Moong Dal Ladoo

Moong Dal Ladoo is a delicious Indian sweet made with roasted yellow moong dal, ghee, and sugar, flavored with cardamom. These golden ladoos are soft, rich, and melt in your mouth.

 The roasted moong dal gives them a nutty flavor, and the ghee adds a smooth, buttery texture. Often topped with nuts, they are a perfect treat for festivals, special occasions, or just to enjoy as a healthy, homemade snack. Simple yet full of flavor, these ladoos are both tasty and nutritious!

Ingredients:

• Moong dal (yellow split gram) – 1 cup
• Ghee – 1/2 cup
• Caster sugar  – 1/2 cup (adjust to taste)
• Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) – 2 tablespoons, finely chopped 

Procedure:

1. Roast the Moong Dal:

   • Wash the moong dal thoroughly and dry it completely on a clean cloth.
   • Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and dry roast the moong dal on low-medium flame until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
   • Let it cool slightly, then grind it into a fine powder using a blender or grinder.

2. Prepare the Ladoos:

   • Heat ghee in a pan to melt it. 
   • Add the ground moong dal powder to the molten ghee and stir continuously.
   • Add the caster sugar, cardamom powder, and the chopped nuts. Mix thoroughly to combine.

3. Shape the Ladoos:

   • While the mixture is warm, take small portions and shape them into round ladoos using your palms.
   • If the mixture feels dry, add a little warm ghee to help bind it.

4. Cool and Store:

   • Place the ladoos on a plate and let them cool completely.
   • Store in an airtight container. These ladoos can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.

Quesadilla

Quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla that is stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, corns, beans and other fillings along with some spices, and then toasted. 

This recipe is the creation of my 12-year-old daughter, who has been experimenting with her culinary talents. She’s become my newest source of inspiration and creativity in the kitchen! I am so proud of her!!

Ingredients:

• Corn tortilla wraps (We used Coles Burrito Tortilla Wraps)
• Boiled corn
• Black beans
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped tomatoes
• Chopped capsicum
• Sliced Olives
• Sliced Jalapenos
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Oregano

Procedure:

1. Take a big mixing bowl and add in all the above ingredients except for the Tortilla wraps and cheese.
2. Take a Tortilla wrap and lay it on a clean surface.
3. Sprinkle some shredded cheese over half of the tortilla
4. Then spread the mixture on the same half side of tortilla
5. Again sprinkle some shredded cheese on top. Layering like this helps sealing the tortilla
6. Fold the upper half to create a half moon shape
7. Grill it on a toaster
8. Cut into two pieces and serve

Paneer Puffs

This recipe is one of my own creation and I am very proud of it. 

Anyone who tastes it, falls in love with it!

To be honest, the preparation method is not very simple. It does take time and patience to get this done with perfection. But at the end, you will realize its worth the effort.

Ingredients:

For Paneer stuffing masala:

200 gms Paneer - cut in cubes
1 cup Green, Yellow and Red Bell peppers - cut in cubes
Half Onion - cut in cubes
2 Tomatoes - chopped finely.
1 tbsp Kasuri Methi
Cumin seeds (Jeera) - half tsp
Fennel (saunf) Seeds - half tsp
Coriander seeds (hand crushed) - half tsp
Ginger-Garlic paste
Hing

Coriander powder - half tsp

Cumin powder - half tsp
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Salt
Oil

For Puffs:

Paneer stuffing (recipe given below)
Puff Pastry Sheets - 3


Procedure:

Preparing the Paneer stuffing masala

1. In a vok, add oil, and hing, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and coriander seeds.
2. Add the ginger garlic paste and cook it till the raw smell of the garlic disappears
3. Next add the bell peppers and onion and cook it on a high flame for 2-3 mins till it is half cooked. 
4. Add the chopped tomatoes. Let it cook properly on a medium flame. Add salt.
5. Add the red chili powder, Garam masala, Coriander powder and the Cumin powder and mix well.
6. Slowly add paneer cubes and let it cook on a low flame.
7. Add the Kasuri Methi and mix again.
8. Keep this aside, spread it on a plate and let it cool down

Preparing the Paneer puff

1. Thaw the puff pastry sheets by keeping it out at normal temperature for about 15 - 20 mins.
2. Meanwhile, we can prepare the paneer stuffing masala for the puffs. (Explained above)
3. Take a puff pastry sheet and using a pizza cutter or a knife divide it into 4 equal parts by cutting once vertically and once horizontally
4. Place the masala at the middle bottom portion.
5. Press the sides to stick it and using a fork, try pressing on it. It helps in binding the sides well as well as gives it a nice look.
6. As you are preparing the puffs, Preheat the oven for 10 mins at 180 degrees.
7. Bake the puffs for 30 mins till it is nice golden brown.

The Paneer Puffs are ready to serve.
Serve it with ketchup.