What better way to welcome holidays than a big smile on kids face. And believe me Cheesecake always does the trick. But to make mom’s life easy here is a cool and instant way to make some colorful cheese cake pops. The flavor I will use is fresh strawberry and mint. This recipe is great to use for Cooking or play date with kids. This could turn out to be a very interesting and yummy project with you little ones.

Preparation time: 60 minutes (includes refrigeration time)

Servings: 4

Kitchen instrument: Microwave, blender, hand mixer

Difficulty level: 2/10

Ingredient:

-         4-5 fresh strawberries

-         2-3 mint leaves

-         I tsp strawberry essence

-         1 tsp mint essence

-         500gm cream cheese. (2 portion of 250gm each)

-         1 cup sugar or 3/4 cup sweetener

-         1 cup of white chocolate instant melt

-         Sprinklers of your choice.

-         1 packet of plain crackers – Graham or Marie (10 to 12 pieces)

-         10-12 lollipop sticks (alternatively you can use edible biscuit sticks)

Preparation:

1.      Using blender, make fine powder of crackers.

2.      In a mixing bowl, whisk cream cheese, cracker powder and sugar.

3.      Whisk them well until sugar/sweetener is completely mixed. I use high speed hand mixer.

4.      Make two equal portion and take out each portion in a separate bowl.

5.      Make tiny pieces of 2 strawberries and add it to one portion of cream cheese mixture.

6.      Add strawberry essence and mix it well with a whisk.

7.      Add finely shredded mint leaves and mint essence to another portion and mix well.

8.      Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

9.      Make small balls out of the mixture and insert lollipop sticks in the middle.

10. It will now look like lollipops.

11. Now using directions, melt the instant chocolate melts.

12. Dip each lollipops into the chocolate and add sprinklers of your choice.

13. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes.

14. Your cheese pops are ready to serve.

Tips:

-         The cream cheese mixture can be very sticky to form balls. This is why you would want to refrigerate it before forming balls. You can freeze it for less time to speed the process. You can use the same recipe with different flavours. Also, instead of mint leaves, you can actually add pieces of mint candies and this will add crunch to it. I have used white chocolate here but you can use dark or brown chocolate.

Celebrations without dessert is almost impossible. And when kids are involved, I like to make their days special by using their favorite ingredients. This time it is cookies and cream ice-cream. This recipe is really quick and requires very less ingredients.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6-8

Kitchen instrument: blender

Difficulty level: 2/10

Ingredient:

-         2 cans of condensed milk

-         1.5 litre of unsweetened cream

-         chocolate powder

-         2 packets of Oreo (approximately 25 cookies)

-         3 tsp chocolate chips

-         1 tsp chocolate flavour

Preparation:

1.      In a large bowl, mix half of the cream and I can of condensed milk

2.      Add chocolate powder and chocolate flavour and blend with high speed mixer for 3-5 minutes.

3.      In a pan, make a layer of cookies and add the mixture.

4.      Cookies will float on the top

5.      Freeze for 4-6 hours.

6.      Now in a pan mix rest of the cream and condensed milk and blend on high speed.

7.      Add chocolate chips and pour it over the top layer. Freeze for couple hours.

8.      Make another layer of cookies and freeze for 4 more hours.

9.      Your ice-cream is ready to serve.

Tips:

-         You can make layers of Kit-Kat or cookies of your own choice. Even you can add fruits.

This is an Indian dessert with unique texture. It is a mixture of caramelized sugar and cheese from the milk. I added the crunchy spoons to go with it. The aroma of rose is so distinct to get unnoticed. It is perfect to serve during festivals and family gatherings.

Preparation time: 60 minutes

Servings: 5

Kitchen instrument: Nothing

Difficulty level: 5/10

Ingredient:

-         2 cup sugar

-         1/2 cup Soji/Rava (semolina)

-         500 ml full fat milk

-         Pinch of cardamom powder

-         2 tsp rose flavour

-         1/2 tsp salt

-         1.25 cup All-purpose flour.

