Cashew Nut Fudge

Cashew nuts are known as "Caju"in portugese. This nut was spread across the world by the portugese. A handful of cashew nuts a day is beneficial to health. It can prevent heart disease, stroke and cancer. It can improve your lipid profile.

Preparation: 

• Melt sugar adding very little water. Let it get to one string consistency. 
• Add all the other ingredients into the sugar syrup. Mix thoroughly. 
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then roll it out, on a ghee smeared surface, to quarter inch thickness.  Leave it for an hour. Then cut into pieces. 
• Apply edible silver paper on the pieces. 

Ingredients: 

Cashew nuts powdered - 1 kilogram 

Sugar - 400 grams 

Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon 

Ghee - 2 teaspoon 

Note: Prepare with smaller quantities. For example 200 grams cashew nuts and 80 grams sugar. 

                                                                                                                                       courtesy Vanitha.

Khubani ka Meetha / Apricot sweet

Apricots belong to the family of peaches. It is a low calorie fruit rich in Vitamin A and carotene, which is good for the eye and skin. It is rich in dietary fiber and has low calorie. Fresh apricots contain more Vitamin C than the dried ones. Contains anti-oxidants that destroy free radicals, which causes cancer. Phytochemicals in apricots help to prevent heart problems. It also redujces LDL, which is known as the 'bad cholesterol'.

Khubani ka Meetha is an apricot based Hyderabadi sweet, with very very few ingredients. This is a vegan dish without the toppings.

Preparation:

1.Wash the dried apricots very well and soak in water overnight. Next day remove the apricots from water. Do not throw away the water. We are going to cook the apricots in this water.

2. Deseed the apricots. If you crack open the apricot seeds, you will find almond shaped nuts. Keep them aside. Chop the fleshy part.

3. Place a large kadai on the stove. Pour 400 ml water and add the chopped apricots. Stir occasionally Cook till the mixture turns pulpy.You can use a spoon to blend in the apricots. When it turns into a thick liquid, add sugar. (If you want the dish to be sweeter you can add more sugar. If you want it less sweet you can add less sugar. Choice is yours.) Cook for 5 minutes.Add the seeds of apricot or almonds, cardamom powder, stir and remove from the stove.

Serve hot or warm or cold.
Or
 Serve garnished with whipped cream or Vanilla ice cream.This is optional.


                                                                                                         

                                                        PC Google

Ingredients:                                                                                                  

1. Dried Apricots -250 grams
2. Sugar 150 grams
3. Water  - 400 ml of the water used for soaking apricots
4. Apricot seeds or Almonds blanched and roasted -a handful
5. Cardamom powder- a pinch

For topping: (Optional)

Whipped Cream/ Rabdi/ Vanilla ice-cream.(You can use any of these as a topping or you can eat it as such.)

                                                                                                                    PC Google

Fig Burfee

Figs are high in natural sugars and soluble dietary fibre. Contains lot of minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper. It provides Vitamins A, E and K. It is also an anti-oxidant. Because of the high fibre content it is good for your digestive system. Since it is laxative, consume in moderation

Preparation:

1.Chop the dried fig finely.

2. Smear ghee on a shallow plate.

3. Heat milk in a heavy gauge pan. Bring to a boil.Add the lemon salt and stir well. The milk will curdle.Continue boiling. When the quantity of milk reduces to half, add the chopped fig and the sugar. Stir continuously.

4.When the water content totally disappears, add the ghee. Keep stirring. When the contents start separating from the sides of the pan, remove from stove.

5. Transfer the contents into the ghee smeared plate. Keep aside to cool.

6.When cool cut into pieces and serve

Ingredients:

1.Dry fig (Anjeer) - 200 grams
2.Sugar - 1/2 kg
3.Milk -5 litres
4.Citric acid/ lemon salt - a pinch
5.Ghee - 1/2 kg
                                                                                                                                       Courtesy Vanitha