I wish all my readers/bloggers/non-bloggers a very Happy Deepavali.
Quick background: Deepavali is a major Indian festival, also called the "festival of lights" and marks the day when Rama (the great king of Ayodhya) defeated the demon Narakasura. More here.
The name "Deepavali" as such has undergone a make-over and has become "Diwali", but I still prefer to call it Deepavali. It has a nice ring to it.
This post happens to also mark my 50th! Still huffing and puffing! But feels like yesterday. Three months since my creative juices started flowing. Been a happy trooper since then.
Since I am celebrating Deepavali and my 50th post together, in tandem with my blog's theme of eating healthy, I present a sweet treat shaped like laddus (Indian dessert), but these are a healthy alternative to their counterparts which are loaded with butter and sugar. This is my own creation, and really has no hard-and-fast rules as to what goes in, you may increase or decrease quantity as needed. The dates and the raisins are the ones that hold the whole ball together, so I wouldn't tamper with that.
To find out what is in them that actually makes it a powerhouse of energy and nutrition, read on...
Nutty Energy Power balls - Healthy laddu
Ingredients:
Flax seeds - 10 tbsp
Peanuts - 1/4 cup
Dates - About 10
Quick Oats - 2 cups
Nuts - 1/4 cup (Assortment of almonds, walnuts and pecans)
Raisins - 1/4 cup
Chocolate chips - 1 tbsp
Cardamom - 1/4 tsp
Method:
In a food processor, blend all the ingredients separately except the dates and raisins.
Add the dates and raisins separately and blend. This will turn into a nice gooey mass. Now add the rest of the ingredients and mix everything together in the food processor.
Shape them into little balls, and serve. Store in an air-tight container for later use.
Thanks Yasmeen for the "Chocoholic Award". I somehow did manage to get some chocolate into this recipe ;)
Rolling them off to:
Priti's Festive Food: Diwali
Sunshinemom's FIC-Brown
Srivalli's JFI – Festival Treats
Aparna's Blog Anniversary
Easy Crafts WYF: Party Food
Vaishali's Sweet Vegan
WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS DIWALI Divya......
ReplyDeleteLaddus look scrumptious and healthy..
Happy Deepavali! anudivya.
ReplyDeleteThe Power balls are a great treat for a nut lover.
Wishing you a Happy Deepavali to you and your family
ReplyDeleteNutty balls looks pretty Div!
Have a wonderful diwali Anudivya:)
ReplyDeleteAnother super healthy idea,Flax seeds in laddu!
Congrats on milestone 50 posts!
good recipe with healthy ingredients..
ReplyDeleteHappy diwali!!
Wishing you and ur family Happy Diwali...
ReplyDeleteThe Nutty Ladoos look really healthy with soo many nuts added to it.
Thanks for sharing
Wishing you and your family a Happy Diwali. Nutty laddoos are an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali. The nut balls look really healthy and delicious.
ReplyDeleteAnu
ReplyDeleteHappy Deepawali to you & your family too!! U R right, Deepawali sounds so much better.
The laddoos are a great idea. I am thinking a healthy fast breakfast here. One on your way, fills up your day, kinda a thing.
what kind of oats did u(or can I) use? I have everything else handy except the oats.
Congrats on your 50th.
Happy depavali to you too Anu,Nut ladoos looks delicious.. healthy too.
ReplyDeleteThose really are power balls Anu Divya :) Wishing you a very Happy Diwali and congrats on your 50th post.
ReplyDeleteWow.. This is awesome.. ! Will surely try it :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a power ball indeed..I like the addition of flax seed..COngrats on your 50th post! Happy Deepavali to you n your family Divya!!
ReplyDeletehow do u come up with recipes like this????wow! u r a heath freak! luved it. happy diwali to u and ur family too!
ReplyDeleteHi Anu,Thanks for the delicious ladoo.
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali to you and family
that is really awesome... so healthy and yummy. how did u manage to roll the balls without ghee? won't it be sticky? do u really have to use flax seeds?
ReplyDeleteHappy diwali Anu, I like the healthy concept of the Laddu... I try to use flax in anything thats possible. Lovely looking laddus... I have something for you check out
ReplyDeletehttp://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com/2008/10/rasmalai.html
Hi divya dear,,wishing u n ur family a happy diwali...laadu looks so good and yummy....
