Phirni (Indian Rice Pudding)

Its my Fathers Birthday today so wishing him a very happy and healthy long life. He is not much of a cake person and as far back as my memory goes he would request my mom to make the traditional Indian Kheer to celebrate his day. Kheer is another version of Rice Pudding just like Phirni. And so here I am celebrating the young man from 10,000 miles away with his favorite birthday dessert.

Most of us who know Indian cuisine have heard about Kheer. This is an Indian dessert pudding that is made using milk and rice. It is a very popular dessert and is available in most Indian restaurants. It is an important part of a lot of Indian festivals and occasions. Phirni is a version of this pudding, but it is made with coarsely ground rice.

RECIPE: Phirni (Indian Rice Pudding)

Ingredients

1 Cup rice
8 Cups whole milk or 2%milk
1/2 Cup milk, to coarsely blend rice
1 Cup sugar

1 TBSP rose water (optional)
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/2 tsp saffron threads
1/4 Cup golden raisins

Garnish:
slivered almonds
slivered pistachios
rose petals

Method

1. Soak a cup of rice in plenty of water for a few hours.
2. Drain all the water and coarsely blend rice with 1/2 cup milk in a blender.
3. Heat 8 Cups of milk in a large, heavy bottomed pan and bring to a boil. Add cardamom powder, saffron threads and rose water.
4. Once it boils reduce heat to medium and pour in the rice/milk blend mix slowly in a single stream while continuously stirring it. This is a very important step so as to get a smooth creamy consistency and to avoid getting a lumpy pudding.
5. Keep stirring the mixture till it starts to thicken. Add the golden raisins and keep stirring till it is thick enough to coat your spoon or ladle.
6. Add sugar and mix it well.
7. Turn off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. pour into a serving bowl and let it come down to room temperature. Garnish with slivered almonds, pistachios and rose petals. Chill in the refrigerator till its time to serve.

Hope you enjoy making it!

Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread

While driving the kids off to school this morning, heard on the radio that in anticipation of Fall, toilet paper makers are coming up with a pumpkin spice fragrance. First thing that crossed my mind was, YES!!! That’s what I was missing, pumpkin spice to wipe my tush. Don’t get me wrong I love me some Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and my kids hide the pumpkin pie in our house so that can have a sliver before it’s all gone but toilet paper, now that did not quite sit well (no pun intended). This is a food blog so what the heck am I rambling on about, follow along and read the rest.

It’s still very hot in Austin and I am not quite ready to dive in head first into the Pumpkin spice delights so while we wait for the cooler Fall temperatures to kick in let’s get on with the next best thing and that is the warm and delicious Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread. This make for a great after school snack with milk especially when you have a lot of after school activities.

RECIPE: Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread
Adapted from Restaurant Recipes

Ingredients

1 ¾ Cup bread flour 

2 tsp  baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2-3 mashed overripe bananas

2/3 Cup sugar

1/3 Cup margarine or butter

2 Tbsp milk

2 eggs

1 Cup walnuts, chopped

Method

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine.
3. In another medium size bowl, cream the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the mashed bananas and mix in eggs and milk.
5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold until just mixed it. do not over mix.
6. Add the remaining flour and mix it in the same way. Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
7. pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. top the batter with remaining 1/2 cup walnuts. Bake for 55-60 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. 
8. Cool, slice and dig in.