It is the much awaited day - a Friday. Fridays are always nice because it is the last day of the work week. And this Friday was extra special because there was a office event - which means one whole day of do-no-work but get paid. Arya woke me up at 5:00am. He was running a high fever. His eyes were watery and he seemed very weak. I decided to take the day off, take care of him and if needed take him to the doctor. He went back to sleep around 7:00am and woke up around 11:00. He came running to me and said "Mommy, it is Friday... I have to go school". I tried to convince him saying he wasn't well so he can stay at home and relax and ... watch Dora all day. Noooo, I want school! So after a quick shower and bowl of cereal, he went to school.It was about 12:00 - I missed my event. Didn't feel like remoting into work. So got myself about half a day of "do-nothing" time. Well, technically I could run some errands - grocery, laundry, water the plants etc. But no, I am not going to waste my precious time like this. So after spending the next 3 hours doing nothing really useful, I got out off the couch. I thought I should do something that I am passionate about - something that I like but my normal lifestyle doesn't allow for it. After about 5 minutes, I was still thinking what to do. So I google "What am I interested in?" It gave me a bunch of career related websites. Okay, I'll think this up myself. Alright, how about sketching, painting? - it was about 3:00pm, I only have two and a half hours before the kids come home - so can't do much of it. I really love painting but just don't find that order of time. If only I can be on bench for a couple of months...hmmm! Alright let me think of something else. How about cooking? Now I hear some laughing from my inside. It is a miracle if I cook more than twice a week. But cooking is only my hobby. You cannot do it everyday, then it becomes boring, like my job.
Ok so it is cooking then. But what can I cook - I open the refrigerator to get some ideas. I see a pack of bread, some yogurt and ... nothing else - ok I get it - we need to do groceries, but now is not the time for it. I remembered this great dessert I had in India on Hudson. It was a sweet dish made of bread, I don't know the name though. I quickly google for Indian sweet recipes made from bread. I scroll down the search results - not bread pudding, not bread halwa - these recipes didn't sound like what it tasted. It was so rich, creamy ... and finally I decided it could be Double ka meeta or Shahi Tukda. Both recipes were similar with minor differences. Seems like this is a Hyderabadi street-side specialty. Luckily I had all the ingredients for this one. I consolidated the recipes into my own version (that's how you create a signature recipe). It came out delicious, though not exactly the same as India on Hudson. It is a very rich dessert most suited for special occasions or just plain wasted days like the one I just had. Remember to keep the weighing scale away for a few days after having this scrumptious dessert.
Here is the recipe:
White bread - 6 slices
Milk - 4 cups whole milk
Cashew halves - as per liking.
Ghee - to fry the bread
Sugar syrup:
Sugar - 12 tsp & Water-1/2cup
Cardamom powder - a pinch (boil together until it reaches a thin syrupy consistency)
First cut the edges of bread slices and then cut them into triangles. Deep fry the bread pieces in ghee until it is crisp. Prepare sugar syrup as mentioned above. Allow milk to boil in a heavy wide bottom vessel until it reduces to half its volume. Remember to stir continously. Fry cashew halves in ghee on law flame until golden brown.
Arrange fried bread pieces on a plate and pour sugar syrup over it when it is still warm. Wait for few minutes until the bread slices are soaked well. Pour reduced milk over this and top with fried cashew pieces. Enjoy when still warm.
The left overs became kind of mushy. I refrigerated this for a Sunday brunch dessert. Serve chill with a generous topping of warm chocolate syrup.
