Indian Holiday Recipes Collection

 

CHRISTMAS RECIPES

What is a Christmas celebration without Christmas cakes and cookies. This year show off your culinary skills by preparing some delightful special receipes Here we are providing some of the traditional that are prepared year after year on Christmas.

CAKES
Apple Cake  Almond Cake  Banana Chocolate Cake  Carrot Cake  Chocolate Angel Cake  Chocolate Cherry Cake  Chocolate Coconut Cake  Chocolate Mocha Cake  Chocolate Swiss Roll	Coconut Cake  Coconut Cupcakes  Cornflour Cake  Dundee Cake  Eggless Cake  Fudge Cake  Honey Cake  Marble Cake  Peach Cake	Pineapple Upside Down  Pound Cake  Pumpkin Cake Recipe  Rainbow Cake  Strawberry Cake  Sugarless Cake  Sweet Chocolate Cake  Walnut Palm Cake  Whiskey Cake
COOKIES
Sesame Seed Cookies  Butter Cookies	Raisin Choco Oat Cookie  Chocolate Chip Cookies	Chocolate Pretzels
PUDDING
Banana Bread Pudding  Chocolate Pudding  Dark Christmas Pudding  Lemon Pudding  Marmalade Pudding  Milk Pudding	Fruit Delight Pudding  Toffee Pudding  Yorkshire Pudding  Coffee Pudding  Honeycomb Pudding  Orange Pudding	Cottage Pudding  Fig Pudding  Ginger Pudding  Macaroni Fruit Pudding  Fresh Apricot Pudding  Christmas Pudding

DIWALI RECIPES

Diwali or Deepawali is perhaps the most beautiful of Hindu festivals in India. Diwlai signifies the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the king of Lanka. Also Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is worshipped in every household. Vareity of food is cooked, relished and gifted to near and dear ones. People light candles and oil lamps in their homes and offices. Here we have collected few Diwali recipes to make your celebrations all the more tempting.

Potato Dahiwada  Paneer Bagh-E-Bahar  Peanut Pakodi  Shahi Tukde  Matar Mushroom  Vegetable Nilgiri Korma  Methiwala Chawal  Palak Paratha  Sitaphal Rabdi

Masaledar Nariyal Lauki  Chum Chum  Motichoor Ladoo  Rava Ladoo  Chole  Cabbage Raita  Stuffed Aloo Tikki  Palak Puri

EASTER RECIPES

Easter is a time for joy and happiness epitomising new beginnings as devotees recall the resurrection of Christ.

The word "Easter" is derived from the Norse Ostara or Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. The Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone conveys the idea of a goddess returning seasonally from the nether regions to the light of day. This is in conjunction with the festival of spring, or vernal equinox, when nature is in resurrection after winter.

Churches throughout the world celebrate Easter as a major feast ranking with Christmas, and the "hot cross bun" or boon is distributed among the faithful , usually on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, most Christians attend church in the morning and upon returning home, the younger members of the family receive easter eggs. The type of Easter egg can vary from a simple hard-boiled egg with its shell painted in brillient hues, to the more exqusite confection with an outer shell made from marzipan or chocolate. Upon breaking them one is often delighted to find a delectable assortment of toffees and bon bons. Another Easter delicacy is the Simnel cake.

Easter Recipes
Easter Eggs  Hot Cross Buns   Easter Bunnies Cupcakes  Easter Egg Baskets  Easter Leg Of Lamb  Easter Dinner Cake  Easter Bunny Cupcakes  Marzipan  Pork Vindaloo  Hippity Hop Bunny Cake  Chocolate Praline Easter Cake  Chocolate Easter Eggs	Sorpotel  Simnel Cake  Chocolate Cherry Cookies  Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies  Easter Nest Cookie  Easter Cookies  Potato Chip Cookies  Praline Easter Cookies  Chocolate Easter Bunny Tail  Chocolate Hay Stacks  Easter Egg Candies  Easter Pecan Pralines

NAVRATRI RECIPES

The Navratri (nine nights) festival which marks the onset of autumn is celebrated in different ways all over the country. It is a festival of worship, dance and music and is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of Goddess Durga. North Indians celebrate the 9 days of Navratri watching the annual Ramlila performances under the post-monsoon skies full of twinkling stars. For 9 days, women wear their best saris and beautiful jewellery, and attend late night cultural programmes of music and dance. Coconut laddoos, payash, bundi sweets are typical Navratra food preparations. Navratri 2010 will be celebrated from October 7 to 17 October.

