AFAM - Apple

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Yes, it’s true. Apple with its numerous health benefits should be a part of our daily diet. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, anti-oxidants, and fibre. Apples have played a major role in Science. Had Newton uncle not seen an apple falling down from a tree, he would have never discovered gravity. Oh wow, that’s rhyming:) Apples are also used as symbols. It’s a symbol of sin in the Holy Bible.

As my entry for AFAM-Apple, I chose something that I caught my eye while leafing through a book. There are times when hubby calls from office and tells me he’s very very hungry. At such times, I make the normal mediocre snacks such as pohe, upma, etc. This week I was bored of eating the same old stuff. I was longing to try something new. That’s when I found this fantastic recipe in a very famous Marathi cookbook. You may find this book in almost all Marathi books. This book is “Annapurna” by Mangala Barve. My Mom has a copy of this book and it’s so worn and torn from the heavy use that most of the pages have come off. Finding a single recipe is super difficult from the book. The book is divided into different sections such as rice, soups and salads, vegetables, party items, cakes and icing, desserts, and so on. The author has beautifully described all the important dishes in a Marathi household. This book is so famous and has been followed by so many generations that it’s a common wedding gift to the new bride. I did not carry this book while coming to the US. I had it sent to me through a friend coming here. Here’s the recipe for a yummy snack:

Safarchandachi Bhajji/ Apple Pakoras

Ingredients
1.2 cups all purpose flour
2.2 tsp baking powder
3.1 cup milk
4.2 tbsp sugar
5.1 egg
6.3-4 apples
7.¼ tsp cinnamon powder
8.¼ tsp salt

Method
1.Mix the all purpose flour, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
2.Break the egg in the milk and beat well. Add all purpose flour in the egg-milk mix and mix thoroughly. Add the cinnamon powder and baking powder. Now, your batter is ready.
3.Peel the apple covering. Remove seeds. Cut into desired shape.
4.Dip the apple pieces in the batter.
5.Heat ghee in a pan. Fry the apple pieces till golden brown.

Hubby came home when my photo session was in progress. He tasted the bhajji and loved them. He even asked me what they were made of. I don’t know why he asked me this. They were distinctly tasting of apple and I had even placed two apples while taking the snaps:)

These bhajjis come over to you Maheshwari for the AFAM:Apple event.