Matar Burfi/ Green Peas Fudge ~ Rose Cardamom Flavors

The though of making this burfi came to my mind when I decided to participate in recipe challenge event announced by my friend on her FB group. The theme was festive food with a twist. The challenge was open for sweets as well as savory recipes prepared during festivals celebrated across the globe. The focus was on aromatic ingredients being used in the recipe - be it cardamom powder, vanilla, saffron, rosewater, screwpine essence, vanilla, spices, etc. 




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Fresh Khava / Khoya / Mawa [Milk Solids] ~ Home made ~ Step By Step Pictures

Many of the sweet preparations during Diwali includes khava/ mawa [milk solids] in its recipe. Usually we get this from stores selling mithais, and you may buy it as per your requirements bypassing this time consuming process. But home made stuff is altogether a different story and fresh taste is anytime better than store bought items. There are two methods one is stove top method and other one is microwave method. Below I am taking you through a step by step pictorial guide for stove top, a traditional way of making this at home. Please understand that this stove top method is time consuming, needs strong legs to stand in kitchen, patience to continue cooking on lowest flame and a bit attentive mind to stir in intervals.



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Dryfruit Rolls / Dryfruit Squares/ Dryfruits Truffles

Excitement of Diwali festive celebration has already gripped the Indian blogs... buzzing with goodies - sweet as well as savory varieties.... Must say the food photography these days on food blogs has just grown in multiples and I am left marvelled looking those presentations! Looking at so many beautiful pictures I keep wishing ' kaash these Diwali goodies could reach at my place by now" would get a chance to taste them. You too feel them same right? I am sure you are nodding your head in agreement to what I wrote above ;) 

Jumping from one recipe to other recipe unable to decide which one to try for this season, finally I settled down with a small list and happy to be part of this festive buzz. 




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Coconut Laddoos With Mango Kewra Flavors

Diwali is just around the corner and me busy preparing goodies especially sweets [family being fan of sweets]. Soyi Khadi is the simplest sweet that I can think of preparing, for any joyous occasion or festive celebrations and it always remains on my list especially during Diwali ... If you are interested to know the recipe for this sweet, I have posted one which you can check here.  This time it was coconut sweet with a twist, yes the khadi was prepared but in different shape and made rich with inviting flavors. 

I have tasted sweets/desserts with mango flavors, but have you ever tried tasting sweets with Kewra essence? Read more about Kewra here. I was not sure about how it would and that's how I decided to experiment and taste it. Added it in place of cardamom powder. Melt in mouth, juicy soft coconut laddoos with subtle mango flavors and hint of kewra essence added unique flavor taking this sweet to next level . You wouldn't want to stop eating on one, such are these laddoos ~ an exotic treat to your tastebuds! Happy to share with you all the its recipe here.




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Bread Pizza Bites/ Bread Pizza

Breads can be a lifesaver for most of the times. A handy ingredient, pick up at anytime of day and there are numerous dishes that you can prepare from it to serve either for breakfast or evening tea time snacks. I had posted Bread usli recipe. Today it's pizza. Pizza is a dish mostly liked by baccha [kids] team and here its made with bread slice as its base.




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Apple Salad / Raita

The first time I tasted an apple raita was prepared by my Sister in law during one of our vacations. She had used red apples, it tasted so nice that I immediately noted down its recipe in my mind when she told me orally. Inspite of memorizing it and with a note to myself to try her recipe, I was not able to make this salad after our return for some or the other reason. After few days, the dish was out of my mind and forgotten  completely. I was reminded of it once again when I came across a salad recipe in the book "The Konkani Saraswat Cuisine" using Green apples. I immediately bookmarked it and decided to try it. I got my grey cells working trying to remember the recipe that was given by my SIL. A healthy salad, enriched with sweetness and tangyness, you will love those crunchy bites mixed with raisin bites. Since then I have been preparing it but was unable to click any photos. Last week, HD bought some red and green apples and suggested me to prepare it as an accompaniment to the green peas pulao that I had planned. Immediately I agreed and clicked some photos too. Below I have shared the recipe inspired by my SIL and from Asha aunty's book. Do try and leave your feedback.




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No Bake Eggless Blackberry Cheesecake [With Agar Agar]

Last week it was a time well spent with family at home, outings, meeting friends and not to forget special cooking ! It was 9 days holiday at work on account of Eid celebrations, the news of which was surprise to me as previously it was mentioned for 5 days only. Now with 4 more days added, I decided atleast now I should be spending some more time in the kitchen and try few of the recipes that I had bookmarked from a long time.
  
