Recipes

ASHTAMI THALI AND PRASAD Navratri is one of the most auspicious time of the year in Indian culture. It falls two times in a year:Chaitra Navratri(March-April) and Sharad Navratri(September-October). Sharad Navratri is much more significant and is celebrated in all over North-India.This celebration goes on for nine days and nights and Durga-Ashtami is the eighth day of Nav-Durga pooja. This day young girls are invited at devotees house for Puja-Prasad and sumptuous food is served to them following by return gifts or some time money. Durga Ashtami Thali consist of Suji-Halwa, Puri, Kala Chana and Aloo curry. These are essential delicacies in serving of the thali but you can always add more dish to look it more festive and elaborated. These four dishes consider as Prasad of Ma Durga. Suji-Halwa, Puri, Kala Chana, Aloo curry.

Poori is deep fried bread and much smaller in size than Roti. Poori is "Pride" of every important occasion in indian household. It is made of wheat flour and Carom seed(Ajwain) is added to increase digestive quotient of it as it is deep fried. Dry Potato curry complements Poori very well but it can be eaten with any gravy curry or sometimes with sweet dish as well. Poori-Halwa specially in Navratri, Poori-Rabdi, Poori -Chana(Kala-Chana), Poori-Choley  are some classic combinations.

While growing up in an Indian household everyone knows about "Satya Narayan Puja".This Puja is performed for God Vishnu  on the Thithi of Poornima; that means on day of full moon night. In my house my Grand-Mom would get performed Satya-Narayan Katha. So sometime it was just the Katha and sometime Ramayan Path which would last for 24 hrs. continuously; then followed by the Katha and Aarti and then a grand feast with  all kith and kins and friends. It was more of big celebration for all members of the family.Feast would've all kind of regional delicacies and menu was kind of keep changing every single time except the Prasad of the Puja: PANJIRI , HALWA AND PANCH AMRIT.
These three recipes symbolizes the Satya Narayan Puja. Every house has different recipe for Panjiri but PanchAmrit and halwa remain same.Here I am sharing theses recipes which are prevalent in every north-endian house hold.
PANJIRI
HALWA
PANCH AMRIT/CHARAN AMRIT

Panjiri is offered as "prasad" in Satya-Narayan Pooja in North-India."Panjiri" and "Satya-Narayan Katha" complement each other so well that it is understoods fact that when you say Satya-Narayan Katha ;means Panjiri has to be the offering to The God. So Panjiri has that ritualistic value in North-Indian household. It is served as Prasad to devotees along with PanchAmrit and तुलसी- दल(Basil leaves). Traditionally, it is just Wheat flour, Sugar,Green-Cardamon for aroma and some dry fruits. That's it. However; possibilities are endless and you can go beyond these 4-5 ingredients.
After all,"Bhagwan bhaav ke bhookhe hain"( God cares for the emotion added to the offering) not the ingredients. So in this recipe apart of Wheat flour, I used Semolina, Edible Gum, Charoli, Char-Magaj, Fox-Nut and some other dry fruit for more rich flavor.

Its creamy, Its sweet, Its succulent, its quintessential, its divine  and last but not the least its Satya-Narayan Pooja Prasad. That's right I am talking about Halwa or Sheera.
Halwa is one of the ritualistic food in Indian houses. It is flour based dessert which is served in different ceremonies like NavDurga-Pooja, Satya-Narayan Pooja or any small or big event. In this recipe I used two flours;Whole Wheat flour and Semolina mixed in equally or ratio can be adjust to your own convenience. Flour is roasted in equal amount of Desi-Ghee and the end product is pure bliss of auspicious Prasad. This Halwa is so rich that Pure Ghee oozes out from everywhere in every corner of serving dish. I used Rose -Water for more regal taste and then served with ample of Dry-Fruits of choice and dry Rose-Petals.

Panch Amrit/Charn Amrit is the Prasad/Offering to The God after end of any Pooja or more specific after SATYA-NARAYAN Pooja. As name"Panch Amrit" suggests it is mixture of five ingredients:Yoghurt, Milk, Honey, Ghee, Sugar. These five ingredients are the essential part of Panch-Amrit;However, you could use Fox-Nut(Makkhane), Saffron strands, Rose Petal etc. to enhance the richness of the recipe. All five ingredients are  mix together and then it is served with Panjiri at the end of the Pooja. It tastes very good when it is eaten with Panjiri. तुलसी- दल(Basil-Leaves) is used for ritualistic value of Panch-Amrit. So it is also part of