RAVA-NUTS LADDU - HAPPY DIWALI

HAPPY DIWALI!!
DIWALI- Festival of Lights.
It is one of the most popular festivals in India, if not the most.
There are many stories linked to the reasons behind the celebration.
Growing up, Diwali for me was all about new clothes, fun with family, food and FIRE CRACKERS(it was like the July 4th in India).
Ladies would start making savory and sweets a week before the big day.  Snacks would be stored in big steel boxes.  Cleaning was a big part, painting the home, changing linens, it was all chaotic. Shopping for clothes was also so much fun.  The stores would be so crowded that we hardly had space to turn around. Shopping for Fire Crackers was crazy fun, my uncles would buy the most violent of all to scare the heck out of me.  People started bursting crackers a couple of days before Diwali.  It felt like a celebration when we heard the sounds. IT was so so so much fun.  I miss all of that.

NOW, Diwali has a different meaning to it, to keep our traditions alive, to teach the boys about our culture, prayers and the importance of family values.  I try to duplicate a bit of what I experienced growing up.
We wake up before the sun rises, shower, wear new clothes and sit for our long prayer. An elaborate breakfast of Puri(puffed flat bread), curry, sweet halva, kheer, vada(fried savory dough) is an important part of our celebration.  We light diyas(decorated clay lamps)in the evening and pray to the GODDESS OF WEALTH, LAKSHMI.
The boys all dressed in the most colorful attire are ready to give gift boxes which has home made snacks to neighbors who are our lovely friends. Now, as I don't have family here, friends are like family. So, we have a huge dinner planned with friends and the day ends with lots of laughter, food, and hugs.

Hope you all have a great prosperous year filled with love, health and happiness. Here's a sweet that is simple to make, a bit twisted from my mom's rava laddu but loved by my family and friends.

RAVA/NUTS LADDU
MAKES 40-50 laddus

Ingredients:

2 cups rava/semolina
2 cups mixed nuts powdered(pistachios,cashews,almonds)
1 can of condensed milk
1 stick of unsalted butter
1/2 tsp of saffron
1/2 tsp of powdered cardamom
pinch of salt

Method:

1. Take a huge flat bottomed thick pan, keep the flame on low,add the butter and melt it.  Add the rava and fry it on low flame for 15-20 minutes
Do not let it brown a lot. Now add the powdered nuts and fry on low flame for another 10-15 minutes.
2. You will get the sweet smell of the powders, then add the crushed saffron, powdered cardamon, salt and mix well.
3. Add the condensed milk and mix well. Switch of the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
4. Make equal portions of laddus.  When is it warm, it is easier to make laddus.  
Keep it in airtight containers and it will keep well for a week.
ENJOY and HAPPY DIWALI!

I apologize if I haven't been to your blog in a while, it has been a busy week with Halloween, the festivities starting, loads of cooking and just the thought of putting together outfits for all the parties is tiring enough :).
Hope you all are doing well and had a great and safe Halloween. 

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