Monday, August 31, 2009

Modak, Boorelu, Panchakhadya & Nugul-Untallu ~~ IC Challenge & Celebrating First Blog Anniversary

Voila!! already its one year of blogging..i cant even believe that today am celebrating my first year blog anniversary..I should really say a big thanks to each and everyone who stopped by and left so many encouraging words which really increased my energy level to post my non stop recipes..During this one year in blogsphere, i learned so many things especially visiting so many blogs, learning many cuisines, got introduced to many friends, improved many techinical stuffs..I had a wonderful year in this vast blogsphere..

In this one year, am almost nearing to my 700th post also hosted many events, won some cookbooks, been tagged and awarded by many blog friends..Big thanks to my family members,without them nothing is possible and definitely nothing is possible without my regular followers & friends...Am celebrating this first blog anniversary with you all with some delicious Ganesh Chathurthi sweets which i prepared for Indian Cooking Challenge as challenge for this month of August..




Modak from Maharashtra:
Stuffing:
2 cups freshly grated coconut
1 cup jaggery (grated)
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp cardamom powder
one pinch nutmeg (optional)
2 tbsp water



Cover:
1 cup rice flour
1.25 cup water
pinch of salt
1 tbsp oil

Preparation for Stuffing:
Roast poppy seeds in a small skillet and let it cool down. Grind it coarsely and keep it aside.
In a heavy bottom kadhai mix all the ingredients for stuffing except poppy seed powder and let it sit for 15 min. Now start heating the mixture over medium heat. In about 10-12 minutes, the mixture starts boiling and stuffing will turn yellowish brown and will be sticky. Take the kadhai off the heat, add poppy seeds powder and mix well. Set it aside to cool down.



Preparation for cover:
Take vessel that has tight fitting cover. Start boiling water in that vessel, add salt and oil. When water starts boiling, lower the heat and slowely add rice flour. Please do now dump everything at once. Start mixing vigourously with a heavy spoon. Now close the lid and take the pot off the heat. Let the covered pot cool down for 15 minutes or so. Then with wet hands, mix the dough properly. It will warm so be careful and use cold water to keep your hands from burning but do not use too much water.


Making Modak :
Start boiling water in a large vessel that can fit a steamer. Oil the steamer and set it aside.Make about 20 balls of the dough and 20 parts of the stuffing. Start making small puri with the dough ball on a oiled paper/aluminum foil. Keep one part of stuffing in the middle of the puri and gather the puri gently to make shape like modak with modak mould.Now dip each modak in cold water and put it in the steamer. Put the steamer on boiling water and cover it. Let themodaks steam for 20 minutes on medium to high heat. Take the steamer off the vessel and let it sit for 5 minutes before removing moodak from steamer.






Boorelu from Andhra:
For the outer layer:
Black gram dal/ Urad dal - 50 gms

For the Filling:
Bengal gram/Channa dal - 1 cup
Grated Jaggery - 1 cup
Fresh grated Coconut - 1/4 cup (opt)
Cardamom powder - 3/4 tsp
salt to taste
oil for deep frying

Method to prepare:
Wash and soak Urad dal for 4-5 hrs. Place in a big vessel as it will expand after soaking.

Then drain water from the Urad dal and grind to fine paste adding very little water. The batter is almost like the thick dosa batter before you make dosas. Add salt and leave it aside covered.

Pressure cook the channa dal with just enough water to cover it. Even if excess water is there, you can always use the water for chaaru. But less water is better.Cook the jaggary to remove any scum. Then once the dal is well cooked, drain and cook it along with the jaggary. It should become very soft enough for you to mash well. Add Cardamom powder and grated coconut, when the dal starts to leave the sides its done.

Remove and cool. Divide them into equal balls.Heat a thick bottom kadai for frying. Once the oil is hot, turn to sim. Then dip each ball in the Urad dal batter. Then gently drop them into the hot oil. Turn and cook on all sides. Once couple of batches are done, strain the oil to remove the scum.It hardly takes more than 2-3 mins to get cooked. Drain them on to a kitchen towel.






Panchakhadya from Maharashtra
1 cup grated dry coconut (i used dry roast grated coconut)
4-5 tbsp powdered sugar
2 tbsp poppy seeds
4-5 dried dates
1/2 tbsp cardamom powder
4-5 tbsp coarsely powdered mixed nuts (almonds,cashews, pistachios)
pinch of nutmeg powder


Dry roast grated coconut on a very light heat and set aside..dry roast poppy seeds and grind them coarsely after cooling them for 5 minutes...take the seeds off the dried dates and grind them coarsely as well. Mix all these ingredients and nuts powder, cardamom, nutmeg, powdered sugar together..Panchakhadya is ready...






Nugul-Untallu from Andhra:
100gms Sesame Seeds
3tbsp Grated Jaggery


Wash the black sesame seeds and dry it over a towel or else under sun..dry roast the sesame seeds and keep aside, grind together the sesame seeds and jaggery...make 12-15balls from this mixture..


48 comments:

Padma said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on your First Blog Anniversary... what a great way by reaching nearing 700 posts/recipes... appreciate your hard work and enthu ....wishes to achieve many more mile stones.

Poornima Nair said... Reply To This Comment

I can't believe its only one year since you started, the no. of posts you have is just amazing. Congratulations!!
Your modak looks so perfect, just want to grab one, so tempting.

indosungod said... Reply To This Comment

Congratulations! Priya. The array of recipes you have is amazing.

chakhlere said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats for the Milestone achievement! Modak looks very tempting.

