My favorite season is finally here with longer daylight, beautiful sunshine and pretty flowers! Now, all I ask from the weatherman is not to predict anymore frequent showers, storm or anything that takes away the Spring.
Last week was pretty dull and boring with non-stop rain and cold winds, but what kept me excited was seeing Arvind finalizing the new design for blog. In between all the crazy workload, my sweetheart somehow managed to find time for planning, writing, fixing bugs and creating this new look. I feel SO proud and yes, I know 🙂 I am one lucky girl!
This lucky girl decided to make some thing special for her boy, who has a sweet tooth and can never get tired of eating dessert. Just one treat was not enough to celebrate the new look of the blog and so I made two.. one with lots of lemon in it and the other with lots of carrot in it.
The idea of carrot pistachio truffles is not very different from the gajar halwa that I had made earlier. This time around, I decided to add some roasted ground pistachio at the near end of the cooking process. It absorbed some of the moisture and also added a crunchy bite.
Lemon shortbread bar is adapted from this link. It was in my wish list for a while and what better time to make it than now! I decided to add some slivered almonds for a crispy bite in between.
Both the treats came out flavorful and delicious!
Carrot Pistachio Truffles
Ingredients
- 2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1 tablespoon ghee/butter
- ½ can sweetened condensed milk
- seeds of 4 cardamoms (roughly crushed (or ½ teaspoon cardamom powder))
- ½ cup roasted and finely crushed pistachio (plus some more for garnish)
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat ghee/butter and cook grated carrot in medium heat for about 5 mins.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk in the pan along with the crushed cardamom and mix them properly.
- Bring down the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 10 mins. Keep stirring in between to avoid it from sticking to the bottom of the pan or getting burnt.
- Once the milk is absorbed, add crushed pistachio and mix.
- Pour the carrot pudding in a bowl and let it cool. Cover it with a plastic wrap and let it rest overnight in the refrigerator.
- Next day, use a melon baller or a spoon to scoop round balls of the carrot pudding and place it on a plate. Let it refrigerate another for 15 minutes.
- Dust some powdered sugar on top of the balls and start shaping it to a round ball. Rub some powdered sugar on your hand to avoid it from sticking to your hand.
- Dust some more powdered sugar on top, sprinkle finely crushed pistachio and serve it.
Notes
Nutrition
Roxana GreenGirl { A little bit of everything}
oh my goodness, if your previous look was beautiful this is gorgeous. Love the sun in the banner, the birds, the flowers. it fits you perfectly!
You're one lucky girl indeed!
Krithi
Wow.. Love the carrot truffles very much Kankana... would try this for sure..
Rose ( Magpie's Recipes)
Gosh Kankana your pictures are just brilliant! Love how that powder sugar emphasizes the sweets and I so wanna come and see your prop stash! Love that copper plate. Love the clean new look of the blog too! Yes your boy definitely deserved these sweets!
nipponnin
I did not have time to sit down and write to you until today. I just want to say, I adore this new look! Simply beautiful! Your photographs are amazing! (as always).
Thank you for your kind comment on my blog.
Saguna
I adore your new layout and these sweet treats! Never knew carrot halwa could be made with so little ghee- will be trying this out soon 🙂 Thanks for a beautiful post!
Radhika @ Just Home Made
Kana,
This has turned out to be so gorgeous, something so apt and all Sunshine and Smile..Arvind and you as a team have done a great job! So excited and happy for you! Calls for a celebration indeed! Two sweets as a sweet thank you to him, so cute..
I can only look at those gorgeous Lemon bars, haven't found a recipe not calling for eggs!
Carrot Pistachio truffles - novel idea for a carrot halwa..
Nami | JOC
Kankana!!! Congrats on the new look on your blog! This is really YOU!!! I'm loving it very much. Your photos and style match with your design and just simply gorgeous!! I always love citrus in sweets and this looks so delicious.
Farwin @ Loveandothe
Hi Kankana,The new look of the blog and your photos are absolutely gorgeous ! But like Lubna pointed out,coming from Twitter I couldn't see any of the menu on the right hand side until I clicked the wording Hello Spring. Thought to bring it to your notice.
Namitha
Loved everything, the new looks, flowers,desserts and your writing 🙂 Yes,you are a lucky girl,hope your boy loved these.Just finished taking some pics of lemon bars. Have to try these shortbread bars sometimes ;-)and Truffles look awesome !
Amrita (Beetle's Kitchen Escapades)
You sure are lucky, girlie! The husband's done an amazing job on the new look. Very pretty! I've been sitting and tweaking my blog on my own, figuring out code etc and everytime I ask the husband for help, he just nods and then never helps. Sigh! Maybe I should make him some extra special treats like this and tell him he gets to eat them only AFTER he helps me 😉
Magic of Spice
Your blog looks fantastic! As well as do both of these treats...must try those delightful truffles!
Vijitha
Congrats on the new look. Loving the header. Such apt for the name Sunshine and smile.
Rikki
That lemon shortbread sounds incredible! And the blossoms are so beautiful [:
Poornima
Love the new look, that header is beautiful and apt!! The two treats are just fabulous!
Ambika
The new look is amazing! So fresh and vibrant, just like spring!! Love both the recipes, gorgeous photos, as always!!
Grishma @ZaikaZabardast
love it! Love it..love it!!! So cool 🙂 Absolutely gorgeous!
Deepa
Awesome kank! Love the new look of the blog :-)congratzz!!! lemon shortbread bars look so tempting... Will definitely try this one.:-)
Manasi
I have been reading and following ur blog on FB and am de-lurking now.
Love the new look and the Lemon Shortbread and carrot pistachio truffles. it all looks Very sunny and happy!
sayantani
awww thats a super cute header Kankana...Congrats for the new look. that definitely calls for some celebration...awesome goodies you made for your guy.
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals
Kankana, I really like the new look, it's so fresh and Spring like! I especially loved reading that your husband took the time and care to set up the new blog look for you, and you made these lovely desserts to show your appreciation, you two are just too adorable!