GULAB JAMUN/ INSTANT GULAB JAMUN USING READYMADE MIX

Gulab jamun is a very popular sweet in India, often served during special occasions and festivals. It is commonly made using khoya, flour and sugar and flavoured with rose water or cardamom powder. For Eid we usually prepare gulab jamuns using gulab jamun mixes as they are easily available and save time and effort. The gulab jamuns are ready in less than an hour and taste delicious.

RAVA LADOO/ SOOJI LADOO/ SEMOLINA BALLS

Semolina or Rava ladoo is a very simple and easy to prepare sweet that gets done in less than 20 minutes. It is prepared by mixing roasted sooji with sugar, nuts and ghee and shaping the mix to form balls. The ladoos can be prepared and stored in an air tight container for later use.

This recipe has been adapted from Sangeetha's Spicy treats. 

HOW TO MAKE VANILLA ICE CREAM AT HOME

Vanilla ice cream can be easily prepared at home using just 3 ingredients. And we don’t even need an ice cream maker for this. Just whip cream with sugar and essence and vanilla ice cream gets ready. Serve the ice cream as it is or add nuts or chocolate shavings to make it more flavourful.

HOW TO STITCH ANARKALI SUIT WITH LAYERS / SEWING BASICS

Anarkali suits are one of the most popular Indian dresses. I have already done a post on how to stitch a basic anarkali suit and in this post the method of stitching anarkali suit with layers or tiers is discussed. Usually in this type of anarkali suit, 3, 4 or 5 layers are pleated and stitched one below the other.  The layers can be of the same colour or of 2 or 3 different but related colours. Anarkali suit is usually stitched with thin fabrics like chiffon and Georgette.

BROCCOLI POTATO STIR FRY

Broccoli is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and dietary fibre. It is said that it also plays a role in reducing the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Hence this healthy and nutritious vegetable has started gaining prominence in India. In this stir fry recipe broccoli is mixed with boiled potatoes. You can serve this as a side dish with rice and curry or with roti, chapathi or Naan.

LEMON VERMICELLI WITH EGGS

Vermicelli upma is an easy to make breakfast recipe that can be cooked in just about 15 minutes. You can make modifications to the recipe by adding carrots, capsicum, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, etc.

KHAJUR HALWA

Khajur halwa is a delicious sweet made using dried dates and milk. Dates are rich sources of iron, vitamins and minerals and hence this sweet is packed with health benefits as well. The recipe uses just a handful of ingredients and gets done in a span of about 30 minutes. A small amount of sugar has been used in the recipe but you can omit it to make the sweet healthier. This might not alter the taste much as dates are naturally sweet.

HOW TO MAKE A KAFTAN / SEWING BASICS

Kaftan or Caftan is a single piece dress which can be worn as a shirt or kurti or a nightdress. The only difference is its length. Kaftan requires the entire width of cloth and larger the width, longer will be the length of the sleeves. Stitching is done only at the neck, sides and near the ankles. Caftans are usually stitched with cotton, satin, nylon or silk fabrics and usually have embroidery or a print design near the neck.