Cranberry Pistachio Kulfi (Indian Ice Cream)

          Kulfi is an equivalent to Indian Ice cream which is basically a frozen dessert prepared with milk and other flavoring agents. They are just perfect during summer or as an after-meal dessert. Today let me share kulfi made with milk, some store bought pedas (instead of khoya), cranberry puree and some chopped pistachios. 

          It turned out absolutely yummy with a creamy texture and a slight crunch from the chopped nuts, So serve this chilled dessert and bring a smile among your loved ones. Besides beating the summer heat, make any occasion  memorable with this yummy cranberry pistachio kulfi. 

• 2 cups full cream milk
• 1/3 cup cranberry puree 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 2-3 milk pedas, crumbled
• 1 tbsp. chopped pistachios

          Bring the milk to a boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add the crumbled pedas, pistachios and cardamom powder. Continue to simmer till it slightly thickens. Keep aside to cool.

          Add the cranberry puree and rose water. Mix well and pour into kulfi moulds. Refrigerate overnight.

          While serving, dip the moulds in water for a minute to loosen. Serve chilled, as desired.

Banana Dry Fruits Pancakes

          An easy to prepare evening tea-time snack, these yummy pancakes are loaded with dry fruits, banana and other basic ingredients. So if you have any over ripe bananas leftover, go ahead and give it a try. 

          Enjoy as an evening tea-time snack, as a dessert or for breakfast. Choice is yours. But do not forget to drizzle some rabdi and garnish with some sliced banana and dry fruits. It is a best treat for kids and for a kitty party too. 

• 2 bananas, chopped
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 2 eggs
• 2-3 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 cup plain flour (maida)
• 1/3 cup sugar or to taste
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup chopped dry fruits (cranberries, walnuts, dates, apricots, melon seeds, raisins, tutti frutti)
• oil to shallow fry
• extra dry fruits, sliced banana, rabdi & mint leaves to garnish

          Blend the bananas, milk,  rose water, coconut and eggs. Keep aside. Sift together flour, sugar, salt, cardamom powder and baking powder. Mix all the ingredients together into a smooth batter.

          Heat a non-stick pan and add a tsp. of oil. Pour a ladleful of the prepared batter and swirl it around. 

          Cook on a low flame for a minute or till it is lightly browned. Gently flip it over and cook the other side too. 

          Transfer to a serving plate. Make similar pancakes with the remaining batter. Drizzle with some rabdi and garnish with dry fruits and banana. Enjoy as desired.


          

Banana Dry Fruits Muffins

          Craving for something sweet yet healthy? Then this is for you. An easy to prepare evening tea-time snack, these yummy muffins are loaded with dry fruits, banana and other basic ingredients. So if you have any over ripe bananas leftover, go ahead and give it a try. Enjoy a fun filled evening sipping your favorite bru and relishing these baked beauties with family and loved ones. It is a best treat for kids and for a kitty party too. 

• 2 bananas, chopped
• 3 tbsp. milk
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 2-3 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 & 1/2 cups plain flour (maida)
• 1/3 cup sugar or to taste
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup chopped dry fruits (cranberries, walnuts, dates, apricots, melon seeds, raisins, tutti frutti)

          Blend the bananas, milk, oil, rose water, coconut and eggs. Keep aside. 

          Sift together flour, sugar, salt, cardamom powder, baking powder and baking soda.

          Now mix all together into a smooth batter.

          Mix the dry fruits and 1 tsp. flour. Add it to the prepared batter and combine well.

          Line a muffin tray with muffin lines and drop spoonful of the batter into it.

          Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees C. 

          Cool on a wire rack and serve as desired or as a tea-time snack. 

Dry Fruits Yoghurt Salad

          Here is a nice healthy way to start your day. Enjoy this easy and simple to assemble Dry Fruits Yoghurt Salad first thing in the morning for some energy boost. You can also choose any of your favorite fruit instead. This amazing concoction can also be served as an after meal dessert or as and when desired at room temperature or slightly chilled.

• 1 cup hung yoghurt
• 1 tbsp. powdered sugar / honey
• 1 tsp. kewra water
• pinch of cardamom powder
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped apricots
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 2 tbsp. chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp. melon seeds
• 1 tbsp. raisins
• 1 tbsp. tutti frutti

          Mix together the yogurt, cardamom powder, kewra water and sugar. Now take a tall glass and layer 1 tbsp. of the yoghurt, followed by some cranberries, yoghurt, chopped apricots, yoghurt, chopped dates and then the last layer of yoghurt again.

          Refrigerate for some time. Garnish with chopped walnuts, melon seeds and tutti frutti. Your chilled yummy Fruity Yoghurt Salad is ready to relish.