-         2 tsp Sliced almonds

-         1 cup butter/Ghee

Preparation:

1.      In a small pan dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 5 tsp warm water.

2.      In a large pan add flour, ½ cup butter, and salt and dissolved sugar liquid to form dough.

3.      Form dry and tight dough, cover and let is set for 10 minutes.

4.      In a large pan heat 1/2 cup butter.

5.      Roast Semolina for 5 minutes.

6.      Add milk and keep stirring.

7.      Water should soon separate from the milk cheese.

8.      In a separate hard based pan heat 1.5 cup sugar.

9.      Keep stirring until every single crystal is melted.

10. Once melted, add immediately to the milk liquid.

11. Now keep stirring until the mixture is thick like paste and water is completely evaporated.

12. It will take almost 15 to 20 minutes. You should see the ghee getting separated.

13. Add cardamom powder and rose flavour.

14. Stir it for a minute.

15. Now turn off the heat and let it cool down to form shapes. Your dessert is ready.

16. Form small rounds out of the dough and roll into small tortilla like round shape.

17. Now pinch the two sides to form spoon like shape.

18. Fry them until crisp.

19. You can serve the dessert by itself or with crisp spoons.

20. Garnish with almonds.

Tips:

-         You can add 2 tsp semolina to flour as well. Also you can add the flavour of your choice to this dessert. Another famous flavour to use will be saffron. The making requires enough attention and to keep stirring is really important.

How would you like absolute crunch in your ice-cream? So now instead of a big scoop of ice cream, you can cut almost half serving and replace it with rice krispies . This might save just some of your guilt feeling. But the dessert can never be actually guilt free. As I always say indulgence is ok once in a while. Let us get started. It is really quick and requires very few ingredients.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2-4

Kitchen instrument: None

Difficulty level: 5/10

Ingredient:

-         2 -3 cups of Rice Krispies or mamra (puffed rice)

-         1.5 cup jaggery

-         1 tsp butter

-         Ice-cream of your choice

-         Topping of your choice (M&MS or chocolate chips)

Preparation:

1.       In a large thick bottom pan, add jaggery and butter and heat it until dark liquid and bubbling.

2.       Add rice puffs and mix well so that they are sticky.

3.       Now take from stove and start moulding shapes.

4.       Make sure you wear heat proof gloves as this will be really hot.

5.       I make balls and squares out of the mixture.

6.       Now let it cool completely.

7.       Take a scoop of ice-cream and ball of puffed rice.

8.       With a spoon mash ice cream a little and now coat the rice puff completely with ice-cream and freeze immediately.

9.       Now after an hour, sprinkle or roll the ball into topping of your choice and freeze for another hour.

10.   Now serve it with chocolate drizzle or caramel. You can even serve it with fruit jellies.

Tips:  

-         Make sure you mould immediately since once cold it will not form shapes. Also let it completely cool down before coating with ice-cream.

Dessert is must for indulgence. Once in a while it’s ok to satisfy your sweet tooth even if you are extremely health conscious. If it is about homemade dessert, sticky toffee pudding is my favorite and the recipe I am going to share is a version of the same. I do not use store brought bread, instead, I use homemade bread dough.

Preparation time: 90 minutes

Servings: 4

Kitchen instrument: Oven

Difficulty level: 5/10

Ingredient:

-         2 tsp Yeast

-         1 tsp sugar

-         1 tsp salt

-         1 cup warm milk

-         3 cups all-purpose flour/Maida

-         3 tsp melted butter (you can substitute with oil)

-         400 gms of Cream

-         2 ripe bananas

-         2 cups of brown or white sugar

-         2 spoon corn flour

-         1/2 cup walnuts

Preparation:

