Brigaderio aka candy crush bombs

Brigaderios - Nah! Candy crush bombs is what we prefer to call them at home. My daughter came up with that name. 

Basically chocolate fudge rolled into whatever topping you prefer - sprinkles, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, dessicated coconut, nut flakes. 

Looks grand and awesome, but it is extremely easy to make. You just need three ingredients for the fudge balls. And use whatever topping you prefer. 

At my home, with kids around it is probably going to be sprinkles for a long time. But I am not complaining 😏

Recipe

Ingredients

Condensed milk - 1 tin (400g)

Cocoa powder - 4 tbsp

Butter - 1 tbsp

Greased plate or shallow bowl

Mini cupcake liners 

Method

Grease a plate or shallow bowl with some butter and keep aside. Heat a nonstick pan on low flame and add the butter. When it melts, add the tin of condensed milk and stir it slowly, adding the cocoa powder. Keep stirring to dissolve the cocoa powder into the condensed milk. Keep stirring as it gathers together and leaves the sides of the pan.

Switch off the stove. Transfer the fudge mix into the greased plate. Allow it to cool for about five minutes or so. When it is cool enough to touch, pinch about a table spoon of the fudge, and roll into a smooth ball. Roll the fudge ball into the sprinkles and place on the mini cup cake liners. Store at room temperature for upto a week. 

Verdict

Condensed milk is yummy as such. Anything you make with it turns out yummy too. But this one is extra special. It is so pleasing to the eye, makes a great display at parties. 

Stuffed bitter gourd

Hello bitter gourd again! 

The smaller bitter gourds are a lot less bitter and make very good sabzi.

Recipe

Ingredients

Karela - small ones - 10

Peanuts - 1/4 cup

Onions - 2 large finely chopped

Tomatoes - 2 medium finely chopped

Salt - to taste

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp 

Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp 

Turmeric powder - /14 tsp

Curry leaves - 5-8

Oil - 1 tbsp + 3-4 tbsp

Water as needed

Method

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the peanuts and roast them slightly. Add the onions and fry until golden brown. Add the tomatoes until mushy and soft. Add the spices and fry until the raw smell is gone. Allow the mixture the cool.

In the meanwhile prepare the bittergourd. Wash and make a slit lenghtwise, remove the seeds and the rind from inside and hollow it out. Keep aside.

Grind the fried masala into a fine paste. Use a teaspoon and stuff the masala into the hollowed out bittergourd and keep aside. Keep the remaining paste aside for the gravy 

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add the curry leaves and stuffed karelas and fry until soft and cooked. A little masala may ooze out, but that is fine. 

Once the karelas are completey cooked, add the remaining masala paste and add water as per the consistency needed. Bring to a boil and switch off. 

Serve hot with rotis or rice. 

Verdict The combination of spices and the creaminess of the peanuts, gives a rich texture and taste to this gravy. A definite win. 

Quick paneer curry

Want something quick and tasty that the kids will definitely eat. Paneer it is. But what if you don't have too much time on hand to make a gravy the regular way. Then this is the recipe you need to go for.

Recipe (serves 6)

Ingredients

Paneer - 400g

Onions - 2 finely chopped

Tomato - 2 medium sized chopped finely

Salt - to taste

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Garam masala - 1/4 tsp

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Curd - 1/4 tsp

Curry leaves - 5-8

Coriander leaves - for garnishing

Oil - to fry

Method

Dice the paneer and keep aside.

Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add the curry leaves and onions and fry until golden brown. 

Add the tomatoes and the spices and mix well. Fry well until the raw smell goes, tomatoes turn mushy and the oil starts to separate from the mix. 

Add the paneer and mix to coat the gravy well on the paneer. Add the curd and mix well. Cover and let the mix cook until the raw smell of the curd goes. 

Remove from heat and add coriander leaves. Serve hot with roti or rice. 

Verdict This is a quick recipe and turns out very tasty. The trick is to chop the onions and tomatoes really fine. Fry the onions until they are browned before adding the tomatoes.