Anjeer Burfi/Barfi is widely prepared and sold in Indian Sweet Stores. It has a peculiar taste. Those looking for a low calorie sweet, anjeer burfi is a perfect option to satisfy their taste buds, with some modifications to this recipe (given below the original recipe). This delicious recipe is simple and effortless to make. Give it a try!

Ingredients:
12 dry anjeer (figs); soaked in warm water for 20-30 minutes,
1/2 cup or more (if required) khoya; roasted for few minutes,
3-4 tbsp mix dry fruits powder,
Powdered Sugar as per taste,
Almond shavings to garnish.

Method:
Grind the soaked anjeer with little water. Use the water in which they were soaked.
In a nonstick pan add the anjeer paste and cook until it thickens and changes color to a darker shade of brown. You can use little ghee (clarified butter) if you like, but since khoya leaves some ghee I do not add any ghee. Later add khoya, sugar if you like and dry fruits powder.

Cook until the mixture comes together to form a ball. Remove from flame and set it aside for 5-7 minutes. Then grease a flat dish. Spread out the mixture onto the greased dish, evenly into a square shape, with medium thickness. See the picture.

Spread almond shavings on top and set it aside until it cools down. Later cut small burfis and serve.

TIP:
Since anjeer are sweet, add little or no sugar.

For a low calorie anjeer burfi, do not add ghee, sugar. Khoya can be avoided but since we are using it in less proportion, it can do. Instead of khoya you can also add some ‘dink’ or ‘gondh’. Also avoid cashew nuts in the dry fruit powder, add more almonds instead.

4th of July is celebrated as the Independence Day in the United States. The celebration is filled with fun, events, games, fireworks and ofcourse…food. Mostly the celebrations are outdoor, in the backyard with family, friends and relatives, or picnics to a beach. A variety of salads, burgers, grills and fries will make their way into the lunch basket. Here are some of my recipes to make your day special!

Appetizers

Cheese Fingers
Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms in 10 minutes
Baked Cheese Potato Cups
Corn Tarts
Quickly Marinated Mushrooms
Cheese Sausage Bites
Cheese and Jalapeno Poppers
Cheese and Corn Nuggets
Cheese Chicken Balls
Crackling Chicken
Spicy Chicken Bits

Salads

Tossed Crunchy Chicken Salad
Healthy Garbanzo Bean Salad
Insalata Caprese Salad (Mozzarella and Tomato Salad)
Broccoli Mushroom Babycorn Salad
Sesame Spinach Salad
Hawaiian Chicken Salad
Cheese Pineapple Salad
Stuffed Apple Salad
Beans Sprout and Broccoli Salad
Caesar Chicken Salad

Main Course

Jalapeno Chicken Cheese Burgers - Independence Day Celebrations
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Maple Glazed Chicken Breasts
Sweet Dinner Rolls
Sizzling Chicken
Quick Margherita Pizza
Sausage and Mushroom Calzone
Stuffed Squid Pockets

Desserts

Orange Mousse
Pineapple Dessert
Cookie Crust Chocolate Pie
Chocolate Meringue Pie
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Fig and Date Pudding
Choco Berry Couplet
Strawberry Tart topped with Meringue
Low Calorie Raspberry Dessert
Berries in cream
Chocolate Cream Pudding

Foodatarian wishes you all a very happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana; pureed,
1/2 cup whole wheat flour,
1/2 cup plain flour (maida),
1/3 cup salted butter; softened,
1 egg; beaten until fluffy,
1/3 cup milk,
3/4 cup granulated sugar,
3/4 tsp baking powder,
1 tsp vanilla essence,
1/4 cup chocolate pieces/chips,
Cake tin.

Method:
Grease the cake tin. Preheat the oven at 180 degree C.
Sift the flours along with baking powder. In a bowl, beat together, butter and sugar until even and smooth. Add banana puree, beaten egg and vanilla essence and beat until even. Add flour and fold gently so that lumps are not formed and you get a dropping consistency. Fold in chocolate pieces or chips. Pour the batter into the tin. Bake at 180 degree C for 20-25 minutes. Let it cool down before you demold it.

Tips:
1. You can use the same batter to create muffins.
2. Prepare banana strawberry or blueberry cake/muffin by adding 1/4 cup of strawberry or blueberry jam instead of chocolate pieces.

Wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!

I prepared this Cheesy Garlic Chicken with nice flavors of herbs, grilled to perfection, this Christmas. Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients:
500gms (2-4) Chicken breasts without bones,
8-10 cloves of garlic, crushed,
3/4 cup bread crumbs,
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese,
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese,
1/2 tsp oregano,
1/2 tsp rosemary,
Salt and black pepper to taste,
1/2 cup butter.

Method:
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F). Lightly prick the chicken breasts. Melt butter in a pan and add garlic to it. Roast on low-medium flame until it is fragrant and lightly brown (do not burn). Put off the flame and add the chicken to it. Coat all the chicken pieces with butter and garlic. In a shallow dish, mix other ingredients. Take each piece and dip it into the cheese-bread crumb mixture to coat well. Place into a greased baking tray and grill/bake them for 5 minutes from each side.