Kheer -Shri Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna ....my favourite deity.

Today is Krishna Janamashtami, when we celebrate his birth.
Many names, many forms , many stories , many reasons to worship him.

My love for Krishna intensified only after the birth of sweet child.When he was born, because his complexion was a wee bit darker than hubby dears',(Indians are so obsessed with fair skin!)and he had long hair....
A cheeky grin, dimpled chin and a riot of curls, a mischievous demeanor ...
And a love for all things to do with milk.
Sweet Child was called Laddoo Gopal...the name given to baby Krishna..

And you can see why...(no digi cams in those days)
That Ladies and gentlemen...is Sweet Child on  Jamanashtami,he was in pre-school.

Reason to celebrate every year.
And every year ,a reason to give thanks to Krishna.
They say that Krishna will not bless you with his bhakti...devotion if he does not want you to pray to him.But if you are blessed,that you are able to pray to him ...you are truly blessed.
Krishna Bhakti will enrich your life...some how your talents will be better and your life so much more beautiful.
Krishna has blessed me..and today we celebrate his birth with his favourite foods.
That is my idol of Laddoo Gopal in my house,with an offering of Kheer.

Lets just start with Kheer.
A simple milk and rice pudding, that is so wholesome and delicious. And Kheer means Celebrations.
And Special.
The day before Janamashtami, Kheer is made...It will first be offered to Krishna after his birth at midnight..and then distributed.
Today my kheer is on the flame ,slow cooking and by midnight ...it will be all magical and creamy and yum!!!
Whether you pray  to Krishna or no...Kheer is always special.
And if you have a slow cooker(my mum makes the most dreamy kheer in a slow cooker) or not...just make it!
Celebrations do not need a reason.

Kheer -Shri Krishna Janmashtami...

you need


2 liters whole milk
1/2 cup basmati rice/gopal bhath(used specially for kheer-available in east India)
1 cup or more sugar-to taste
1 pinch saffron
a few cardamom
1 tsp ghee/clarified butter
a handful of sliced almonds, pistachios or raisins(whatever)
a sheet of silver leaf(vark)-optional

Wash and Soak the rice.
Set the milk on the flame to boil. Once it comes to a boil, set it on simmer.
Drain the rice.In a separate pan, heat the ghee and add the rice to the ghee.

On a low flame saute the rice till it is a little golden.
Add the simmering milk  to the  rice and ghee.

Pop the cardamon in, after a just bruising them open.
Let this simmer, stirring occasionally till the rice is all smudgy and soft.This is after about 15 minutes.

Add the almonds.I simply crush them.

Keep on the flame till it reduces to at least 3/4 th the original. I so love the pots and pans that indicate quantities. This one showed a little lower than  1.5 l.

Now add the sugar, and let it come back to the amount you started out with.

Now the saffron.
Warm milk, let the colour leech out of the saffron, and pour that milk into the kheer.

A bit more simmer and then off the flame.

The final boil.
In our house, we like it chilled.
You can have it straight, or since this is Krishna Janamashtami, offer it to  Krishna with Poori and Suji ka Halwa and whatever else you wish to offer him...and then partake of the feast.

We also make a dish called "Mehri" made of rice and curd. That is the yellow gruel like thing in the bowl.
One big reason to celebrate Krishna Janamashtmi...

Happiness and joy.
Satisfaction and peace.
All this I wish to you all.
May Krishna bless you.

Happy Shri Krishna Janamashtmi.

I'm going to be posting soon...chocolate cinnabons, a bavarois...so much to come and so little time.


So what are you baking today???