Kheer

Kheer, another special dessert for Diwali is one of my favorite sweets too. Tho' you get a lot of ready-to-eat kheers in retail outlets, nothing beats the taste and flavor of this homemade specialty.

Ingredients :
Long grain Rice 1/4 cup (washed and drained)
4-5 cups Milk
2-3 cardamom seeds (crushed)
2 tbsp. almonds (blanched)
A pinch of saffron strands, soaked in some hot milk
1 tbsp skinned pistachios (chopped)
1 tbsp raisins (optional)
5 tbsp sugar or as desired

Cooking time : 20 mins

Put the rice, milk and cardamom in a pan, bring to boil and simmer gently until the rice is soft and turning into a paste. Add almonds, pistachios, and saffron and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add sugar and stir continuously until it is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and serve either warm or chilled. Garnish it with raisins for a more wholesome taste. Uhmm! lip smacking taste.