The other day I was craving so much for something sweet – something which reminds me of home, gives me the feeling of my mom by my side, gets done with minimum work and effort yet delectable enough to get lost in its senses! Thats a huge order isnt it? Then BINGO!!!!! Carrot Halwa – a.k.a Gajar Ka Halwa or for more broader understanding Indian Carrot pudding. What? You havent heard of it? You have not tasted it yet? You must be kidding me!! Go Go now – Take a skillet and make them now – its worth moving every small muscle including your tongue

My mom makes one of the best carrot halwa ( and so do a billion other mothers! Moms are such – especial!) and more so the fact that she used to make them specifically for an occasion – Birthday? No, Wedding Anniversary? – Naaaaaah! mmmmm? Did you say Festivals? Nope – Our festivals have south indian sweets. Then whats the occasion you ask? You wouldnt guess it at all – She made it every last day of my exams – be it stupid unit tests, Term exams or the main annual examinations! yeah I know what you are thinking – “This girl must have been a total hardworking girl who aced her exams so much so that her mom made it even before the results”!! hehehe jokes on you! My marks, my performance or my so called “hard work” had nothing to do with it. She was just happy that I was happy that my exams were over ( or she had some other secret “at last relief from bickering” reasons – I dunno. But I got this favourite without fail.

So after making the halwa, one spoon in hand and mom’s photo in another, I spent some good quality minutes with her in my thoughts –aaah those days! While I get lost in nostalgic thoughts, check out my mom’s recipe ( tweaked by me)

Ingredients
2 cups carrot, grated
1 cup milk
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tbsp Pistachio, chopped ( optional)
1/2 cup ghee [ dont gawk!!! You absolutely need this for that heavenly reason!!! Ok if you really need to cut it down to few tbsp :'( ]
1 cup sugar [ stop smirking! You are really taking the fun out of eating this by looking at me with raised eyebrows! Use 50-50 sugar and splenda!!!! ]
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tbsp broken cashews, toasted

Method

1.Heat a non stick pan, heat the ghee and then add the carrots, saute till the raw smell of the carrots is replaced by distinct aroma.

2.Then add both the milk and cook for another 10min or until the milk is almost absorbed.

3.Add sugar and cardamom and cook further till it all comes to a single mass.

4. Now garnish this with the pistachios if using and cashews and let the taste buds take over. You can also use raisins for this recipe although I personally like this as it is.

1) Off this goes to EC for her WYF Event with Food colour as the theme. I love orange color in foods – thanks to this recipe specially.

2)To Dhanggit maiden Event with Party dishes as the theme. This bowlful of halwa would win over even the most fussiest of kids – not to say about adults.

3)To Pooja for her Independance Day theme with 3 colors of Indian flag – this is my interpretation of the Orange (carrot), White(cashews/plate) and the Green(pistas) colors.

4)To Sunita’s TS event which is celebrating 1 yr anniversary with think favourite theme.. For me Cardamom is indispensable in my kitchen. Starting from morning tea to savoury and sweet dishes, it finds its way in almost everything I cook helping to enhance a simple dish with its presence. That being said, Carrot halwa finds its way to TC event.

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The deadline for AWED : Italian is coming 15th, so if you have been meaning to make that bookmarked Italian dish or thinking of getting creative and wild with the theme, then its now time to get it done in a jiffy.

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