Suji Halwa (Semolina sweet treat)

Ingredients :

Ghee 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp to be added at the end
Bay leaf 1 (optional)
Milk 2 cups
Semolina (suji) 1 cup
Sugar 4 tbsp
Nuts (almonds,raisins,pine nuts,cashewnuts) chopped 1 tbsp

Method :

Heat a pan.Add ghee.Check with a wooden spoon if it sizzles when dipped in ghee then add the bay leaf (optional). Saute for a second. Add semolina and fry till it turns light brown.Be careful not to burn it. Take it off the heat and keep aside in a plate. In the same pan pour milk and let it simmer on medium heat.Add sugar when the milk starts boiling and mix properly.Later add the semolina. It would soak all the milk after a min or two so add a little ghee at this stage. Take it off the pan.Garnish with nuts and serve hot.

Note : You can add elaichi powder while boiling the milk.Don’t add bay leaf if you want to use elaichi powder.Oil can be used instead of ghee.I prefer ghee as it lends a special aroma and enhances the taste of the dish too.You can increase or decrease the amount of the ingredients according to your preferences.

Lembu Bhat (Lemon Rice)

Ingredients :

Rice (boiled with salt added to it beforehand ) 1 cup
Butter 4 tbsp
Oil 1 tbsp
Kari patta 2 sprigs or about 8-10 leaves
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Dry red chillies broken 2
Urad dal 2 tbsp
Chana dal 1 tbsp
Capsicum (chopped fine) ½ of a big one
Turmeric powder 2 tbsp
Lemon juice 1 ½ tbsp
Nuts (almonds,pine nuts, cashewnuts) 2 tbsps (optional)

Method :

Heat a pan or kadai (a non-stick one is better).Add butter and oil (adding oil to the butter ensures that butter doesn’t get burnt). When hot add mustard seeds,kari patta and red chillies. Saute for a sec. Add the urad dal and chana dal. Saute till they turn light pink. Add capsicum and sauté till it turns soft. Add turmeric powder. Mix well. Add rice little by little and mix well. Make sure that each grain of rice gets coated with turmeric evenly. When all the rice grains are done add lemon juice mix well and serve hot after garnishing with the chopped nuts.