Kaddu (Pumpkin) kachori

Preparation Time: about 30 min
Cooking Time: about 30 min

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Ingredients: about 3 cups wheat flour 1/2 small Pumpkin hing - a pinch 1 1/2 tblsp sof powder 1 tsp dhaniya powder salt to taste 2 tblsp oil

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Method:

1. Peel the pumpkin and boil for about 10-15 minutes. Drain the water.
2. Mash the boiled pumpkin and add to flour along with all the other ingredients.
3. Knead into a hard dough. You can add a little water if needed or add more flour if too soft. I normally add flour slowly based on kneading.
4. Roll out small puris and deep fry in medium to hot oil.

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Classic Red Wine Sangria

I am not a wine person. I have tried a lot of wines to develop a taste but just don't like them. My brother and sister have taken me to a lot of vineyards to try out new kinds of wine but "Nope, wine not happening for me". Considering the benefits of wine, Sangria was the way to go... and.... my Diwali party was next weekend. So tried this at my party. AND... VOILA... it was a huge success. We made less thinking it would be TERRIBLE and no-one would want to drink it, since we have never ever made any cocktails/mocktails or any kind of tails... But we ran out!!! Everyone loved it... So in it goes in my recipe book or blog.

Overall Time: 5 min
Serves: About 6 glasses

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Ingredients: 1 750 ml bottle of red wine 1 cup soda water ½ cup sugar 1 cup Orange Juice - any brand lime wheels from 3 lemons

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Method:

1. Mix all of the above except soda beforehand in a pitcher.
2. Add soda just before serving (just before party in my case) and serve.

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Notes: We made using 3 bottles of different kinds of red wine. They were of different brands too, but didn't matter in the Sangrai. Maybe we got lucky...

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Coconut Macaroons

Remember coconut barfi... Well my mom used to make it, but I didn't try it till now. My 2nd grader learnt this at her school cooking class and has been insisting on making these. Reminded me of coconut barfi's... and the recipe she got was so simple... So made it this Diwali.

Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Serves: About 20

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Ingredients: 1 package (14 oz) sweetened shredded coconut 1 can (14 oz) condensed milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional) 1/4 cup pecans (optional)

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Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
2. Mix all the above ingredients well.
3. Drop spoon fulls onto a greased or foiled baking tray.
4. Bake till its slightly browned on top and edges. About 30 min
5. Cool and enjoy. I observed that eating them the next day or so makes them better. Initially they are very sticky in the mouth with all the condensed milk but a day or two later they are perfect.

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Watermelon Mojito

Summers are almost here and I came across this mojito on food network and thought to myself "What better time?"

Total Time: 15-20 min
Serves: 2

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Ingredients: 30 mint leaves 2 cups watermelon puree 1/2 cup sugar syrup 1 1/2 cup Rum 6 tblsp Lime Juice - freshly squeezed

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Method:

1. Crush the mint leaves slightly in a mortar and pestle.
2. Make sugar syrup by boiling 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water till the sugar dissolves.
3. Mix together mint leaves, watermelon puree, Rum, sugar syrup and lime juice. And mojito is ready to serve.

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