Raksha Bandhan

This weekend we had a festival Raksha Bandha. Rakhi is a sacred thread embellished with sister's love and affection for her brother. On the day of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhi on the wrists of their brothers and express their love to them. After receiving the rakhi from a sister, a brother sincerely takes the responsibility of protecting her sister. In Indian tradition, the frangible thread of rakhi is considered even stronger than an iron chain as it strongly binds a brothers and a sisters in the circumference of mutual love and trust. We celebrate this festival in night and eat food together where all women go to one house and make food for night. We made two dishes samosa and drink cold cocoa at the end.

Samosas

Samosas

This is a real "must have" in my house on a rainy day or when terribly hungry or even as an appetizer at parties. For this recipe you will need 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1/2 large potatoes (boiled), 1/4 onion chopped, 1/2 green chilies very finely chopped, 3/4 tablespoon oil, 1/8 teaspoon ginger grated, 1/8 teaspoon garlic, crushed, 1/4 to taste coriander seed, 1/4 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped, 1/8 lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric, 1/8 teaspoon garam masala (available in grocery stores), 1/8 teaspoon red chili powder, 1/4 to taste salt. In this recipe mix together the flour, oil and salt. Add a little water, until mixture becomed crumbly. Keep adding water, kneading the mixture till it becomes a soft pliable dough. Cover with a moist cloth and set aside for 20 min. Beat dough on a work surface and knead again. Cover and set aside. For filling heat 3 tbsp oil. Add ginger, garlic, green chilies and few coriander seeds. Stir fry for 1 min, add onions and saute till light brown. Ass cilantro, lemon juice, turmeric, red chili, salt and garam masala. Stir fry for 2 min. Add potatoes and stir fry for 2 min. Set aside and allow to cool. Divide dough into 10 equal portions. Use a rolling pin, roll a piece of dough into a 5" oval. Cut into 2 halves. Run a moist finger along the diameter. Roll around finger to make a cone. Place a tablespoon of the filling into the cone. Seal the third side using a moist finger. Deep fry the samosas on low to medium heat until light brown. Serve with tomato sauce.

Cold Cocoa

Cold Cocoa

In this recipe you will need 1/2 liter milk, 1 cup cocoa powder, 1 cup sugar, 1 large spoon cornflour, dairy milk chocolate bar and the process is dissolve cornflour in one cup cold milk from 1/2 liter milk. Now boil remaining milk in a thick bottom saucepan. While boiling add sugar and cocoa powder. When these ingredients dissolve well and milk starts boiling add cornflour dissolved milk in the pan with constant stirring. Keep sure the contents don't stick to the bottom keep constant stirring for max 5 min. Let the mixture cool at room temperature and then refrigerate it. Serve chilled cocoa in a long glass and add pieces of dairy milk chocolate cut into small squares. Delicious cold cocoa is ready to drink.