718. Pearl Millet and Almond Cookies (Bajra Cookies)

Include Millet In Your Diet

Theme: Cookies For Your Sweet Tooth

BM#81 Week 2 Day 3

   Today has been such a horrible day for me. I wait till 9a.m. for the maid to turn up. I had planned so many Diwali cooking and baking items but didn't get even one done. She turns up after 9 and goes and sits down. I was a bit annoyed so didn't say anything. After a few minutes I hear long sighs... what a brilliant way to attract attention. I go to her and she tells me she is sick. So I tell her to go back home and rest and come back when she is well. She continues to sit there. The softie me asks her if she needs a cup of tea. She says yes. So I make some tea for her. She sips on the tea and then asks for money as she needs to go to the doctor. I really was mood spoilt by now... its not the end of the month and already she owes me quite a bit of money. She leaves. 

   I start tackling the housework. By mid morning I am so annoyed and literally want to curse her! Why? No, I'm not heartless, I know she is sick. What annoyed me is all the dust and cobwebs I find behind the furniture. Constant reminders of cleaning behind the furniture and she kept on telling me its all done and the house is spic and span for Diwali. The silly me doesn't check! So here I'm tackling the whole apartment with a broom, mop, duster, cleaners etc. I fear that if my home is dirty, Goddess Lakshmi may miss my house!  I'm nearly done with the cleaning, and am about to tackle the utensils when I hear a loud thud noise. Look into the dhoti area to find my washing machine on the side! 

   For a few seconds I just look in utter astonishment. Where do I begin to tackle this? Hubby dear had thought that putting the machine (that sometimes wobbles during the spinning cycle) on a wooden stool like contraption is the best idea! I had complained about this several times but it fell on deaf ears. So first had to switch it off. Then I'm alone at home, the water is seeping out and may spoil the electronics. So immediately disconnect the water outlet pipe so the water drains out from the outlet and not the door(mine is a top load).   The whole dhoti is flooded with water. Remove the clothes and then call my neighbor to help me make it stand. The leg of the wooden stool broke and thus the heavy machine toppled!

   By the time I cleaned up the mess, the machine and put the clothes back to wash, I was in tears! Still the utensils are waiting and I haven't made lunch! I was annoyed with hubby for raising the machine on that stupid stool. Full of pride I refused to call him to get some take away. Instead, in my anger prepared some mixed vegetable khichdi in the pressure cooker! 

   What a day! By the time all the work was tackled it was nearly 3p.m. Took a nap and was about to sit to type out today's recipe when the power went off! By now I just couldn't stop uttering nonsense and cursing the power company. Its now 11.30p.m. and am blogging!

Hope tomorrow is a much better day. I now have to cut off some of the Diwali items I was going to prepare... running out of time!

    Even as a kid, I used to love pearl millet flour. Most kids don't like it, but I used to love the bajri na debra, raab, rotla that my mum would make using this healthy or should I say super healthy grain. When I chose the cookies theme for the #81 blogging marathon I had made up my mind to make a healthy alternate to plain flour or wheat flour. Bajri cookies it was. 

   There are so many versions of these cookies but I decided to go for only millet flour and no plain or wheat flour added. Since I'd baked my Jamaican Toto Coconut Bread replacing the brown sugar with jaggery, I'd loved the taste so I did the same here. 

   To balance the earthy taste of the jaggery and millet flour, I added some cranberries for that slight tangy taste. The almond powder or meal is for added health benefits and who doesn't love cookies with nuts in them.

   I did the 'roll the ball method' but next time I'm going to try and make 'the slice the cookie dough method' much like the way we make shortbread type cookies. If they turn out good, look wise I'll share the clicks here. In the meantime enjoy the ones I made for now. Go on try these cookies out. I'm sure you'll not mind adding these cookies to lunch boxes as a sweet treat. I know the butter part is not too healthy but once in a while you have treat yourself.

PEARL MILLET AND ALMOND COOKIES (BAJRA COOKIES)

Makes 20

1½ cup pearl millet flour (bajra flour)

¼ cup almond powder (coarse)

¼ cup desiccated coconut

½ cup jaggery powder

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ cup dried cranberries (or any dried fruit)

100g butter

½ tsp cardamom powder

¼ tsp salt

1. Sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom powder and salt together in a bowl.
2. Add cranberries, desiccated coconut and coarse almond powder. Mix well.
3. Add butter and jaggery powder in another bowl. Mix it till it becomes soft and creamy.
4. Add the flour mixture and mix. The dough will be very soft. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
5. In the meantime preheat the oven to 180°C.
6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it with some butter.
7. Take about a tablespoon of the dough and roll it into a ball.
8. Gently press it between your palms.
9. Place it on the prepared tray.
10. Repeat steps 7-9 with the remaining dough.
11. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes till the edges become light brown.
12. Remove the tray from the oven.
13. Remove the cookies from the tray and let them cool on a wire rack.

Tips:

• You can leave the dough in the fridge for 20-30 minutes and then roll the balls.
• These cookies can be made using brown sugar.
• Add dried fruits of your choice.
• For a vegan option replace the butter with coconut oil or a vegan butter or nut butter.

You may want to check out my other cookie recipes:

Karachi Cookies

Lebkuchen

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Dutch Christmas Cookies

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