1.       Dissolve yeast in bowl of warm milk and let it stand for 10 minutes.

2.       Now in a bowl add flour salt, butter and sugar.

3.       Slowly add yeast mixture and mix well to form sticky dough.

4.       You can add more flour if the dough is too liquidly or add couple spoons of milk if dough is dry.

5.       Knead dough until it is smooth.

6.       Grease a large bowl and place the dough in it.

7.       Cover and let it stand for an hour in a warm place. This will allow the dough to rise.

8.       Knead the dough one more time and make 4 portions.

9.       Roll it like thick string and make small pieces.

10.   Grease a deep baking tray/casserole or pie plate with butter.

11.   Place the dough bites with ½ inch distance to eachother.

12.   Add banana slices in the spaces between dough.

13.   In a mixing bowl add cream, 1 cup sugar and corn flour.

14.   Mix well.

15.   Pour it in the baking tray.

16.   Preheat oven to 370 degree F.

17.   Place the casserole to bake for at least 15 to 18 minutes.

18.   In a shallow pan add 1 cup of sugar and 2 tsp butter.

19.   Heat it for 5 minutes until it forms liquid caramel.

20.   Now serve your bread pudding hot with large spoon of caramel topping.

Tips:

-         Instead of using dough, you can use store brought bread slices and the recipe would turn out just fine.

Can dessert be super healthy? Sure it can, when it is a bowl full of fruits, and juice but still the yummiest of all. It satisfy your sweet tooth and doesn’t leave any guilt conscious. It attracts kids and gives one full serving of fruits.

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4

Kitchen instrument: None

Difficulty level: 2/10

Ingredient:

-         1 large apple

-         1 large orange

-         2 large kiwis

-         2 pomegranate

-         2 large plums

-         1 cup sugar

-         2 tsp butter

-         2 glass of fruit juice of your choice.

-         4 tsp agar agar

Preparation:

1.       In a large mixing bowl, peel orange and take out wedges and cut into half.

2.       Cut apples into cubes and add to the bowl.

3.       Peel kiwis and cut into cubes and add to the bowl.

4.       Take out pomegranate seeds and add to the bowl.

5.       Cut plums into cubes too.

6.       In a large pan heat butter.

7.       Add vegetables and sugar.

8.       Toss and stir it for 10 minutes until fruits are soft.

9.       Now let it cool.

10.   In a bowl, soak agar agar strands for 10 minutes.

11.   Heat agar agar with water and let it dissolve.

12.   Now take fruit juice in a bowl and add agar agar solution.

13.   If you have two different types of juice then add half agar agar solution to each.

14.   Fill the serving cups with fruit mixture.

15.   Now add the juice with agar agar solution in the bowl.

16.   Let it stand for 30 minutes chill and serve.

Tips:

-         You can use fruits of your choice. If the agar agar solution solidifies, you can heat and add some water to again make it liquid.

No it is not Rasgulla even if it may look like. Tang Yuan is a Chinese dessert made out of rice flour. It’s Gluten free and can be made with sesame filling or without filling. It is really different than any of the Indian or American dessert we could have tasted. It is difficult to develop the taste but believe me; you have to try it once.

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Servings: 5

Kitchen instrument: None

Difficulty level: 6/10

Ingredient:

-         1.5 cups rice flour

-         5-6 tsp oil

-         1 cup sugar

-         6 -7 cloves

-         3-4 pieces of cinnamon stick

-         2 tsp slices of ginger (optional)

Filling (Optional)

-         1/2 cup of crushed sesame seeds (white and black mix)

-         2 tsp sugar

-         2 tsp crushed walnuts and almonds

Preparation:

1.       In a large mixing bowl, add rice flour 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsp oil.

2.       Now knead dough while adding water as per need.

3.       Dough should not be crumbly. It can be sticky.

4.       Now you can rub oil in your hands to knead dough soft.

5.       Now make parts of the dough to add colors.

6.       Add food colour of your choice and make small balls from the dough.

7.       If you want the balls with fillings roast all  the ingredients together for 5 minutes and the filling is ready.

8.       Now you can roll flat small balls in hand and add filling and roll back to form balls.

9.       In a pan add 2-3 cups of water enough to merge all the balls.

10.   Put that pan on the stove and add cloves, cinnamon, ginger and 1/2 cup of sugar.

11.   Boil and then cover and let it simmer.

12.   Now in another pan, boil water and add the balls of different colour to cook.

13.   The balls are cooked once they float.

14.   Now transfer them to bowl full of water at room temperature.

15.   While serving, add balls to a bowl and top it with sugar syrup that we prepared earlier.

16.   Tang Yuan is ready to serve.

Tips:

-         As I mentioned earlier filling is optional but you can add fillings of your choice. Make sure the balls are small and cook it until it floats.