So here comes the dessert that was prepared on last day of Eid holidays and it tasted so delicious that I am eager to share its recipe here. No bake Eggless Blackberry Cheesecake, that turned out to be a hit at home. I have posted the recipe before, for No bake Eggless Mango cheesecake  with cheese and cream in it. Below recipe has been adapted from here which uses hung curd and paneer instead of regular cheese and cream. I reduced the quantity by half and used small glasses to make individual portions. These individual dessert glasses will surely impress your guests and not just that, it will be convenient while serving too. Though the recipe method may look lengthy, but this is a really simple to make dessert. We all enjoyed it.





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Banana Dosa - Guest Post 6

After a gap for few months I am back with my guest series. Today's guest is Anusha Joshi. 

When Anusha wrote a feedback for the first time on F and C's FB page, it was heartwarming to read her comment "had tried making them so many times but never came up with good results... this time they have come really nice spongy and soft... I think your recipes are lucky for me :) "  ... This was about the rasgullas, she had tried preparing following the recipe here. Since the inception of Flavors and Colors, she has been supportive trying different recipes and providing me with her genuine feedback. 

Though initially it was virtual acquaintance, later I got to know that she knew me even before Flavors and Colors ! It was actually a friend of my hubby who is related to Anusha and there we got connected. I am happy to have found a friend in her who is a mom to an infant now. What I appreciate in her is her enthusiasm and her own creative touch to different recipes. Check the below photo [chocolate cake with ganache prepared by her] and you will be left drooling, thinking how you can grab that plate.

Over to my guest today,

Hello foodies, I am Anusha and love cooking ! My cooking hobby started after I got married and my cooking inspiration is none other than Aparna akka. Her clicks made me crazy about cooking and photography. Getting to share the below recipe in her blog is like an honor for me and I would like to thank her for giving me this opportunity.

The recipe is for a sweet dosa [my favourite ;)], which you can have at breakfast or can be a great idea to pack in lunch box.

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Peanut Garlic Chutney

No South Indian breakfast menu would be complete without inclusion of coconut chutney. But then sometimes situations arise when coconut is out of stock and sometimes you just want to reduce the coconut intake. Try below chutney recipe which can also be a great accompaniment to South Indian breakfast and tiffin menu. This chutney is an all time favourite at my place. Kids eat extra idlis/ dosas when they are served this chutney. 




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E-Book by Indusladies with 100 Kids Lunchbox Recipes

Are you searching for kids lunch box recipes? Sometimes do you get stuck for kids lunch ideas as well as healthy eating ? Then here is happy news. 

Indusladies has come out with an E-book having simple and easy recipes [besides 30 printable lunch box love notes as bonus] that will help you in packing your kids lunch box. Its a beautiful compilation of 100 yummy recipes from different bloggers around. I am sure this list will be helpful for busy moms, and make us worry less once we see empty tiffin boxes back from school.

The book is officially available for free download and you can get it at the link given below 
http://www.indusladies.com/food/kids-lunch-box-recipes

A proud moment for me as I share with you all that two recipes from Flavors and Colors, has been selected and featured in this ebook and me doing happy dance here as I read Flavors and Colors been mentioned under 100 best Indian food blogs for this book. Many thanks to the organizers for selecting the below recipes and linking back to the blog.

Stuffed Appo/ Paniyaram

and 

Surnali/ Surnoli 

Do try the above recipes and other recipes from the book. So why wait, grab yourself a free copy of this e-book and surprise your kids. 

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Eggless Semolina Cake ~ Mango, Coconut, Nuts

I had posted recipe for savoury semolina cake few months back, that was tried by few of my friends who enjoyed it as a tea time snack. If you haven't do try after you check the recipe here

Today the post is again a cake made from semolina, and its sweet rather than savoury. Its eggless and I used mango purree as egg substitute here. A big thanks passed to my friends D, U and J who inspired me to bake the below cake, definitely a keepsake recipe at my place.



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Chilli Garlic Noodles

Noodles have been an all time favourite at my place. Below recipe is adapted from the recipe that came printed on back side of noodles packet.

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Karbeva Chutney/ Curry Leaves Chutney

Dry chutney podis are such a help in situations when I plan to skip preparing curries or side dish. The below dry chutney powder is prepared from curry leaves that imparts a distinctive aroma and flavor to this chutney. 

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Kunvale Sasam - Ashgourd Curry from Konkani Cuisine

Kunvale Sasam is a traditional dish from Konkani cuisine prepared from ashgourd during festivals/ functions at home and especially for devasthan jevan [meals] during temple festivals. Recently I had prepared this curry at home. Though unable to replicate the same irresistible taste [which the curry gets probably because it is prepared in large quantity], we loved this delicious curry with rice and happolu [spicy papads].




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