Home Made Sweets

I am very fond of sweets, but since I am staying far away from my Mother Ship (India) its not always possible to get good quality sweets.

Over the period of past 10 years I have perfected some of my own recipes to keep my sweet tooth happy. Here are a few of them

Before I start remember we are talking about sweets here so don't think about the following while preparing and eating this stuff Sugar, Calories, Fat etc etc

1. Shrikhand

If you are the lazy kind :-) just to go to any Indian store and buy it else read on and prepare your own better than the commercial stuff available

Ingredients : Yoghurt (1 Kg), Powder Sugar (500 gms), Cardamom powder (1/2 teaspoon), Nutmeg powder (a pinch of it), Saffron ( 1 teaspoon optional), diced almonds and pistachios (optional)

a. Chakka (Marathi word for thick curd) :- The first step is to make chakka, put the yoghurt (get the thickest variety available in the supermarket do not go for the stuff that says reduced fats etc) in thin cotton or muslin cloth and hang it for atleast 12 hrs so that all the water is drained out ( hang it in a place where you wont create a mess with the dripping water )

b. Take the chakka in a vessal add the sugar , cardamom powder, saffron and Nutmeg powder and churn the whole thing using a big spoon. Mix it thoroughly.

c. Garnish it with the chopped almonds and pistachios and yummy shrikhand is ready :-)

Store it in the refrigerator and eat it along with Chapati or simply by itself as a dessert.

2. Moramba

Ingrediants :- Sugar ( 3/4 th cup), cardamom powder ( 1/4th teaspoon), 1 cup of any of the following fruits Raw Mango or Ripe Mango or Pineapple ( you can try with any of the other fruits just keep in mind if the fruits are too soft they will dis-integrate while cooking)

Preparation is very simple just mix all the ingredients in a vessal and place on medium heat. let the sugar melt and then cook it for a couple of minutes more till the sugar syrup thickens a bit...

You can eat this with a chapati/roti/paratha or puri keep refrigerated and it will last for couple of months

3. Sudha Ras

:-) this is so simple that you will not believe it... take 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup lemon juice and just boil it all together till the result is a sticky syrup..

Eat it with a Chapati/roti/ paratha simply amazing. Store in a refrigerator stays good for a couple of months..

Indian Restaurents @ Sydney

Since I love food ( one of the reasons I am so plump and handsome :-)) ) I thought my first blog should be about food.....

I have almost eaten food from every continent but I am going to restrict this list to the Indian Restaurants I like the most in and around Sydney.

1. Hyderabad House
21 Hassall St
Parramatta NSW 2150
(02) 9635 9577

This is located very near to patel's grocery and other indian restaurants in Harris Park. Do not miss the Chicken 65 ( warning its spicy) , Haleem, and Chicken Briyani yummy. Very Resonably priced

2. Taj Indian
91 Wigram St,
Harris Park
NSW 2150

Once more located near to Patel's Grocery. This is a vegeterian place but the food taste just like back home ( I am not a north indian so I compare everything with what I have eaten in Mumbai) My favorite dishes are Chole Bhature & Samosa Chat. The also have the set meals ( Thali as we call it back home) and its yummy. Very reasonably priced.

3. Faheem's Fast Food
196 Enmore Road
Enmore, NSW 2042

This is a Indian & Pakistani food joint. Yummy Garlic Chicken hot from the Tandoor. What will come as a surprise is that vegetarian food is also quite good. Try the Falooda once you have finished eating the spicy fare

4. Laughing Ganesha
5/79-83,
Longueville Road,
Lane Cove 2066
Excellent food, do try the Lamb Shanks they are amazing

Some other good Indian restaurents

5. A J's Indian Restaurent ( http://www.ajsindian.com.au/)
58a Balaclava Road,
Eastwood NSW 2122

A bit more expensive then the 4 above but worth it.

6. Waitara Kitchen
Palmerson Rd,
Waitara, NSW 2077
( A bit small so would recommend a take away)

7. Khana Khazana
385a Pacific Highway
Asquith, NSW 2077
( unless you have lots of time on hand to wait for the food order a take away) Try the Aloo Sag very yummy

8. Hardeeps
27 Station St,
Hornsby

Best tandoori chicken I have eaten in Sydney. The rest of the food from this place is very basic and usually I only take Tandoori chicken from this place.

9. Nigiris (http://www.nilgiris.com.au/ )
81-83 Christie Street,
St Leonards 2065

If you are very hungry on a Sunday :-) go here they have a very nice buffet ( AUD 28.5 Adults and AUD 16 for children). Food is above par wont call it excellent though. I have only eaten buffet over here so cant comment on the week day menu.






I am aware there are 100's of Indian restaurents in and around Sydney and I have not eaten in all of them so you are most welcome to leave your feedback on whats your favorite place for Spicy Indian Food

Cheers!