Idea of stuffing Lychee is not new but every time summer desserts are mentioned a version of Stuffed Lychee will pop up. Today I will be sharing various flavors of stuffing.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2-3

Kitchen instrument: None

Difficulty level: 1/10

Ingredient:

-          Lychee 12-14 pieces

-          Cream cheese 200gm

-          1/4 cup chopped Jamun for flavour

-          2 tsp drinking chocolate for flavour

-          1/4 cup chopped mangoes for flavour

-          1/2 cup powdered sugar or sweetener

Preparation:

1.       In a mixing bowl add cream cheese and sugar.

2.       Beat it to make it fluffy.

3.       Take separate portions of beaten cream cheese into small mixing bowls as per your choice of flavours.

4.       I separated in 3 portions.

5.       Add finely chopped Jamun to one portion and mix well.

6.       Add finely chopped mangoes to another portion and mix well.

7.       Add Chocolate powder to the third portion and mix well.

8.       Pit Lychee.

9.       Slowly insert various flavoured stuffing into the lychee.

10.   Refrigerate for 2 -3 hours.

11.   Serve chilled.

Tips:

-          You can use the flavours of your choice. Sometimes I fill it with ice-cream and serve instant.

When you think of summer in Asia, it’s Mango that comes to your mind. The mango is native to South Asia, from where it has been distributed worldwide to become one of the most cultivated fruits in the tropics. Mongo goes great with ice-cream and all-time summer favorite. The recipe I have here comes really handy when you are going to have guests come over for after dinner get-togethers. It only requires 3 ingredients. It’s instant, stylish and seasonal too. Don’t forget its mango and you can never go wrong with it.

Serving size: 6

Kitchen Gadgets: Blender, Chopper

Preparation Time: 40 mins

Difficulty level: 4/10

Ingredients:

-          8 ripe mangoes

-          6 tsp Agar Agar strands

-          Vanilla ice-cream 6 cups

Preparation:

1.       Soak agar agar in 3/4 cup of water for 30 minutes.

2.       Boil agar agar in a pan until it dissolves and you see gelatin like texture. Let it cool for 5 minutes.

3.       In a bowl, peel and cut all mangoes into small square pieces.

4.       Keep aside pieces of two mangoes for later use.

5.       In blender or food processer add rest of the pieces to blend and make puree.

6.       Now run the puree through strainer to remove all fibers.

7.       In a mixing bowl add 1/2 agar agar liquid to the mango puree and mix well.

8.       Place glasses in cupcake tray such that they are tilting.

9.       Pour mango mixture  into 6 glasses filling of the glass till edge and let it stand in refrigerator for 10 mins along with the tray

10.   Now add vanilla ice-cream in a bowl and let it melt.

11.   Add .rest of the agar agar to the ice-cream and blend well.

12.   Now take out the glasses from the refrigerator and let it rest straight

13.   Pour vanilla ice cream mixture and again refrigerate it for couple hours.

14.   Garnish with mango chunks and serve.

Tips:

You can use this recipe with fruit of your choice and ice-cream of your choice. You can garnish with ice-cream scoop or whipped cream. Also you can create as many layers as you can with more than one fruit. Use of agar agar is little tricky so read the instructions on the package before using. It is just like gelatin but vegetarian version. If agar agar thickens while using, u can easily heat it to bring back to liquid form.

By now, all of us know the benefits of Quinoa. If not, you can check out a detailed article on quinoa here: http://www.well-beingsecrets.com/health-benefits-of-quinoa/.

