Quick and easy milk Pedas (Indian milk Sweets just in time for Navathri/Dussehra)

This one is a quick and easy milk Pedas (Indian sweet), ready in less than 10 mins. Just the thing for me! Dussehra/Navarathri is a 10-day festival celebrated in many parts of India and Nepal. For more info on the festival try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarathri. To me this is usually my go to recipe for the many Indian festivals that line up and I (usually) cannot get holidays for them. It is ready in 10 mins or less and taste just like the ones I get back home! What more do I want?! Being a milk sweet children like them too. Usually Indian sweets are quite sweet. So I reduce the amount I use since we prefer them not too sweet. You can adjust the sugar according to your taste.

You will need:

2 cups milk powder 

1 can sweetened condensed milk (approx 400 g)

1/4 cup sugar (optional-only if you like how really sweet Indian sweets are!)

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

2 tbsps butter/ghee. 

Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in the microwave (takes approx 30 sec). Mix in milk powder, cardamom, sugar (if using) and condensed milk into the butter. Cook for 1 min in microwave. Stir and cook for another 30 secs, stir & repeat (for 20-30 sec) at a time until the whole mixture comes off from the sides easily (& butter will start to separate). I took me a total cooking of 2 min. Let it cool a little until it is easy for you to handle with bare hands but not totally cold. It will be easy to shape if the mixture is warm. Take a small golf ball sized piece, roll it into a ball between your palms and flatten slightly to make the pedas (makes around 20-24). Place your favourite nut in the middle. Usually, in India, they use pistachios, but, I used cashews since Anjalie is allergic to nuts except to cashews. Store in air tight container.

For long term use and keep refrigerated. They will harden in the fridge. When needed pop it back in the microwave for a few secs to get them to room temp. Both Naz & Anjalie love these and I skip the 1/4 cup sugar since we find that they are sweet enough for us without it.