NAVRATRI VRAT RECEIPES
Kuttu Ki Puri  Singhade Ka Halwa  Singhare Ke Pakore  Sabudana Puri  Kotu Aloo Pakora  Vrat Ke Chawal  Sukhi Arbi  Sukha Aloo  Kacche Kele Ki Chaat	Kaddu Ka Raita  Kele Ki Barfi  Khuskhus Aloo  Banana Chips  Arbi Fried  Aloo Pulao  Aloo Mewawale  Malaiwale Kofte

MAKAR SANKRANTI RECIPES

The whole country welcomes the onset of ‘uttarayana punyakaram’, with the celebration of Makar Sankranti, which marks the journey of the sun to the northern hemisphere (Makar Raasi). All across the country this festival is celebrated with much joy, though the style differs slightly from state to state. People begin this auspicious day with holy dips in water and by worshipping the sun

In the South, it is a big day for the Tamilians and the people of Andhra Pradesh. The four-day event is called 'pedda paadunya', which means big festival. The first day of the festival is called Bhogi, the second Sankranti, the third Kanuma and the fourth day Mukkanuma. Traditionally, this period is considered an auspicious time and it is believed that the veteran Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjun. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world during this holy period. It is believed that those who die in this period are free from the cycle of rebirth.

The one month following it is considered to be very auspicious and is called 'Dhamnurtmasam'. People rise early in the morning, take baths and go on the streets to sing devotional songs. The girls, dressed in beautiful colorful customs, go in groups singing around. Houses and warehouses are cleaned and the front yards of the houses are adorned with rangolies or muggulu, which are beautiful floral design drawn on the floor with rice powder, a fine limestone powder, further decorated with marigold flowers placed on cowdung ball.

Karnataka also celebrates this festival in a unique style. Families visit friends and relatives dressed in colorful clothes. They exchange sugarcane pieces, a mixture of fried til, molasses, dry coconut pieces, peanuts and fried gram, which signifies that sweetness should prevail amongst them in whatever they do. On this day cows and bulls are washed and their horns are adorned with vivid colors and garlands and are made to jump over a bonfire lit at night.

In Maharashtra people visit their friends and relatives and exchange multi coloured sugar and a mixture of fried til and molasses. While exchanging the sweets they say, "til gul ghya, god god bola" which means that ‘let there be only friendship and good thoughts between us’. New utensils are purchased and used for the first time in Hindu houses. Vividly coloured kites dot the skies. In the Gujratis, pandits grant scholarships and certificates to students who have successfully completed their studies in philosophy on this auspicious day.

For the people residing in the Indo-Gangetic plain, the day begins with a dip in the Ganges and an offering of water to the sun, which is said to award punya. People pray for a good harvest and offer special puja. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the two rice eating belts, people have special rice-centric meals. Til and rice form two important ingredients of this festival. In the river Hoogly, near Calcutta, people from all over India come for a ceremonial cleansing here. This ceremony of this day is called the Gangasoyar Mela.

PONGAL RECIPES

Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. The enthusiasm and the zeal of Tamilians comes alive during the four day festival. Pongal literally means "boiling over". This festival is the biggest event of the year for the Tamilians.

The four day festival consists of Bhogi-Pongal, Surya-Pongal, Mattu-Pongal and Kanyapongal. On the first day which is called the Bhogi Pongal the day begins with a til (sesame) oil bath. In the evening a huge bonfire of old clothes, files, mats and rugs is made. The day is devoted to the Rain god, Indran (Bhogi). Legends say that on this day that Krishna lifted the Gobardhan mountains on his little finger.

Surya-Pongal, the second day is dedicated to Surya (sun). Women boil Pongal, which is rice cooked in milk and jaggery and offer it to the sun on this day.

The third day is dedicated to honour and worship the cattle (mattu) and is called Mattu-Pongal. The cattle are bedecked with turmeric and kumkum on their horns and small bells and flowers are hung around their necks. They are then paraded in the streets and given Pongal to eat which is later offered to the local deities.

On the last day which is Kanya-Pongal coloured balls of the Pongal are offered to birds. In several places of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Jallikatu (which is a kind of bull fight) are held. Unarmed villagers try to snatch the bundles tied to the horns of ferocious bulls. Bullock cart races and cock fights also form a part of this event. In Andhra Pradesh, community meals at night with the freshly harvested products is a speciality. All houses displays their collection of dolls for three days.

