Saunf wala Sooji ka Halwa | Semolina pudding with Fennel Seeds

Sooji Halwa is a classic Indian sweet! There are many versions of this sweet treat. Traditionally, Sooji Halwa is flavored with a large pinch of cardamom. Some folks like to cook it in milk, or a combination of milk and water. When saffron is added to it, its gets a light yellow color and is called Rava Kesari.

Namkeen Kulkul | Karam Ghavalu | Spicy Crisp Shells

Namkeen Kulkul or Karam Ghavalu is a delicious snack that comes from Western India. My first introduction to Kulkul was in its sweet form. The spicy one I came to know of many years later. I love both forms of Kulkul and this Diwali I made the spicy one for family and friends. I love to add sesame seeds in Namkeens and I chose to add a good handful in this version of Kulkul. The result was really good - the Kulkul was crunchy with the seeds adding some extra flavor and texture to this snack.

Kele aur Saunf ka Pua | Deep Fried Sweet Dumplings | Kumaoni Recipes

Kumaoni cuisine is unique in its ingredients, recipes, and taste. The recipe for Kumaoni Puas | Deep Fried Sweet Dumplings also carries the unique taste of bananas and fennel.

Sweet fried dumplings are found in pretty much every cuisine! Today I am sharing a family recipe for Pua or a sweet fried dumpling from the beautiful hills of Kumaon!! These Puas are unique in that that are made with bananas and fennel and so packed with nutrition and energy needed to survive the cold winters in the hills. My grandmother always made these delicious Puas or Puae as a Prasad on certain festival days. But they were made more frequently to requests by her grandchildren who just love their taste and enjoyed munching them as a snack after school or sports!!

Rava Laddoo | Rava Laddu | Suji Laddoo: Indian Festival Sweets

Oftentimes we are in a great hurry and find it difficult to spend time in the kitchen laboriously making sweets. This is all too true during the festival period when there are so many activities at home and events elsewhere that attract our attention. Yet the thought of store bought mithai is so depressing, especially to many of us who have homes on other continents! All sweets tend to taste the same - full of sugar and no flavour of their own, so much so that it becomes impossible to distinguish one from the other!!