CHOCOLATE SANDESH

Sweet lovers never get bored of sweets, desserts! Though not someone with a sweet tooth, I / We enjoy few varieties of sweets. There are many varieties available, we need a lifetime to taste them all. With few ingredients you can actually prepare yum sweets. Though Bengal is famous for sweets, the other been fish, it was not in my priority list till may be I was caught with diabetes. For the past 4 years I am craving sweets, homemade or otherwise. 

I think the story is same in most homes. Be it Durga Puja, Diwali or Eid, celebrations with sweets is necessary. Yes, I am facing post festive effects of gorging on sweets. Like me, many others, I bet. Does it stop us from loving it? No way, it's in our Bengali genes to buy sweets regular. Though it's true....'A sweet a day, brings us closer to doctor anyway'.

As I believe, balance in life is important. Why do we need to leave sweets altogether for a healthy life? We will have it but in moderation. Taste bud satisfied, health restored. Having a sweet once a week will not kill us. We should not leave the world with the regret that we wanted to eat this or do this, we did not. That is kind of torture on our soul. Do whatever you wish to but staying within limits. We need not deprive ourselves from the simple pleasures of life, there will not be a second one.

Yes, all this while I was / am trying to promote, establish the simple philosophy of living your life to your heart's content maintaining balance, whenever required. Well everyone knows it, I just jotted down. I prefer homemade sweets. They are easy to make using ingredients available at home. Just a little patience is required. Whenever there is abundance of chocolate at home, I plan a dessert or sweet with it. The festive season was round the corner, so whats better than Chocolate Sandesh, I thought. You can see few ingredients have been used to prepare this.

INGREDIENTS :

Paneer : 300 gm

Milk : 1/2 cup
Chocolate Bar : 1 or 2 [I used Meiji Bar]
Sugar : 5-6 tbsp
Green Cardamom Powder : 1/2 tsp

Rice Flour : 1 tbsp
Chopped Pistachios to garnish

PROCEDURE :

To melt chocolate, break chocolate bar, take in a microwavable bowl. Add 2 tbsp water. Microwave at minimal heat for 2-3 minutes stirring every 30 seconds. You may continue until the chocolate melts. Mix well.

Chop Pistachios. Blend paneer taken in blender. Use boiled milk at regular temperature.

 In wok, add paneer, milk, sugar. Switch on gas stove. Stir at minimal heat continuously for 15-16 minutes. Add chocolate, stir cook for 10-12 minutes. Keep stirring till the water almost dries up. Add the rice flour, green cardamom powder, stir cook for 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Once a bit cool, still warm, mash it for 3-4 minutes. Keep fan on. After 4-5 minutes, mash again. Apply ghee on your palms. Shape sandesh / sweets as you wish. Garnish with chopped pistachios.