Snow-Balls

Hey Foodies… How is this festive season going for you all? Back in India, all malls/stores must be jam-packed with people, tailors/readymade garment stores must have long lines for stitching or getting colorful outfits ready, city areas must be full with kids (along with their parents) buying varieties of fire-crackers! It’s a fun time… What do you say?

Nothing out of these things I see around, yet I feel the Diwali vibrations in every corner of my home :) What all are you cooking for these days? Sweets, Snacks… I guess, delectable meals do not need any special day to celebrate, but during this festive season, I’m sure to cook many new dishes… Cooking all days n enjoying every moment in kitchen will be my way to celebrate this festival :) And I’m sure to get good hands on sweets! Yes… that’s something I do only when I’ve some special occasion in-house. This diwali I want to overcome my fears of making authentic sweets!

My mum has a thakorji seva at home n for a daily evening prasad, mum makes ‘Tiny Laddoo’ (which is called BantaJi in Vaishnava’s term). Till the time I was there, I waited every morning to get that laddoo straight in my hand from prasad bowl :D Here, I don’t have that option available with me, so thought to make the same Laddoos by myself!!! So what if I haven’t got lalan in my small home-mandir, I still have Yamuna Maharani’s Chhaviji to offer these sweet, little laddoos :)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup Semolina
1 cup Coconut
1/4 cup Ghee
1 cup Sugar
Salt, a pinch
1/4 cup Water
1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
2-3 tbsp Chopped Nuts

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Take sugar and water in a non-stick pan and bring it to boil for 1-string consistency.
2. Heat ghee in another pan and saute chopped nuts in it. Take them out and keep aside.
3. Add semolina in it and roast for approx 10 mins on lowest flame or until it releases aroma.
4. Pour sugar syrup along with all other ingredients and mix well.
5. Cook for around 2-3 mins and transfer it to a big bowl.
6. Start making balls out of it when it’s warm (not hot), as it’s hard to do it once cooled down.
7. Coat with coconut flakes (or powdered) and let them rest for an hour.
8. Cute looking snow balls are ready for Diwali!!!

SJ’s NOTE:

• Keep stirring semolina continuously to avoid burning or color change!