Another sweet made during Ganpati festival. Unlike Ukadiche Modak these Modak are fried and not steamed. Stuffing for these modak is same as Ukadiche Modak but outer covering is different. It is made of  मैदा /all purpose flour. Since stuffing is same I have not included it's ingredients in this recipe. But you can click on link of Ukadiche modak where you will find recipe for stuffing. Stuffing can be made 2 ways using jaggery or sugar. For Ukadiche Modak stuffing is made with गुळ/Jaggery but for fried modak it can be made using either Jaggery or Sugar. I have used Jaggery though for both modak. As we had guest coming over for गणपती आरती/ Ganpati celebrations I made a big batch of these fried modak. Below recipe will make 55 small size modak. Ingredients Saran/Stuffing for modak Ingredients for outer covering 4 cup मैदा /All Purpose Flour 1/3 cup गरम तेलाचे मोहन/ heated canola oil Water/Milk as required for kneading the dough Oil as required for deep frying Method K...

                                          गणपती बाप्पा मोरया !!! उकडीचे मोदक   /Ukadiche Modak is a sweet dumpling made with coconut and Jaggery filling. It is very popular in Maharashtra. Usually made during Ganpati Festival which lasts for 10 days, this Maharashtrian delicacy has special importance to widely worshiped Hindu God 'Ganesha' called as 'गणपती' in Marathi. After the worship ceremony 21 or 11 उकडीचे मोदक/Ukadiche Modak are offered to Lord Ganesha. Modak/मोदक can be steamed or deep fried. Outer covering for both kind of Modaks are different but stuffing is same, made with Coconut and Jaggery. Today's recipe is for Steamed Modak. So let's get started! This recipe will make 21 medium size Modak. Ingredients for सारण/Stuffing  4 Cups Shredded Coconut(I use frozen coconut which works out just as great as Fresh Coconut, saves me the hassle of breaking and t...

This is a perfect kid friendly meal. Kids love this combination of tomato carrot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Soup is simple and delicious. Grilled cheese sandwich is an all time favorite in kids. Just by pairing it up with nice tomato and carrot soup they will have a nice and filling meal. Grilled cheese sandwich is also good when your kid needs a quick snack. I have used American cheese slices as it is mild in flavor and kids can easily adapt to its taste. But if you want to try different kind it is perfectly all right. Ingredients(serves 2) (For Soup) 3 Fresh Tomatoes quartered 2 Carrots washed, peeled and diced Salt as per taste Sugar 1 tsp Pepper as per taste (For Grilled Cheese Sandwich) Makes 2 sandwiches 4 slices of bread 2 slices of American cheese slices Butter as required for grilling Method Cook tomatoes and carrots in a pressure cooker along with water. After 3-4 whistles shut off the gas. Let the pressure drop and let tomatoes and carrots cool a bit...

This sandwich is simple and delicious. I would love to share a story about this sandwich :). Couple of weeks ago we were on Vacation in Blue Ridge Mountains. On our way to a hike we stopped at this old Country store to pack us some sandwiches for lunch. We asked the old lady in that store if they have any Vegetarian Sandwich on menu, they didn't had any. But that sweet old lady made this customized sandwich for us which I re-created when we came back home from our Vacation. The sandwich was made with simple ingredients as mayo, cucumbers, onions etc but it was so delicious and Celery added a nice crunch to the Sandwich. Ingredients(Make 5 sandwiches) 10 Bread Slices wheat or white(lightly toasted) 2 Medium tomatoes sliced 1 Cucumber sliced 2 Stalks from Celery (washed, peeled and cut into 3 inch sticks) 1 Red Onion sliced 5 Cheese slices Iceberg Lettuce Leaves Mayonnaise as required Salt and pepper as required Method Spread mayonnaise on all the slices of bread. Take...

Another recipe for dry chutney. This spicy peanut chutney can add a nice kick to your everyday meal. Make it even more special by adding तुप/ghee, oil or plain yogurt on it while enjoying your meal of पिठलं भाकरी  or as simple as आमटी भात/Dal Chawal. I sill love this chutney as much as I use to love it in my childhood. Ingredients 1 Cup roasted peanuts 1 1/2  tsp chili powder(or according to your taste) 1/2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp cumin seeds Pinch of amchur powder                                   1 tsp oil                                   Salt as per taste                              Method Method can't get any easier than this. Just grind all the ingredients together in blender and your chutney is ready...

Paratha's are gaining popularity worldwide. Most popular name for Paratha is Indian flat bread.  Gobhi paratha is a type of paratha which is stuffed with spicy cauliflower mixture. I had them at my friend's house for the first time few years ago. Serve it up with some nice cool plain yogurt and it tastes scrumptious! Kids  love these gobhi parathas , rather than plain old gobhi ki sabzi. Ingredients 3 cup grated Gobhi/Cauliflower 2 tbs oil 1/8 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp fennel seeds 1/4 tsp turmeric powder Salt as per taste 1 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp amchur powder(dry mango powder) 3 tbs chickpea flour 2 tbs freshly chopped cilantro Oil as required to pan fry paratha's For The Dough 1 1/2 Wheat whole wheat flour(Approximately) plus more for dusting Water as required to knead the dough Couple of pinches salt 1 tsp of canola oil + few for kneading Method Combine wheat flour, salt, oil and water as required little by little to make a soft dough. Rub som...

पिठलं/pithla is a comfort food for most of the Maharashtrian  people. Pithla made from chickpea flour is more common than Kulith Pithla. Many Maharashtrian people are unaware of kulith pithla. English name for kulith is horse gram. In Kokan region kulith is more popular, it is used to make pithla as well as उसळ . Kulith powder is easily available in market in India. I have looked for it here in US but still no luck, have to get it from India every time I visit. For some people it takes time to adjust to its nutty and strong flavor. When you need a quick bite of comfort food, Kulith pithla will certainly satisfy your taste buds and plus it will come together in minutes. Serve it hot with white rice or पोळी/roti. Ingredients(Serves 3-4) 1/2 Cup Kulith Powder 1 Small onion chopped 2-3 Garlic cloves(diced if big) 1 Tbs oil 1/4 Tsp mustard seeds 1/8 Tsp turmeric powder Pinch or two of asafoetida 2 Amsul(dried Kokum) 1/2 Tsp chili powder 3 Cups water Fresh cilantro cho...