Considering its nutrient composition which is favorable compared to cereal, I normally like to use it for breakfast recipes. Benefit of High Protein goes without saying. With adding fruit and milk it can substitute you normal cereal or oatmeal breakfast.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2-3

Kitchen instrument: Blender

Difficulty level: 3/10

Ingredient:

-          1 cup quinoa

-          3 cups milk

-          1 cup small cubes of Ripe Mango

-          1 cup sugar

-          2 tsp Mango syrup

Preparation:

1.                Soak quinoa in water for 4 to 5 hours.

2.                In a pan boil milk and sugar.

3.                Add soaked quinoa and let it boil along with milk for 10 to 15 minutes until quinoa is transparent and fluffy and milk is reduced to make thick puree.

4.                Now let it cool a little and blend in high-speed blender it to make puree.

5.                Add Mango syrup for the flavour and mix well.

6.                Add mango cubes to the quinoa puree.

7.                Now freeze half in a bowl and half in to ice try.

8.                One of the several ways to serve  the quinoa frozen bites are:

-         Use just take them in ice cream cups and serve as dessert. I will be doing that here.

-         You can make fruit smoothie out of the frozen cubes by just blending them into blender one morning by adding just a little more milk to it. This will make a great on the go breakfast.

-         Another way to serve them is just buy adding cubes in regular cereal bowl.

-         You can skip adding fruits and serve it cold by adding coffee along with a big scoop of ice cream.

Tips:

-                     Quinoa takes time to be cooked so make sure you let them soak and boil enough. The test is to check if they give a transpired and fluffy look. You can try this with fruits of your choice like Strawberry and banana.

The purpose is the same. It is to get our young ones to eat generous amount on fruits and vegetables without fuss. What is better than a frozen treat? Let’s freeze some cut fruits and vegetables. While eating, we can make it a fun experience to identify the fossils that they are eating. By the time game is over, the little one will have enough fruit and vegetable in their stomach to make mom happy.

Ingredients:

-          2 cup mix fruits  of your choice cut in small square pieces

-          1 cup vegetables (broccoli, green peas, cauliflower)

-          5 cup water

-          1 cup sugar

-          1/2 cup orange syrup

-          1/2 tsp salt

Preparation:

-          Cut fruits in big pieces and in shapes that you like. I would use circle, semi-circle, triangle etc.

-          Not cut vegetables so that you can have broccoli and cauliflower small florets.

-          In a Pan add water and salt and bring it to boil.

-          Add sugar and vegetables and boil it for 2 minutes.

-          Now turn it off and let it cool.

-          Add orange syrup and cut fruits.

-          Now pour into moulds of your choice such as popsicles, Ice- tray etc.

-          Popsicles will be a frozen treat for kids

-          Ice-tray frozen can be used to serve with fruit punch.

-          Freeze overnight and they are ready to be eat.

Tips:

-          You can use single fruit or vegetables to make your treats. Use the respective flavour to make the juice. For example kiwi syrup/flavour for kiwi fruit treats.

How about saying I love you with a cheese cake? The type of modern cheesecake that has an uncooked, cream-cheese filling on a cookie-crumb base is an American invention that differs greatly from English cheesecakes, which traditionally include dried fruits and spices and are baked in the oven. Down below I am going to share no bake cheesecake recipe to make your valentine’s special.

Preparation time: 40 minutes, Stand time: 10 hours

Serving size: 12 pieces

Gadgets used:

·         Stove top

·         High speed Food processer

·         High speed beater

·         Baking pan with detachable bottom

Ingredients:

·         20 crackers of your choice (Marie or Graham crackers)

·         100 gms of butter

·         350 gms of Cream Cheese

·         300 gms of Cream

·         350 gms of strawberries

·         1tsp cinnamon powder

·         1 tsp vanilla

·         6 tsp agar agar strands

·         1 cup sugar

Preparation:

-          Grind the crackers in high speed food processer.

-          Add butter and cinnamon to the powder and mix them well to make dough.

-          Grease the pan and add the cracker mixture to it. Press it hard evenly to the bottom to form hard layer for the crust.

