Karanji - a sweet snack

Cooking Time Required: 20-30 mins
Cost of preparation: 35-45 rupees

Ingredients:
For dough: Maida ( 2 cups ), ghee ( 3 tbs ), water, salt to taste.

For stuffing: coconut ( 1 no ), powdered jaggery / sugar ( 4-5 tsp ), cardamon ( 2-3
nos ), ghee ( 1 tbs ), salt to taste.

Oil for deep frying.

Preparation: Heat the ghee and add to the maida . Sprinkle salt and just enough water to make a stiff dough. Knead well and keep aside for 15 mins.

Grate the coconut and keep aside.

Cooking: Heat a pan. Add ghee followed by the jaggery and allow it to melt.

Add the grated coconut and stir fry for 5-6 mins. ( If sugar is used, add the sugar at this stage )

Sprinkle the powdered cardamon and mix well. Remove from the stove.

Make small balls from the dough. Roll into small circles.

Put a small amount of the stuffing on the circles and close the edges with a little water to get a semi-circular shape. ( One can also make use of the moulds available in the markets )

Heat sufficient oil in a wok. Add the karanji to the hot oil and fry to a golden brown.Remove from wok and keep aside.

This can be kept in a airtight container and consumed within 3-4 days.

Masala Lemonade

Preparation Time: 5-6 mins
Cost of preparation: 10-15 Rupees

Ingredients: Lemon ( 1 no, large ), beet salt/black salt ( 1/2 tsp ), chaat masala (1/2 tsp ), sugar ( 4 tsp ), ice-cubes ( 4-5 nos ), water ( 1 1/2 glasses ), salt ( 1 pinch ).

Preparation: Put the water in a mixer jar. Add sugar, ice cubes, black salt and chaat masala. Cut the lemon into two and squeeze the juice into the mixer jar.

Mix on lowest speed for 2-3 mins till sugar dissolves.

Pour into glasses. Top up with more crushed ice if required.

Tangy and refreshing cooler is ready.