Ganesh Festival Special Recipes!!

!! GANAPATI BAPPA MORAYA !!

Wishing all friends coming over to Anjali’s Kitchen a very Happy Ganesh Festival :-)

Dear All,
Thanks for your good wishes. Yes, the picture above is of the Ganpati idol at my place :-)
Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, also known as 'Vinayak Chaturthi' is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of lord Ganesh.
On the day of the festival, Ganesh idol is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The guruji then invokes life into the ganesh idol by chanting of mantras. This ritual is called 'pranapratishhtha'.
After this the 'shhodashopachara' tribute is paid to Ganesha as follows:
Coconut, jaggery, 21 'Ukadiche Modaks' (rice flour preparation), 21 'durva' (trefoil) and red flowers are offered.
Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted. So coming back to food here are some of the favorite dishes of Lord Ganesha:
Modak, the favorite food of Lord Ganesh, is an important offering without which the Ganesh festival is incomplete. :-) These are prepared in different ways - some are stuffed while others can be made from khava/mava.

1. Amba Modak: The khava modaks are just khava put in moulds and comes in various flavors like amba modak.
AMBA KHAVA MODAK (Mango Mawa Modak): http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/09/amba-khava-modak-mango-mawa-modak.html 2. Fried Modak: The stuffed ones are more popular and can be normal fried modaks or the steamed ukadiche modak.
Fried Modak: http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/08/ganesh-festival-special-modak.html 3. Ukdiche Modak is feast for Ganapati festival. Lord Ganesha’s favourite food… Majority of the households in Maharashtra make these beautifully shaped mouthwatering Modak during Ganesh festival.
Ukdiche Modak: http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/08/ukadiche-modak-steamed-modak.html

4. Sundal South Indian style Prasad for Ganpati. Healthy, wholesome, yummy and spicy festival specialty for those who are tired of eating just sweet stuff as prasad.
Sundal: http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/08/sundal.html

5.Vatli Dal is traditionally prepared as a farewell dish to Lord Ganesha, on the Visarjan Day (Anant Chaturdashi).
Vatli Dal: http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/09/vatli-dal.html

6. Spicy Dal is the specific Dal which we make as Prasad for Ganpati on occasion of Anant Chaturdashi/ Ganpati Visarjan.
Spicy Dal: http://anjaliskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/09/spicy-dal.html
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May he remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!

APPLE JAM

APPLE JAM

This recipe is again shared by my mother in law with me in-fact she made it for me and my husband as I said she was staying for some days with us. :-)
Apple Jam tastes superb and it’s very quick and easy to make.
My hubby loves it so much that I need to increase the frequency of making it :-)

Preparation Time : 5 mins

Cooking Time : 5 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 Apples (Medium sized)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 cups Water
• 2 tsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

Method:
Normal cooking:

1. Peel and cut the apples into small pieces, cook in water until tender.
2. Add sugar and lemon juice and stir on a hot fire until jam sets when tested.

3. Cool and store refrigerated in air-tight container.
4. Serve after one day.
5. Rich amber colored jam with a lemon flavor makes yummy accompaniment to fresh bread, cakes and cookies for breakfast.

Microwave cooking:

1. Combine the apple, water (1 cup) and sugar in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
2. Remove from the microwave and add the lemon juice. Mix well and microwave on HIGH for 2½ minutes.
3. Cool and store refrigerated in an air-tight container.

TIPS:

1. You can add cinnamon powder (optional). I wanted the pure apple flavor so have not added it to this jam.
2. The color of the apple jam will change to rich amber color after one day.
3. Substitute the apples for mashed strawberries, pineapple, mango to make fresh fruit jam. Depend on the season you can try out different variations.