-          Keep it in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

-          Soak agar agar in 3/4 cup of water for 30 minutes.

-          Boil agar agar in a pan until it dissolves and you see gelatin like texture. Let it cool for 5 minutes.

-          In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, cream, sugar & vanilla extract. Add 3/4th portion of agar agar liquid and mix them with beater until everything is properly mixed.

-          Pour it in the pan over the layer of crust.

-          Let it stand I refrigerator for 2- 3 hours.

-          Cut strawberries and make juice out of it. Boil it in a pan for 6-7 minutes until thick. Add rest of the agar agar solution and mix well.

-          Let it all cool for 15 minutes.

-          Now beat it well for one more time and pour it as the top layer over the cheese layer.

-          Let it stand for 8 hours in the refrigerator.

-          Your cheese cake is ready to be served with drizzle of either chocolate or strawberry sauce.

-          You also top it with whipped cream.

This could be easily one of the simplest and quickest date recipes of all times. Even though it is dessert, there is no use of sugar and a very minimal use of chocolate. Dates are a good source of dietary fiber. We are also adding some nuts to increase the nutrition value of the dish and also to give a crunch.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Serving size: 12 pieces

Gadgets used:

-          Microwave or Stove top

-          High speed chopper

Ingredients:

-          500 gm pitted dates

-          100 gm butter

-          1/2 cup chocolate chips

-          1/2 cup nuts of your choice (I added almonds and walnuts)

Preparation:

-          In a shallow pan, roast nuts for 3-4 minutes and let it cool

-          In a microwave safe mixing bowl, add pitted dates and microwave high for 4-5 minutes

-          Now let it cool for couple minutes and put it in a chopper to make a coarse paste.

-          Take it out in the mixing bowl.

-          Add roasted nuts to the chopper and chop them into pieces. Keep them big enough to feel the crunch.

-          Now add nuts, and butter to the bowl and mix all well.

-          Add chocolate chips in the last when mixture is not hot (avoid melting of chocolate chips)

-          Take a 9 inch pie plate and add the mixture and press firmly to the bottom.

-          Smooth out the layer with help of a cup pressing on the top.

-          Now let it cool for 5 minutes and using cookie cutters, cut out the shapes of your choice.

-          Your Choco dates are ready to be served.

This is the shortest and simplest recipe for kulfi and we are going to make it layered with different flavours.

Ingredients:

-          1 liter full fat milk (Amul Diamond)

-          1 cup pistachio pieces

-          1 cup sliced almonds

-          1/2 tsp saffron (Dissolved in 4 tsp milk)

-          200 gm sweetened condensed milk

-          2 tsp corn starch

Preparation:

1.       In a pan, heat the milk

2.       Boil it until it is half and thick.

3.       Dissolve 2 tsp corn starch in 4 tsp milk and add to the boiling mix.

4.       Now add condensed milk and turn off the heat.

5.       Mix well and freeze it for 6-7 hours.

6.       Thaw it and bled it well so that you churn all the ice and re freeze it for another 6-7 hours.

7.       Thaw it again and now make three portions in three separate bowls.

8.       Add Pistachio to one, sliced Almonds to another and saffron into the third one.

9.       Now fill 1/3 of shot glasses or serving cups with one of the three fillings.

10.   Freeze it for another hour and add another layer and repeat with the third layer after an hour.

11.   Garnish with some pistachio, saffron strands and almond slices.

Tips:

The more you churn the mixture the better creamy texture you will get. Add flavours of your choice and you do not have to mix the flavours.

Winter is full of festivals and this time we are talking about festival of kites. In a cold windy day under the open sky do not you crave for something sweet and crunchy? This Uttarayan along with traditional chikki, let us try some almond pistachio chocolate cups. The recipe is real short quick and delicious. Also, you can prepare a day or two before the event and store it to serve when you need.

