Indianized Baklava

Baklava is one of our favorite desserts. Despite the calorific threat, the wafting aromas of rosewater and ghee, and the satisfying crunch of the crisp phyllo dough tempt us every time to eat sparingly albeit with a lot of relish. Making baklava at home has been on my to-do list (and on my husband's to-do list for me) for a long time, and this was the year when it was done!

I used palm sugar instead of regular sugar, sprinkled spices like cardamom and allspice, and used store bought phyllo sheets which simplified the process tremendously. The palm sugar reduces your guilt, and gives a rich deep flavor and color (especially to the syrup). This is not a dessert that you can mess up!

Date Bites

Here's a very simple and versatile snack option that is healthy, delicious, a complete breeze to make.

Ingredients: (makes about 15-17 balls)

1. 25-30 pitted dates
2. 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
3. 1/4 cup of almonds or nuts of your choice
4. a splash of vanilla extract

Preparation:

Throw everything together in a mixie or food processor and pulse until the dates and nuts break down and start coming together. Add a little more vanilla extract, if needed to give more moisture and to help speed the mixing process. Scoop into small bite-sized pieces and roll into a ball. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.