Shobana senthilkumar said... Reply To This Comment

congrats...ur modak luks so gud:)

Sanghi said... Reply To This Comment

Oh dear.. this is a great news.. Hearty Congratulations! You are one of my dearest friends who has given support at all times. I treasure you! Delicious sweets da!:)

Pavithra Elangovan said... Reply To This Comment

Oh wow that great thing u achieved 700 post withing a yr.. really great achievement dear.. congrats keep going.. loved all the dishes..

sathya said... Reply To This Comment

Happy Blog Anniversary priya!
Looking at your 700 posts, its amazing how much effort you have put into your blog. keep rocking girl!
Modak, boorelu,panchakhadya and nugul untallu looks delicious!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said... Reply To This Comment

Happy Anniv. Loved the celebration sweets... You have a lovely blog with amazing display of dishes - keep on going...

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on ur milestone with 700 posts! And lovely looking goodies!

Nandinis food said... Reply To This Comment

Happy Blog Anniversary! Priya. Modak looks Yum! congrats!

Indrani said... Reply To This Comment

Happy blog anniversary, Priya...I'm amazed with your energy and no. of recipes you've posted it's unbelievable...wish many more 700 recipes from you.btw, I saw your post for my event, but I didn't get it yet....today is the last date, just to inform you if you've missed it

Valarmathi Sanjeev said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats Priya. Modak looks good.

Anonymous said... Reply To This Comment

Thats a great news to hear Priya.Congratulations and am sure you will go long from here.Great spread.

Malini Basu said... Reply To This Comment

Priya, Congratulations on your firt blog anniversary....great going

Raks said... Reply To This Comment

With a year you have got a so many,nice collections of recipes ...Looking forward for more priya :)

Anonymous said... Reply To This Comment

à®®ோடக் பாà®°்த்துà®®் சாப்பிட தூண்டுகிறது ப்à®°ியா ...வாà®´்த்துக்கள் ..really wonderful

அன்புடன்,
à®…à®®்à®®ு.

ST said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on your First Blog Anniversary with 700 posts....wishes to achieve many more mile stones.The array of recipes are fabulous...

Priya Narasimhan said... Reply To This Comment

700 posts in 1 year..that sure is some achievement..congratulations..modaks look very beautifull.

Varsha Vipins said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats for that amazing one year Priyakka..yummy treats for that..:)

Jayashree said... Reply To This Comment

Congratulations on completing a year.

lata raja said... Reply To This Comment

Congratulations!!!! You RULZ dear.I an thoroughly flat with all these goodies.

Parita said... Reply To This Comment

WOW modak's have come out so perfect! Congratulations on your one super successfull year dear..wish u many more ahead :)

Sushma Mallya said... Reply To This Comment

congraz on ur first blog anniversary priya...modak looks very delicious and perfect

Sanghi said... Reply To This Comment

Kindly pick your award from my blog dear!

Hari Chandana P said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on your blog Anniversary!... boorelu looks soo tempting.. keep rocking dear!!

Divya Kudua said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on completing a year of blogging...700 posts..My my,you are truly an enthusiastic blogger!!

The thali looks amazing,modaks look so pretty:)

Pari Vasisht said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on your first bloganniversary.The spread looks great.

Saritha said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on completing a year and oh my god 700 recipes,u rock yaar.

And u did all the recipes of the cooking challenge for this month,great job and effort.

Lavanya Raj said... Reply To This Comment

Kozhukattai super a irukku!

I have FEW AWARDS for you. Kindly Check my blog.

http://homecookreceipes.blogspot.com/2009/08/awards-and-meme.html

Premyscakes said... Reply To This Comment

congrats on your first blog anniversary. modak looks just perfect. so tempting too.

Vrinda said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on ur 1st blog anniversary Priya..modak looks so cute...

Deepthi Shankar said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats Priya on completing your anniversary. The modaks look really wonderful

Gita Jaishankar said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats dear...wow 700 posts in a year...way to go Priay...keep rocking :) Lovely modaks!

Mangala Bhat said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats! On your First blog anniversery!Looks yummy!OMG ..u have almost reached .700!:)

Medhaa said... Reply To This Comment

Congratulations for completing your first year, Love all the dishes, the modak look so lovely, so you use a mold.

Lisa Turner said... Reply To This Comment

Happy blog anniversary! Keep up the good work.

Vijitha said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats dear! Gr8 job with the number of posts da.

Yummy modak. The shape looks awesome. How did u manage with that? Do share the tips with me.

Thanks

Prasukitchen.blogspot.com said... Reply To This Comment

wow they are looking really cute .. esp modak i loved it
kindly pls collect ur award from my blog dear!!

PriyaRaj said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on ur Anniversary......ur Modak looks in very perfect shape....thanx for ur sweet comment dear.....

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats Priya on your first Anniversary. You always rock and will continue to rock with so many yummy recipes. I used to sometimes wonder about your energy in trying out so many new dishes. Keep going girl. All the dishes are lovely and a very apt post for the 1st anniversary.

Hb said... Reply To This Comment

Yey!Andhra boorelu, lovely no? Those modaks are shaped beautifully, overall yummy spread. Nice to be on your page :)

vidhas said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats on your blog anniversery. You really have lots of enthu, i can see a new recipe everfyday, 700 recipes is something great!!!!

All the dishes for Icc looks os tempting .

Purva Desai said... Reply To This Comment

Congrats for ur first Blog Anniversary.....
Modak looks perfect and other dishes are appetizing tooo....
They will also qualify for Ganesh Chaturthi event in my blog

Renus Kitchen said... Reply To This Comment

congratulations for completing 1 year !!! and your Modak look so professionally done !

Priya Suresh said... Reply To This Comment

Thanks friends, for stopping by and leaving ur comments, am really very happy to see all ur comments..Am honoured..

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

CONGRATS ON YOUR BLOG ANNIVERSARY Priya wish you many more years like this delicious spread on this special post every thing looks great.

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

You want know about my country and the dishes??, go to: vegetarianviet.blogspot.com.