Gulaab Jaman

Gulab Jaman Recipe 

Ingredients~

2 cups dry milk powder
1 TBSP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 beaten egg
1 TBSP finely chopped pistachios and some unbroken halves
1 TBSP clarified butter
1 lb sugar
2 drops Kewera essence
water
cooking oil

Steps~

Combine sugar, essence and enough water to make a thick syrup. Heat and stir constantly. Remove from heat as soon as the sugar is fully dissolved and set aside. Once cooled down to almost room temperature you can make the balls.

Combine dry milk, baking powder and flour in a bowl.
Drizzle in butter and mix well
Add egg, mix well, and knead
Make into balls about 2-3 inches across
Heat up cooking oil and when ready drop in balls
Use a spoon to move balls around for even cooking
Set balls onto paper towel to absorb extra oil
Roll balls in syrup mixture and then transfer to plate
Sprinkle chopped pistachios on top
Top each ball with it's own pistachio half

Sweet Pototo - Banana Cassarole

Ingredients~

2 lb washed sweet potatos
2 large, ripe bananas (whole and unpeeled)
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Option - chopped pecans, brown sugar

Steps~

Preheat oven to 375F
Poke several holes in the sweet potatoes and roast on a cookie sheet in oven for 20 minutes
Add bananas (peels and all) to same cookie sheet and cook another 10 minutes
At the 30 minute mark both should be really soft. If not cook another 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to safely handle.
Peel potatoes and bananas, discard peels
Slice potatoes and bananas and put into a mixing bowl. Mix and mash them using a potato masher.
If you want a super smooth texture, transfer to a food processor or blender.
Add coconut milk, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
Top with a light sprinkling of brown sugar and/or chopped nuts.
Serve immediately.
Store in closed container in refrigerator. Reheat leftovers.

Sugar Cookies  - Basic Recipe

Ingredients~

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 2/3 cup flour
2/3 tsp baking powder

Steps~

Cream butter and sugar together until nice and smooth.
Beat in the egg and then the vanilla
Sift the flour and baking powder together in a separate bowl and then add to butter mixture.
Roll your dough out into a log and then wrap up in plastic wrap
Refrigerate for two hours
Options: 1. Slice the cold roll into 1/2 inch slices
              2.  Roll 1/4 slices into balls and flatten them with your thumb, putting a little jam in the middle
              3.  Roll balls into crushed nuts and then flatten with a fork
Put cookies about an inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 7-10 minutes, remove from oven right away and cool completely before transferring them onto a plate.
More options: 1. Drizzle stripes of icing made from powdered sugar and lemon juice
                       2. Dip edges or half of cookie into melted white, milk or dark chocolate
                       3. Ice and decorate with sprinkles, small candies and gum drops