FATHER'S DAY RECIPES

Fathers Day Recipes
Almond Biscotti  Apple Maple Syrup Pie  Apple Raisin Cake  Bailey Irish Cream Mousse Pie  Baked Beef Rice Casserole  Banana Sour Cream Loaf  Black Forest Pie  Coffee Drop Cookies  Cognac Cookies	Cranberry Cookies  Creamy Chicken Enchiladas  French Bread  Fudge Brownie Pie  Key Lime Pie  Leg Of Lamb  Lemon Love Notes  Lemon Garlic Chicken  Fruit Shake	Peanut Butter Cookies  Pumpkin Bread  Grilled Spiced Chicken  Strawberry Cupcakes  Sugar Cookie Hearts  Tuna Casserole  Whole Wheat Potato Bread

ONAM RECIPES

Onam, also known as Thiruonam, is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam, which corresponds to the lunar month of Bhadrapad. Onam is the most important secular festival of Kerala, enjoyed by Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike.

Celebration: The festivities commence 10 days before Onam. The whole of Kerala puts on a jovial show for the reception of Bali so that he may rejoice, seeing his people happy. Two square pyramids representing Vishnu and Bali are erected in courtyards and worshipped with offerings of flowers, fruits and other auspicious food products.

Every home is embellished with floral decorations called pookkalam. Onam feasts include banana erucherry, tomato pachadi, chana dal payasam, and avial.

Onam Recipes
Aviyal  Lady Finger Kichadi  Celery Payaru Thoran  Kalan  Parippu Payasam	Erissery  Pulissery  Koottu Curry  Parippu Curry  Semiya Payasam	Sambar  Tomato Rasam  Moru Curry  Pal Payasam  Wheat Payasam

RAMZAN ID RECIPE

Muslims all over the world celebrate Ramzan Id also called Id-Ul-Fitr with great jubilation on the first day of the Islamic month Shawwal. This day marks the end of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, in which the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the moon, the month of Ramadan falls at different times each year. Muslims spend the whole month of Ramadan in fasting and penance. No food or drink is taken from sunrise to sunset on each day of the month. The completion of the month-long fast is determined by the appearance of the new moon, and is celebrated with enthusiasm as Id-Ul-Fitr, which means 'the fast is over'. In India, this Id is also called Mithi Id. The month-long fast culminating in this Id spreads a feeling of brotherhood. Muslims wear new clothes on this day, exchange gifts, participate in great fairs and watch stunning fireworks displays.

Chicken Shashlik  Chicken Jalfrezi  Dum Pukht  Ginger Chicken  Harissa

Badami Gosht  Bharuchi Dal  Achari Gosht  Murgh Do Piaza  Kofta Curry

HOLI RECIPES

Holi is the time of celebration and festivities. Here are some Holi recipes to make your Holi celebrations more special. Nothing is more satisfying than preparing special Holi dishes at home. Learn how to make Holi festival food.

Holi, the festival of colours, falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun - 10th March this year. Holi heralds the arrival of spring - the season of hope and new beginnings. It is a glorious spectacle, a riot of colours - crimson, red, pink, orange, purple, yellow and green. On this day people throw coloured powder gulal or coloured water on each other. This is done in remembrance of the fun Krishna used to have playing hori (songs) with the gopis (female cowherds) at Gokul.

Differen communities in India celebrate Holi by preparing special food. Here we present few holi special dishes eaten on this special day, the most popular and common of which is Thandai with the addition of Bhaang. Maharashtrains prefer Puran Poli. North Indians prepare Shakarpara and gujjias - a sweet samosa filled with mava, coconut, dry fruits which is fried and dipped in a sugar syrup. Gujaratis make sweet khichidi and sweets like kheer, basundi and halva.

HOLI RECIPES
Dahi Bhalle  Gathiya  Namakpare  Aloo Puri  Bhang Ki Lassi  Bhang Pakore	Bhang Thandai  Matar Ki Kheer  Mawa Gujiya  Shakarpara  Thandai

KARWA CHAUTH RECIPES

In India from time immemorial, the welfare of husbands has always been of prime importance for all married women. Nine days before Diwali, some time in October or November, on the Kartik ki Chauth, Karwa Chauth is undertaken. A fast is undertaken by married Hindu women who offer prayers seeking the welfare, prosperity, well being and longevity of their husbands. It is probably the most important fast undertaken by women of North India.

