Sunday, September 16, 2007

Kiwi Gee's Recipes from Down Under - Carrot halwa for a blog milestone

I wont beat around the bush re the milestone (Hey, I HEARD those sighs of relief!) - this is my 250th post! A record that wont mean much to anybody but me, but it IS a personal achievement because I've kept this blog going for quite a while. It's a good feeling because I'm not normally known for sticking with something once started. Doing this blog has been a lot of fun, and I expect I'll be going for a while yet.

I decided to make carrot halwa for my 250th post for two reasons - one, I dont make too many Indian sweets, and two, this recipe comes from my friend KiwiGee, in New Zealand. I'd pestered her for more recipes to try, and she sent me some. Of course what happened was that I sat firmly on those recipes, waiting for an opportunity to make them, in the meantime making her wonder if I'd forgotten! But then she sent a completely unsolicited recipe - for carrot halwa, and I decided that would be the perfect way to salute both my milestone and her contribution.

This is the first time I've made carrot halwa and I found the recipe very easy. It's also fairly quick to make, plus the ingredients are easily available abroad. A boon for those who arent close to Indian shops.

I made two slight changes to the recipe - one, I halved the quantity. One kilo of carrots would have been way too much! As it turned out, even half a kilo was a lot. And two, I added golden raisins along with the cashews. Carrots are just MADE to go with raisins (or possibly the other way around... whatever). And the halwa was gorgeous. Dont take my word for it, try it and see for yourself.

Recipe for:
Kiwi Gee's carrot halwa




Ingredients:



1/2 kg fresh carrots (washed and grated)
1 tbsp ghee
Clove, cardamom powder (1/2 tsp)
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (I used Nestle Light)
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
Cashews - 10
Golden raisins - about 20

Method:

1. Put the ghee in a kadai and fry the cashews and raisins till they go light brown.

Keep aside.

2. In the ghee remaining in the pan, add the grated carrot in and keep ‘frying’ until all the ‘liquid’ in the carrot has evaporated and it is almost cooked (the carrots will change colour from bright orange to pale yellowish-orange - see photo below).



3. Then add in the ricotta cheese (if in India, you’d be adding maava, but unfortunately we are in NZ - or the UK) and keep turning the mixture on low flame.



Mix well and cook on medium heat for a couple of minutes, mashing the carrots a bit.



4. When the cheese is well mixed, add condensed milk (this has to be the sweetened variety, as we are not adding any sugar, remember).



5. Cook for a further couple of minutes (or till the mixture turns thick - it shouldnt be runny) and then add the clove/cardamom powder and then turn off the hob.

6. Decorate with cashews and then, what else, eat!



From start to finish, should not take more than half an hour (if you already have the carrot grated, that is)!!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo, what a buildup da! Honoured to be your 250th recipe!! And salivating already when I think of the many more that are to come! Very well done! And I also thought that I should mention that this recipe is from a friend here in NZ - her name is Jayashree!! Will probably send her this link;-) - G

FH said...

BLOODY HELL!!!;D

Enjoy 250th post and many more to come.Yummy halwa:)

Anonymous said...

Happy 250th Shyam!
Here's hoping for many, many more :-)

Shammi said...

Gee: Thanks :) And thanks to Jayashree too!

Asha: Thank you! Was that exclamation b'cos I didnt babble? :)

Shvetha: Thank you very much! :)

Anonymous said...

yay, yay!!! congratulations :)

ps: did you know blogger loves to eat my comments? i dont like "to lurk".

sra said...

250th!!! Great!
Most people I know had their 100th post and first year anniversary coincide - I couldn't manage even that - I'm just into my 86th! Keep going, Shyam!

bee said...

250 posts? that is huge!!! and your posts always are a treat to read. that's really really really huge!!! congratualtions.

Finla said...

Excelent Halwa. So what are you going to make for you 300 post. Looking forward to it :-)))

Shammi said...

Lakshmi: Thanks - and Blogger didnt eat up this comment of yours, luckily! :)

Sra: Hey, you've only been blogging a year - I started in 2005! Only fair that I have more recipes posted than you. :)

Bee: Thank you! I think it's huge too :) And again, the praise coming from a pair who write so well and take such gorgeous photos... well, it's much appreciated, is all I can say.

Shammi said...

Happycook: Oh, the next milestone will be the 500th post! :) (Here's hoping!)

TheCooker said...

Wow...250 posts. And each one an abs delight!
Congrats!

Manasi said...

250 and going strong!! ur posts are too good!
Love gajar ka halwah..
Congrats!!! All the best.. n keep them coming!!

Suganya said...

It is an achievement, Shammi. Though you went to dormancy sometime back, you are now back in action. And Am so glad to be here on this important milestone of yrs. You know yr blog holds a special place in my heart. Congratulations.

Shammi said...

The Cooker: Thank you! You're too kind! :)

Manasi: Thank you :)

Suganya: Yup, same here as regards your blog :) thank you very much for your good wishes, they really mean a lo.

Jyothi said...

Great shyamala! enjoy the day of 250th post. Great and hope to see more. Congrats and all the best dear.

Shammi said...

Thank you, Jyothi! Now for the NEXT milestone... ;)

Sharmi said...

congrats! thanks for the halwa!250th post man, I am not even half way:)

Sharmi said...

did my comments reach you:(

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the blog milestone! I love, love, love your blog.

I have to say, although I cook Indian food pretty much 3 meals a day, I have never been a fan of Indian sweets. I don't have much of a sweet tooth anyhow, and they are just too sweet and milky for me. BUT....I do love carrot halva. Oh my, yes I do. It is luscious. I actually like payasam too, but that's about it. I will definitely be making this recipe, and with it toast to your excellent tutelage.

Shammi said...

Sharmi, I bet your blog hasnt been around as long as mine, either :) I'm pretty slow! And yes, your comments did reach me - when I was asleep! Remember the time difference? :D

Diane: Wow, I'm touched. Thank you very much for your kind words! :)

Timepass said...

Congrats on ur 250th post.

Shammi said...

Timepass: Thank you! :)

bha said...

Hey Shyam, congrats for the 250th post...an achievement in itself....way to go gal