PUNJABI PINNI / GOND LADOO / EDIBLE GUM LADOO / WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR LADOO

Pinni is a very famous Punjabi sweet served in winters.

I still remember my grandmother (Nani) used to send this in big 10 kg jar which we used to relish whole winters and same tradition is being followed at my home.

My family consume this super healthy ladoos every morning for healthy winters. Not only for kids but for ladies too it's very healthy...it boosts the immunity, good for bones and have many more health benefits. 

There are hardly any recipes which call for ajwain, it may sound little out of the place but you will not even realize that it's added, just roast a bit after adding it, this will help in digesting ladoos and is great for gut health. 

Many people add powdered sugar in ladoos, because of which it doesn't hold the shape well. To get crunchy but soft ladoos it's important to use tagar / bora sugar. You can buy this from any local grocery shop or can make at home in just 10 minutes. Click on Tagar/ Bora Sugar to get the recipe.


Do make this every winters....trust me your family will love it.

 

INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups powdered sugar( I used tagar / boora)
1 cup ghee (clarified butter)
1/2 cup gond (edible gum)
1 tsp ajwain (carom seeds) (optional)
1 tsp sonth powder (ginger powder)
1 tbsp melon seeds (magaz)
1 tsp cardamom powder (elachi powder)
1 cup chopped dry fruits (almonds, cashews, pistachio, raisins)

METHOD
1. In deep heavy bottomed pan or kadai add ghee, let it become hot, once it's hot add gond (edible gum), once it doubles in size and become little brown remove from ghee and keep aside.

2. Once it cool down completely, grind to make little coarse or fine powder. I like to make fine powder due to kids. Keep aside.

3. In same ghee add atta and cook on low flame till golden brown, this will take around 20-25 minutes.

4. Once atta is nicely brown and ghee start releasing from sides, add chopped nuts and roast for 5 minutes. Now add gond powder. Mix well.

5. Add melon seeds, ajwain and sonth powder. Cook this for another 3-4 minutes.

6. Turn off the gas and transfer this in wide pan to cool it down.

7. Once it cool down, it should be just warm when you take it in your hand. Add tagar / bora. Make sure it's not hot or completely cool.

8. Start making balls according to desired size.

9. Have this every morning with a warm glass of milk and do feed your kids one pinni everyday for healthy winters.


Pictorial:

1. Heat ghee in deep heavy bottomed pan.

2. Add gond.

3. Fry till doubles in size and become brown.

4. Like this. Remove and keep aside to cool down

5. In same ghee, add flour.

6. Roast.

7. Roast till atta becomes brown and start releasing ghee.

8. Once it turns brown add chopped nuts.

9. Add gond powder.

10. Magaz.

11. Ajwain and sonth powder.

12. After adding carom seeds roast for 3-4 minutes.Turn off the flame and transfer in wide pan to cool down.

13. Once it's warm (when you take it in your palm it should be bearable) add tagar / bora.

14. Make ladoo according to desired size.

15. Yummy Pinni is ready!

16. Closer look!

17. You can store this in airtight jar for 30 days.

TAGAR / BORA SUGAR

Bora sugar or tagar is made with sugar and different from powdered sugar, instead of grinding the sugar here we cook it with water to the consistency where it become like a powder.

Always use bora or tagar in making ladoos, this is the secret behind good sweet shops. This not only holds the shape of ladoo but also give little crunchiness.

When you add powder sugar in ladoo it releases the water and doesn't let it hold the shape.

This takes only 10 minutes to prepare it. You can store this for more than 3 months.


INGREDIENTS 
3 cup sugar

1 cup water
1 tbsp milk

METHOD
Mix together sugar and water. Once sugar is dissolved completely add some milk, trun the flame high, if there is any impurity in sugar it will float up. Discard if any.

The sugar I used was clean so you can see no dirt or scum in it.

 Cook till syrup becomes thick. Once you get the consistency shown below in pic keep cooking.

Turn off the flame. Now start stirring it continuously. As the sugar will cool down it will start becoming thicker and thicker and the stage will come when it will turn white. Don't leave at that stage and continue stirring till you get the powdered sugar like texture.

Once it cool down completely transfer in grinder and blend to get smooth fine sugar.

You can use this to make ladoos and pedas.