ReplyDeleteA very happy diwali to you too. Laddoo looks really neat and nice click
ReplyDeleteGosh they look good!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 50th post and happy Deepavali
love the combo of dry fruits in this Anu! Happy Deepavali to you and your family :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 50th post..great milestone to be celebrating Diwali with...Happy Diwali to you and your family....the ladoo looks yum...loved the healthy twist you have given it...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 50th post.I now know you are enjoying a nutty enrgy filled diwali.This recipe is a quickie
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali Divya! Awesome recipe. Again a kid friendly recipe :-)
ReplyDeleteaah! I could eat those laddus every day Anu! so pretty and nutritious! its similar to the "adadiyapaak" we gujaratis make!
ReplyDeleteWish you and your family a very happy & prosperous Diwali too!:)
wish you a very happy diwali as well! The laddus look great! Nice pictures!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali to you too divya!!!!Have fun
ReplyDeleteHi Anu, the laddoos definetely awesome and looks too good,Bookmarked them, thanks and have a great day.
ReplyDeleteDivya, Wishing you a Happy Deepavali to you and your family..Laddu looks yum!
ReplyDeletehi anu! innovative one.....happy diwali......cheers
ReplyDeleteDivya soopera iruku Laddoos.I've the same questions as Mahimaa.how did u manage to bring the laddoos to shape?also wanted to knw whats flax seeds?
ReplyDeleteHi Anudivya,
ReplyDeleteCongrats - Fifty Posts in a short time.
Keep it up.
Wish U and Ur family - a Happy DEEPAVALI
Happy Diwali... Congrats on the 50th post. Wishing you many more 50s here.
ReplyDeleteYummy and easy-to-make ladoos.
wow, what a healthy laddu that is! looks fabulous Divya! Adding flax seeds to laddu is a neat idea! BTW, you could also send this to Madhuram's flax seed event.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Congrats on the half century! Wishing you many more!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali to you,your family and all your Bloggers
ReplyDeleteRamkumar
Lovely delicious ladoos! Wish you a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali!
ReplyDeletethey look interesting... and yes, button mushrooms are a little bland, that's why the more garlic, the better... :)
ReplyDeleteWow divya..powerballs looks tremendous...Happy diwali to u n Ur family..
ReplyDeleteTahts an awesome recipe,happy diwali!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Divya and thanks for this excellent recipe. Only yesterday i bought a similar laddoo with exactly the same ingredients (it also has honey added) and rolled in coconut. I was trying to figure out how this has been made. You read my mind:)
ReplyDeletehey...happy diwali :)
ReplyDeleteWish u a very Happy Diwali.
ReplyDeleteindeed very healthy ladoos
Happy Diwali! These look so delicious and very pop-able.
ReplyDeletethat is one delicious laddu! Happy diwali to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHi Anu
ReplyDeletePlease check my blog. I have a Diwali gift for you :)
Wish you and family Happy Diwali Anu..now coming back to the post...r u kidding me?? U r in blogging for only 3 months and this is your 50th post? (Congrats for that)...man I can't believe it...I always tot u r blogging for long time..uff...yeh to mast hai...am stumpped....very gud work indeed..love all your recipes and your wonderful pics (share a tip or two ?? )...Hope to see many more post from you gal....Thanks for the wonderful entry..(I do have something similar in my blog too)..
ReplyDeleteThese balls looks delicious... Happy diwali !
ReplyDeletei need all the energy i can get--awesome recipe. :) enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteWish you and your family a very happy Diwali!
ReplyDeleteLaddoos look gorgeous! And congrats on your 50th post.. Nice way to celebrate Diwali and your 50th post together!!
Congrats on your 50th post!Good job.Nice healthy ladoos.Happy Diwali to you and your family.Thanks for sharing the Almond Puri recipe I made(but with Rabdi)and it was awesome.
ReplyDeleteHI Anudivya
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali to you and your family..
Laddus are perfect...thanks for sharing..
and Thanks for correcting me.. i was reading two blogs at a time.. :)
Love the idea of nuts laddu. A healthy snack :)
ReplyDeleteWow...divya....WOnderful...how do you get these ideas?damn good...
ReplyDeleteHappy Deepavali dear.. laddus look yummy and with the health factor it is supposed to be great. Thanks for posting:)
ReplyDeleteThis is a most interesting laddu recipe. It sure is healthy.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 50th post and thank you for joining me in celebrating.
Happy Deepavali to you too Divya. Sorry I couldn't get back to you immediately.
ReplyDeleteThese laddus look delicious. But as you have mentioned, since flax seed is not used as an egg replacement, this would not be appropriate for the event.
