Indian Desserts

Cardamom Cookies

Posted by Colleen on May 11, 2013 in Afternoon Tea, All Posts, Beginner Recipes, Dessert, Desserts, Indian Desserts | 8 comments

What is it about a plate piled high with cookies that is so hard to resist? I certainly can’t resist.  Apparently neither can my family, who ate four bags worth of cookies in two days when I brought them the results of last weeks recipe testing.   I had just spent the previous week working to find just the right cookie for dipping into chai. I’ve actually been searching for the perfect chai cookie recipe for the past two years and I think I finally found it.

My fixation for the perfect chai cookie started on my first visit to India.  We had been married in the US and flew to India for a wedding reception.  Our month-long trip turned into my new family

Cake Rusk

Posted by Colleen on Aug 19, 2011 in A Homemade Pantry, All Posts, Beginner Recipes, Colleen's Kitchen, Dessert, Indian Desserts, Indian Recipes, Recipe Index | 6 comments

I’m starting to learn to make things at home that I would have never considered in the past.  Desserts and little snacks and treats for example have always been things we have gone out for.  If Hubby and I wanted to treat ourselves to our favorite cookies, we went down to the corner store and picked up a package.  If I wanted a fresh lemon tart, I walked over to the local bakery and brought it home to enjoy after dinner.  I am now finding that if I want a special treat of cookies or a favorite childhood snack food, I’m looking up a recipe rather than driving directions.

Take for example, this recipe for cake rusk which is a tea cookie, a favorite accompaniment to Indian chai.  Hubby and I used to buy boxes of these until I couldn’t resist having four or five of them each time I had a cup of chai. At that point we decided not to continue buying them. Realizing my weakness for no self-control, we banned the crumbly golden cookies from our kitchen and I haven’t thought about them in years.  I’m actually quite proud that I kicked the tea cookie habit.

Indian Rice Pudding (Kheer)

Posted by Colleen on May 8, 2011 in All Posts, Colleen's Kitchen, Dessert, Indian Desserts, Recipe Index | 7 comments

I never thought I would be eating rice pudding.  I’ve never been a fan of any type of pudding (unless it had the word chocolate in it).

What could be yummy about a rice dessert?  Rice and dessert just don’t go together.

Well, I stand corrected.  Indeed those Indians know what they are doing.  Whenever I doubt their odd flavor combinations, I’m always put in my place.

This dessert is SOOOO GOOD!!!  Plus, it just feels healthier.  No butter, hardly any sugar.  Yet it still tastes heavenly.

I’m on a goal to find the best recipe for Kheer.  I’m starting with