10 October 2013

10 minute Coconut Laddu


coconut_ladoo

Whole India will be beaming in a mood of celebration for one of the longest /biggest 10 day festival, Navrathri is going on and I am feeling darn nostalgic here! Festivals I just love love love it.Crazy about it.For me each and every festivals evokes so many precious childhood memories.I can't thank enough my parents for raising me in North India where festivals like Navartri,Dussera,diwali,holi to name a few are celebrated with full fervor and I used to look forward to it eagerly .Festival in the air was = happiness in the air.My memories of Navrathri involves being extremely excited for having holidays (no school day..yuhooo) ,waking up to the loud varieties of Bollywood songs playing near and far,mom busy preparing festival special for the day,not to mention house is on fire..i mean smells heavenly...all neighbours bringing varieties of Prasad/(offerings) to my house and me enjoying one by one ,by evening dad would take all of us to visit different Pandals where every idol of Goddess Durga would look so surreal with long queues of devotees clad in new dress standing to get a glimpse of her,lots of varieties of yummy street foods and other street vendors on the side ,selling balloons,toys,or accessories of ladies stuff etc and though my parents are strict against street foods ,my dad in his festive spirits would allow us to binge on "Bhatura chana" ..Oh my favourite !! :D...and then I would be convincing momma to buy me those earrings,nail polishes,kajals etc and she would though initially act strict would later on feel pity on my innocent drooped face Cute 3D smiling...and the best things about the festivals was "Forget about the study " attitude ..aahhhh Gala days it used to be !

coconut_laddu

I think when you are in India, you enjoy festivals but when you are away from your motherland the true spirits and significance of the festivals sink in deep and so you appreciate it more especially the minute details involved.....I believe all these interesting different festivals makes India distinct and colorful exhibiting and rejoicing the rich cultural heritage at its best. As a matter of fact can't imagine a life without any festivals...how boring and monotonous it will be !!

coconut_laddu


Navrathri festival if you don't know is a festival of Hindus , worshipping and celebrating mother goddess, Shakthi/Durga destroying the demon Mahishasura  in her nine forms or avatars for nine consecutive days.A festival reminding the victory of good over evil.A festival full of devotion,music,dance and good foods.Usually it is one of the main festival of the eastern part of India,Bengal especially Kolkata where the true spirit is full on in it's unique & best way.However it is celebrated all over India in different ways .



Where we lived we had Bengali neighbors next door and upstairs. My next door Bengali aunty and we were like a joint family ..aunty used to treat my mom as her own younger sister and her daughter and myself used to be popularly called "Badi munni and choti munni " :D (munni means little girls in Hindi)(Badi munni toh badi munni,choti munni toh subhaan Allah..remember the song haha:P) .We were nothing less than sisters too.Aunty was a great cook ,she shared almost everything she prepared at home and so did my mom.Awesome rapport we shared !!Unfortunately Poddar uncle and aunty are no more :(. Their one and only daughter and my sister is now a big girl,got married recently .So happy for her.May almighty shower all kinds of happiness on her.Every Durga puja reminds us and actually since uncle,aunty's death became a tribute remembering them especially .!

As they say,"Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same." We all miss you so much !!!




Aunty used to be such an ardent devotee of Goddess Durga that she used to not only pamper offerings to the goddess but also us living next door .She made varieties of sweets and snacks.One such sweet was Coconut laddu.That tasted so out of the world.

I made these coconut laddus as a tribute to my aunty especially .

As you know Laddu/laddoo is a ball shaped sweet poular in India made with flour,coconut, etc and ghee ,sugar especially.Coconut laddus are sweets made with coconut .



Coconut Laddus

Ingredients

Sweetened Desiccated Coconut – 4 cups
Condensed milk - 1 tin (400 g)
Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon
Ghee -1 teaspoon & as required
Raisins & Silver foil/warq to decorate (optional)



Preparation method
  • Keep about 1/2 cup of coconut aside.
  • Heat a pan ,keep the flame low and add condensed milk ,ghee and dessicated coconut to it and stir it till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan for about 5 minutes approx.Make sure you don't burn it.
  • Add the cardamom powder and stir.
  • Now remove them from the stove and allow them to cool off.
  • Apply little ghee on your palm and roll the mixture into small balls.
  • Finally coat them into the remaining coconut kept aside for a finishing touch.
  • Coconut laddus are ready to be served  as an offering to Goddess and enjoy it with her blessings in them therafter or just anytime as a quick sweets.

I didn't coat them in coconut as my hubby likes it this way itself.



Jai Mata Di,