Akaravadisal

Akkara Adisil also known as ‘Akkara Vadisal’ is one of the famous Traditional dish . Akkara Adisil is usually prepared on the "Koodaravalli day" which comes on 27th day of the Margazhi month and offered to the lord. In the 27th poem "Koodaraivellum" of "Tiruppavai" Sri Andal says "Mooda nei peidhu muzhangai vazhivaara"and so we prepare the akkara adisil with lot of ghee & "Koodi irundu kulirndhaelo" meaning share and enjoy the food with everyone present. The akkaravadisal given in temples as prasadam has its own unique taste. Today I prepared Akkara Vadisal’ as Neividhyam.

  

 

Ingredients:

Raw Rice- 1 cup

Moong dal- ¼ cup

Whole Milk -5 cups

Jaggery                 3/4 – 1 cup

Ghee – 1/4cup(plus more are added usually)

Cardamom, Crushed- ½ tsp

Edible Camphor -1 pinch

Few roasted cashews and raisins

Method:

1.Rinse the rice and clean it and add fried moong dal In a heavy bottomed pan, and and 4 cups of milk and pressure cook it. Leave atleast 4 to 5whistles so that the rice is smashed well.

2.In another stove place the jaggery in a vessel and add little water say, less than 1/4 cup. Bring it to a boil and let the jaggery dissolve completely.

3.Add the filtered jaggery water and the remaining milk to the cooked rice and add some ghee and cook over medium flame stirring it to avoid burning.

4.Cook for 5 to 10 mins and you can see it coming together. It should be a semi solid mass, so don’t over cook it. Remove from heat. Add the cardamom powder and Edible camphor

5.In a separate pan, add ghee and add broken cashew nuts, dried grapes and fry it till it turns golden brown color.Hot Akkaravadisal is ready for neivedhyam .

 Note:

It tends to thicken with time, hence you can add some warm milk to loosen it up a bit according to the consistency you like. You can add a tsp of ghee before serving.           

Eggless Fruit and Nut Cake

This fruit cake is great not just for Christmas but for any special occasion. The aromas of flavorful spices, exotic nuts, dried fruits, and fruit juices make this cake almost irresistible.

 

Ingredients:

Plain Flour- 1 cup

Butter-120g

Brown Sugar-120g

Baking soda-1/2 tsp

Baking powder-1tsp

Sugar-1 cup

Cinnamon powder-1 tsp

Clove powder-1/4 tsp

Cardamom Powder- 1/2 tsp

Fruit Juice -1/3 cup ( I used Orange juice)

Mixed Fruits (sultanas, raisins, cherries, dates, tutti frutti)-, 120g roughly chopped.

Mixed Nuts (cashew nuts, Walnuts, almonds)- 120g roughly chopped

Orange marmalade (I used mixed fruit jam)-2 tbsp

Vanilla essence- 1 tsp

Curd-1 tbsp

blanched and peeled almonds for decoration

Soaking the fruit mix: 

Soak the dried fruits and nuts in orange juice for a day. The juice will get absorbed by the dry fruits and they will look plump

 

Method:

1.Pre heat the oven 180 degree C

2.Shift the flour along with the baking powder, soda and spice powder

3.In a mixing bowl, beat butter till it becomes light and fluffy. Add brown sugar and sugar mix well

4.Then add the yogurt, then jam whisk well. Add the soaked fruits along with the juice, nuts and combine everything together.

5.Add these dry ingredients to the fruit mixture a little at a time, mixing with a spoon. Decoratively arrange the almonds over the top of the cake.

6.If it is not in dropping consistency, add some milk as required.

7.Pour into the greased tins and bake at 180 degrees C for 15 to 20 mins.

8.Test the center of the cake if it is done. Cool for 15 minutes in pan.

Enjoy!

Eggless Fruit n Nuts Cookies

Fruit n Nuts Cookies

These cookies are tasty and colorful and full of flavor from the fruit and nuts. Fruit n nuts Cookies are a real treat for their luscious taste and spellbinding aroma and perfect choice for the holiday season.  These soft, colorful cookies are a nice addition to a Christmas dessert tray.

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour - 1 cup

Unsalted Butter -1/2 cup

Powdered Sugar -  1/2 cup

Tutti Frutti - 1/3 cup

Milk - 1 to 2 tbsp

Dates- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped

Cherries-1/4cup

Toasted walnuts,Cashew  - 1/4cup coarsely chopped

 

(I used a combination of raisins, dates,dried cherries//walnuts &cashews)

Method:

1.   In a mixing bowl add powdered sugar and butter. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy - Add maida, tutti frutti , dried fruit and nuts and mix well.

2.   Add milk to form a soft sticky dough. Lay a butter paper and roll the dough and form a log(dust flour if needed).

3. Divide the dough in half and place each half and Wrap it with butter paper  Roll each log in the butter paper and  Put it up in the freezer to make the dough firm for 30 to 40 min.

4.Cut log into slices or cut it with a cookie cutter and Bake it at 180 deg C for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden brown. Transfer carefully in a rack and cool it.Store in airtight container.

Vermicelli /Semiya Vada

Vermicelli /Semiya Vada is a delicious spicy snack coated with flour and mixed with spices and chopped chillies before getting deep fried in hot oil. Serve the crispy hot Vermicelli vada with coconut chutney or tomato sauce as evening time snack.

Ingredients

Vermicelli-/Semiya - 2 cups

Onion-1 finely chopped

Green.chillies-2 finely chopped

Ginger-2 tspgrated

Gram flour-1 cup

Rice flour-1 tbsp

Maida-1 tsp

Redchilli powder- 1tsp

Yoghurt-1 cup

Curry leaves-1 sprig

Salt- to taste

Oil- for frying

Method:

Boil some water and cook the vermicelli for few min and drain it and allow to  cool

In yogurt add cooked vermicelli in a bowl and add ginger ,green chilies, onion and Mix with all other ingredients.

Yoghurt is enough to make a dough, if not add little bit water.

Press in your palm to flatten it & Fry these vadas till golden brown and crispy.

Serve hot with any kind of chutneys or Tomato ketchup.