Ingredients:

-          1 cup almonds

-          1 cup pistachio

-          4 tsp honey  or  4 tsp brown sugar

-          4 tsp butter

-          1/4 tsp salt

-          2 tsp milk

-          1 slab of milk chocolate

-          1 slab of dark chocolate

Preparation:

-          In a pan, heat 1 tsp butter and roast almonds and pistachio for about 3-4 minutes after sprinkling pinch of salt.

-          Let it cool and blend coarse into the food processer.

-          Heat 2 tsp butter in the pan, add sugar or honey.

-          Toss in nuts and stir it for almost 3 minutes.

-          The mixture should feel little sticky like caramel.

-          Turn of the heat.

-          In a bowl, add chocolate slabs, 1 tsp butter and milk

-          In a double boiler or microwave, melt the mixture.

-          Keep stirring the mixture until it is completely in liquid form.

-          In butter cups or cupcake linings, pour liquid chocolate so that it fills 1/4th portion.

-          Now scoop the nut mixture and put on the top of the cup to fill 3/4th of cup.

-          Stop the linings or cups on the floor a little to level the filling.

-          Pour more chocolate liquid to cover the entire surface and gaps if any in between.

-          Sprinkle some nuts on top for garnish.

-          Refrigerate for 10 minutes to harden.

-          Your chocolate cups are ready to serve.

Tips:

-          Instead of Pistachio and Almonds, you can use any nuts that you like. In fact peanut butter cups can be made in similar manner.

-          You can use mixture of dark and white chocolates and some dried fruits such as raisins or cranberries.

-          Instead of making layers you can simply mix the nuts into the chocolate mixture and use chocolate moulds.

Let us go festive and try to make some simple but colourful cookies that can also be used as Christmas tree ornaments. They are quick and easy to make and favourites of all.

Ingredients:

-          1 cup sugar

-          1 cup butter

-          4 tsp milk

-          4 tsp vanilla or any flavor you like.

-          2 cups all-purpose flour or Maida

-          1 pinch salt

-          1.5 tsp baking powder

-          6 tsp flour

-          1 cup white chocolate

-          1 cup dark chocolate

-          1 cup colorful sprinkles (edible confetti)

Preparation:

-          Preheat oven to 350 degree F

-          In a mixing bowl, add butter and sugar and mix it well.

-          Add flavour (vanilla or any other), and milk to the mixing bowl.

-          In a separate bowl, add salt, flour and baking powder.

-          Now add both the mixtures to knead a dough.

-          You can add some flour if necessary so that it's not sticky

-          Now roll a sheet out of 1/4th portion of the dough

-          Using moulds or cookie cutters, cut desired shapes.

-          With a tooth pick, punch a hole into the shapes if you want to use it for hanging Christmas ornaments.

-          Grease baking tray, & bake them for 8-10 minutes.

-          You can increase or decrease the baking time based on if you want softer inside or crisper inside.

-          In two separate bowls melt dark and white chocolates.

-          Dip edges or whole cookie into chocolate and immediately spread sprinkles. Make sure it does not cover the hole. Let it cool and they are ready for decoration.

-          Use your imagination and use different colours for decoration.

Ingredients:

-          Phyllo Dough sheets

Fresh Dough

-          3 cups of all purpose flour(Maida)

-          1/4 tea spoon salt

-          1 cup water

-          4 spoon oil

-          1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Filling and Glaze

-          250 gm of unsalted Butter

-          100 gm chopped walnut

-          50 gm chocolate chips

-          Instead of walnut and chocolate chips you can use just Pistachio

-          1 tea spoon cinnamon powder

-          1 cup white sugar

-          1/2 cup honey

-          3/4 cup water

-          2 tea spoon lemon juice

Preparation:

Fresh Dough:

-          Mix dough ingredients and knead a soft dough.

-          Cover with plastic wrap and let it set aside for at least 2 hours.

-          After two hours, make 10-12 pieces out of the dough.

-          Roll each into thin sheets using some dry flour.

-          You can stack it over each other by just sprinkling some dry flour or corn starch on top r each sheet.

-          You can either use them fresh or freeze them.