Also congratulations on your 50th post.
Lovely recipe and congrats on those awards. Happy Deepavali.
ReplyDeleteFirst time here. A yummy blog. The laddoos sure are very healthy. Just some days before one of my friends gave me a recipe for similar laddoos. Yet to make it. Congrats on ur 50th post.
ReplyDeletecongrats on yr award and 5oth postings, laddoos are so delish and awesome.
ReplyDeleteThey look gorgeous. Really tempting! You did a great job here!
ReplyDeletelooks totally yum .. wishing u a very happy diwali
ReplyDeleteAnother doable new thing!Am loving this blog every time am here.I guess you used plain white oats?
ReplyDeleteSharmila & Soma - Yes, it was quick oats. I have updated the term in the ingredients list. Thanks for pointing it out girls.
ReplyDeleteMadhuram - Thanks for confirming.
n33ma - I am so glad you liked the Almond Puris! Yippie!
Priti - Thanks! As far as taking pictures go, I am a total amateur. I don't own a fancy camera either. I just depend on natural sunlight which is at a premium right now with the winter fast approaching.
Gita & Ramya- Thanks so much for the awards! :) I am thrilled.
Latha - I am so glad we share the same taste in food and reading minds to top it all off. He he he.
Uma - Madhuram's flax seed event uses flax as a replacement, so this wouldn't fit the bill :(
I did try asking her though! ;)
Mahimaa & Lakshmi - The moisture in the dates and raisins are the binding material for this laddu. And yes, you will be able to form laddus without ghee or butter.
Flax seeds are known for its nutritional value and omega-3 fatty acids. They are tiny seeds (resemble sesame) but are brown in color, and should be stored whole in the freezer to preserve its nutrients. To use them, you may grind them up into powder and add to any dish. It is loaded with fiber and may also act as a egg replacement when mixed with hot water.
You should be able to find this in any regular grocery store.
And Mahimaa, no you don't "have" to use flax seeds, you could substitute with sesame or something similar. But nothing boosts up the nutritive value like flax though.
Sharmila & Soma - Yes, it was quick oats. I have updated the term in the ingredients list. Thanks for pointing it out girls.
ReplyDeleteMadhuram - Thanks for confirming.
n33ma - I am so glad you liked the Almond Puris! Yippie!
Priti - Thanks! As far as taking pictures go, I am a total amateur. I don't own a fancy camera either. I just depend on natural sunlight which is at a premium right now with the winter fast approaching.
Gita & Ramya- Thanks so much for the awards! :) I am thrilled.
Latha - I am so glad we share the same taste in food and reading minds to top it all off. He he he.
Uma - Madhuram's flax seed event uses flax as a replacement, so this wouldn't fit the bill :(
I did try asking her though! ;)
Mahimaa & Lakshmi - The moisture in the dates and raisins are the binding material for this laddu. And yes, you will be able to form laddus without ghee or butter.
Flax seeds are known for its nutritional value and omega-3 fatty acids. They are tiny seeds (resemble sesame) but are brown in color, and should be stored whole in the freezer to preserve its nutrients. To use them, you may grind them up into powder and add to any dish. It is loaded with fiber and may also act as a egg replacement when mixed with hot water.
You should be able to find this in any regular grocery store.
And Mahimaa, no you don't "have" to use flax seeds, you could substitute with sesame or something similar. But nothing boosts up the nutritive value like flax though.
Hey Divya, These are gorgeous! Sorry for the late reply to your query- I was traveling without access to the Web- but these definitely qualify for Sweet Vegan, especially since vegan chocolate chips are easy to find and in no way different from regular (at least tastewise). Send it on!
ReplyDeleteThese are indeed very healthy ones..thanks for participating
ReplyDeleteLovely ladoos.
ReplyDeletehi anu,
ReplyDeletethanks for your nice tips on making chapatis in my blog(appyayan)....I'm sure this will help me and others a lot...I've published your tips for others and come by to see tips from more visitors...what a healthy and unique recipe for laddu..will try soon
Hi ANuvidya: Wishing you a Happy DIwali and a prosperous New Year!
ReplyDeleteFabulous blog you have here! COngratulations and thank you for leaving a comment and introducing me to your site.
I love those fennel tofu vege skewers too. Too bad summer is over here.
Bestest!
Hi Anu! I tried this and it came out so well, tasted yummy too, watch out will post the pic soon!
ReplyDelete