm. So the quantity of the ghee can be used according to ones' choice.
• These last for a month when stored in an air-tight container.

Chocolate Fudge

A quick and easy recipe. This is a treat for kids (they will love it) but not recommended for weight watchers !

Ingredients :

Sweetened Condensed Milk	1 tin (400)g
Chopped Nuts (almonds, cashews & pistachios)	100 gms
Cocoa	½ cup
Butter	50 gms
Sugar	¾ cup

Method :

• Pour condensed milk into a non-stick or a thick bottomed pan.
• Add butter, sugar, cocoa and nuts into it.
• Stir on gentle heat till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.
• Pour evenly into a greased plate.
• Allow to cool.
• Cut into squares.

Preparation Time : 20 mins

Cooking Time : 25 mins

Makes about 35 pieces (1 inch squares)

Note:

When the mixture is slightly cooled, make the incision and when completely cooled, cut it into squares or else the pieces may not come out in even shapes.

Date Rolls

Diwali is here!!! I remember my mother slogging in the kitchen to prepare the traditional Diwali sweets a week or ten days before. And her sweets would be really fantastic. I chose the path of least resistance! The sweets I choose to make this Diwali will be easy, tasty and also presentable.

Ingredients :

Dates (seeded)	250 gms
Marie Biscuits	250 gms
Butter/ghee (optional)	2 tbsps
Cardamom (optional) powder	7-8 pods
Water (warm)	About 1 cup
Sugar powdered (optional)	1 tbsp

Method :

• Soak dates in warm water for about an hour.
• Deseed if any and grind to a paste and keep aside.
• Crush biscuits ( Do not powder it.) and keep aside.
• Put the ground date paste in a non-stick pan and heat it on a low flame.
• Keep on stirring till all the water has evaporated and it has dried.
• Add butter /ghee (optional) and stir the mixture for about five minutes.
• Take off from heat.
• Then add the crushed biscuits little at a time and mix until all the crushed

biscuits are added.

• Add cardamom powder and mix well.
• Knead the whole mixture with your hand.
• Then take a handful of the mixture (roughly the size of the tennis ball and roll it on a smooth surface using both your hands till you get a long sausage shape.
• Cut it into desired pieces.
• Finally sprinkle the powdered sugar through a sieve over the Date Rolls.
• When cooled, store it in an airtight container.

Note :

Butter/ghee, cardamom and sugar can be omitted in the recipe and it still turns out good.

While rolling the mixture, apply a little butter/ghee/margarine on the palms of your hand and also on the surface of the board to avoid sticking and for smooth rolling.

Vegans can use margarine instead of butter or ghee (clarified butter).

Watch out for my next easy recipe: Chocolate Fudge.