Pictorial:

1. Mix together water and sugar.

2. Add milk.

3. Remove if any scum is there.

4. Let it become thick.

5. Remove from gas and stir it cotinously till you reach this consistency.

6. After continuously stirring you will see this.

7. After it cool down completely grind to fine powder.

EGG SANDWICH / OMELETTE SANDWICH / CHEESE EGG SANDWICH

Omelette is one of the regular breakfast in many houses. It's not a healthy option but quick too.

As I always say little twist in everyday food makes it exciting and interesting for kids.

Here is another simple and easy twist for kids school lunch box.

Sandwich made with super soft omelette.

INGREDIENTS
For Omelette:
1 chopped onion


1 chopped tomato
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp turmeric powder ( haldi powder)
some black pepper powder
Salt and green chili to taste ( I didn't add chili due to kids)
2 eggs
4 cheese slices or some grated cheese
6-8 bread slices
Handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves
butter for toasting bread

For Spread:
1/4 cup cheese spread
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tsp mustard sauce (optional)


METHOD

Add ghee or oil in pan and saute onion till translucent. Add chopped tomato, salt, oregano, turmeric. Cover and cook on low flame till tomatoes become soft and mushy. 

Open the lid and mash tomatoes with the help of spatula or spoon to get paste. 

Break eggs in a bowl and beat well. Spread it over the masala. 

Heat pan with some oil or ghee, add egg batter and cook on medium flame from both the sides. Don't overcook else it will become hard and dry, which will result in dry sandwich

Transfer in plate to cool it bit. Cut into 3-4 pieces. 


 For Assembling: 
Trim edges of the bread slices  and apply cheese spread. Keep one part of the egg, cheese slice or grated cheese. Cover with another slice.

Apply butter on bread slice and toast it on pan till crisp and brown from both the sides.

Cut and pack in kids school lunch box.

Pictorial: 
 







1. Heat oil and saute onion till translucent. 

 







2. Add tomatoes and cook till soft and tender. 

3. Add 2 beaten eggs.

4. Cook 

5. Soft omelette is ready 

 
6. Prepare spread by mixing the ingredients mentioned above. 

7. Apply spread on trimmed bread slices and place cheese slice.

8. Keep one part of omelette. 

9. Apply softened butter on one side of the bread. 

10. Keep heavy weight on bread to make it crisp.

11. Flip and apply butter on the other side too. 

12. Crunchy sandwich is ready. 

13. Serve hot.

14. Pack in kids school lunch box.

DATES AND FIG CAKE / EGG-LESS DATES CAKE / EGG FREE DATES AND FIG CAKE / DATES LOAF / WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR DATES CAKE / KHAJOOR ANJEER CAKE

This dates recipe is super healthy and super yum....As the name suggests it's not only have dates but also loaded with nuts. anjeer which is super healthy and due to dates the ratio of sugar also reduces which makes it sugar free.
Do try this super recipe this winter and let your kids enjoy healthy cake.



INGREDIENTS 
18-20 dates / Khajoor
10 figs / Anjeer (optional)
10-12 raisins (optional) 
1+1/4 cup water for boiling dates
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup melted and cooled butter
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup warm milk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans or almonds

METHOD
1. Sift together whole-wheat flour, baking powder and cinnamon powder. Keep aside.

2. De-seed dates and slit them into half.

3. In a saucepan, add water and dates, bring it to boil till dates becomes soft. Turn off the flame and add baking soda, you will see the foam and change in colour. Let it cool down at a bit. In blender jar, pulse to make fine paste.

4. In whisking bowl or deep bowl, whisk together melted butter, dates puree and sugar. Add sifted flour mix.

5. Add milk and mix well. The batter will be thick and little stick and not of dropping consistency.

6. Add chopped fig, some raisins and toasted walnuts and pecans.

7. Transfer in greased or lined baking tray or loaf.

8. Bake in pre-heated oven at 160�C for 35-40 minutes. It took me exact 37 minutes to get perfectly baked cake.

9. Let it cool down completely. Slice and serve with hot milk or pack in kids school lunch box.


Pictorial:

1. Cook dates in hot boiling water till soft.











2. Turn off the flame and baking soda.

3. Mix, you will get this frothy mix.












4. Keep aside to cool completely.

5. Once cool down completely pulse to make fine puree.

6. Using a whisk or stand mixer combine well dates puree, melted butter and sugar.

7. Whisk it till well combined.

8. Add flour mix.

9. Add milk.

10. Add nuts, anjeer and raisins.

11. Transfer the batter in greased or lined sheet tin.

12. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 160�C. Check after 35 minutes.

13. Slice and serve.

14. Absolutely yummy!