This fast begins before sunrise and ends after worshipping the moon. During the interim no food or water is ingested. The preparation of the puja begins around 4 or 5 p.m.. A sari known as baya is sent to the married woman by her mother. The eldest lady of the house, usually the mother-in-law then presents the baya to her daughter-in-law. A place for the puja is prepared such that all the women invited for the puja can be accommodated. Maybe a courtyard or a terrace or even a verandah will do. A chowk like in any other puja - is decorated on the floor. This whole chowk should ideally be placed against a wall where on a really well decorated patta the Gaur Mata is seated. Earlier the Gaur Mata used to be made with cowdung in the shape of a human figure, just about two inches tall. Nowadays, a picture or an idol of Parvati , Lord Shiva’s consort, is placed on the patta.just about an hour or so before moonrise. Those who have observed the fast known as vrat in Hindi, dress up again in their chunris or in red or pink clothes with chonp and bindi on their foreheads. The baya of the lady who is observing the fast is kept on a thaali (plate), over the karva, with a little water and seven pieces of pua in it (seven broken from one big pua). The karva itself is imbued with kharia, aipun and a little roli.A strand of (red thread) of any thickness is tied around the part of the karva. There is no taboo on widows doing the puja and during the ceremony, all the women sit facing the lady whose karva it is and chant and narrate the story. This is known as man which means to give away and never take back. First of all, roli teeka is applied on the forehead of Gaur before the start of the puja. All the women doing puja also apply roli teeka on their foreheads and parting (known as maang). Everyone does puja by dipping the third finger of the right hand in water sprinkling it with the help of the thumb three times over the deity; the same procedure has to be repeated with the aipun and roli and, lastly, the rice is showered.

MOTHERS DAY RECIPES

Mothers Day Recipies
5 Minute Fudge  Fruit Salad  Chicken Salad  Blueberry Cake  Penne Bake  Baked Rice Broccoli  Chocolate Cheesecake  Baked Potato Soup	Easy Blueberry Muffins  Cranberry Apple Salad  Cranberry Marshmallow Salad  Mothers Day Chocolate Pie  Rosemary Red Pepper Chicken  Golden Pound Cake  Mothers Day Crockpot  Ginger Waffles & Peach Sauce	Grilled Herb Chicken  Oven Barbecued Salmon  Pineapple Mango Salad  Potato Kidney Bean Salad  Mix Vegie Pasta Salad  Tuna Pasta Salad  Mango Fruit Salad

RAKHI RECIPES

Raksha Bandhan is on Wednesday 9 August 2006. Raksha means 'protection' and Bandhan means 'bond'. Raksha-bandhan is a bond of protection. This festival is more popular in northern India. Legend says that Indrani, the wife of Indra, started the practice of tying a rakhi. When the gods suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the demons and Indra lost his kingdom, Indrani, following Vishnu's advice, prepared a charm as prescribed by the sacred texts and tied the thread around Indra's wrist. Indra easily defeated the demons by virtue of this thread and won back his kingdom. Tying a rakhi signifies the obligation of the strong to protect the weak. History records many instances of Hindu queens sending rakhis to Muslim kings to seek their help. Despite their differing faiths, the kings invariably provided help and honoured the significance of rakshabandhan as a tie of protection.

Raksha Bandhan is a day for feasting. Sweets of all kinds, mainly Laddoos, Jalebis, Barfi, Balushai, Gulab Jamuns and Rasgullas are the favourites.

RAKHI FOOD
Baadusha  Badam Kaju Pista Burger  Bread Barfi   Bread Dahiwadas  Chana Dal Banana Kheer  Chandrakala  Kalingar  Malai Gulab Jamun  Chana Dal Banana Kheer  Chandrakala	Dal Ke Laddu  Fruit Chaat  Jal Zeera  Kaddu Kofta With Kulcha  Korma Chawal  Masala Puri  Mint Pulao  Mushroom Masala  Kalingar  Malai Gulab Jamun	Mushroom Paneer Pulao  Paneer Rice Fingers  Raseeley Chawal  Shahi Paneer Korma  Spicy Dal

VALENTINES DAY RECIPES

Valentine's Day is not just about giving roses or diamond rings. It is a romantic day just for the couples to show how much they care about each other. Even small gestures count a lot. A very romantic gesture could be to cook something special for your loved one on this Valentine's Day.


Here are some recepies that we are providing for you to cook for your valentine this year to make him/her love you all the more.

VALENTINES DAY FOOD
Black & White Hearts  Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts  Chocolate Cookie Dough  Cupid Cakes  Ice Cream Sandwich Hearts  Nothing But Love Cake  Red Cider  Pink Sorbet  Kisses  Fruity Cubes  Valentine Chocolate Balls  Truffle Pistachio Hearts  Toasted Heartshaped Sandwiches  Heartshaped Pizza  Hearts	Peppermint Cupcakes  Sweetest Heart Cake  Sweetheart Cheesecake  Sweetheart Layer Bars  Valentine Smoothie  Valentine Surprise  Valentines Day Cake  I Love You Scones  Heartshaped Sandwiches  Chocolate Valentine Cheesecake  Valentines Cupcakes  Valentine Milkshake  Valentine Fizz  Valentine Cookies