Filling:

-          Chop walnuts into the blender

-          Add chocolate chips

-          Keep aside in mixing bowl

Glaze:

-          In a sauce pan, mix water, sugar, lemon juice and honey.

-          Bring it to boil until sugar is melted.

-          Keep it on the stove for another 5 minutes stirring well.

-          Keep aside and let it cool.

Baking:

-          If you are using frozen sheets, make sure they are completely thawed before using them.

-          Place 4-5 dough sheets each brushed with butter on the bottom in the baking tray.

-          Now sprinkle the walnut and chocolate chip mixture on the top evenly.

-          Repeat one more time with another 4 sheets of dough and mixture.

-          Top it for last 4 sheets of the dough.

-          You can add 5 to 10 sheets as per your choice of layers.

-          Cut the pastry into Small Square or diamond shaped pieces without removing any piece out of the tray.

-          Now bake it at 325 degree for 1 hour.

-          After removing from the oven pour the glaze (syrup) immediately with a spoon evenly on the tray spreading evenly on baklava.

-          Let it cool completely before serving.

-          You can store it in the refrigerator for later use.

Tips: Cover phyllo sheets with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Also, make sure you butter the sheets thoroughly.

Ingredients:

-          250 gm of pitted dates finely chopped or coarse in blender

-          4 table spoon butter

-          1&1/2 cup brown sugar

-          1 cup wheat or Maida flour

-          2 teaspoon baking powder

-          1/2 tea spoon salt

-          1/2 cup milk

-          1&1/2 cup black coffee(light as per your taste)

-          2 table spoon chopped walnuts

-          Ice-cream of your choice

Preparation:

-          Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.

-          Have a baking tray ready.

-          Whisk 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tea spoon salt, baking powder and flour in a mixing bowl.

-          Slowly add, 2 table spoon butter, dates, walnuts, and milk in mixing bowl while stirring.

-          Stir it until it forms thick batter.

-          Now pour mixture into the baking tray.

-          Mix rest of the sugar, butter, coffee in a sauce pan and boil it until sugar is melted.

-          Pour it over the batter.

-          Place it into the oven for 30-40 minutes.

-          Pudding will look dry on the top with gooey on the sides.

-          Scoop or cut into pieces and serve it hot in a bowl with scoop of ice-cream as a side.

-          I would use Vanilla or light flavoured ice-cream to cut some bitterness of coffee.

Ingredients:

-          1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

-          2 cups of heavy whipped cream

-          1 Pineapple can or 1 fresh pineapple. Keep two slices apart and crush rest of them

-          Pineapple flavor

Preparation:

-          Mix condensed milk and heavy whipped cream in a mixing bowl.

-          Mix it properly.

-          Now freeze the mixture for 5-6 hours.

-          Take out of the freezer and now churn the mixture until it’s completely liquid.

-          Add few drops of pineapple flavour.

-          Add crushed pineapple. If you are using can pineapple, make sure you have drained all the liquid before adding.

-          Now pour the mixture into freezer safe serving bowl.

-          Decorate the top with rest of the pineapple slices either cut into small triangles or square pieces.

-          Freeze it overnight.

-          When ready, scoop it out and serve.

Ingredients:

-          3 packets of Oreo cookies or any other cream filled chocolate cookie. Chose from your favourites.

-          1/4 cup butter melted

-          Instant Jell-O chocolate pudding

-          2 cups cold milk

-          White and dark Chocolate slab

-          Heavy whip cream for topping

Preparation:

-          Crush 2/3 of cookies finely and mix it with butter.

-          Press the mixture firmly into bottom of 9 inch pie plate.

-          Mix white and dark chocolate and warm it in microwave until semi liquid and pour it over the pie crust and spread evenly.

-          Let it stand for 10 minutes.

-          Now for the second layer, mix the pudding mixture with milk, and whisk it as necessary (you can have single layer pie too).

-          Pour it over the first layer of chocolate and spread evenly.

-          Again, let it stand for 10 minutes.

-          Now crumble rest of the cookies and mix it with whip cream.

-          Spread it evenly over the top of pie.