Kesari / Suji Halwa / Sheera

Today being the first day of  Saraswati Pooja, I thought of making Kesari as an offering to Sarawati devi. My reasoning was that since Saraswati pooja is of major significance for the kids, the offering also should be appealing to my little one. After the pooja she was happy to gobble up the major share of it and is looking forward to what the offering would be for tomorrow!
I am dedicating this post to all those little ones who are about to take their first steps to the world of knowledge on this upcoming Vijayadasami day.
Ingredients:
1 cup of rava (semolina)
1&1/2 to 2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of cashewnuts (optional)
1/4 cup of raisins(optional)
4 tbsp of ghee
A pinch of orange food color
1tsp cardamom or 4 cloves or a mix of both
2 & 1/2 cups of  hot water
Method:
In a thick bottom pan roast cashew and raisins in 1tbs of ghee. (As my daughter doesn't like cashew and raisins in kesari I didn't do this step.)  Set the roasted nuts and raisins aside. Heat another tablespoon of ghee and roast the rava till it turns to a light pink color. Add 2 and 1/2 cups of hot water to this. Stir constantly while doing this.  When rava is fully cooked, add the sugar and stir well. If you are adding color do that at this time. When the sugar is fully dissolved, add the remaining ghee. Keep stirring until the rava starts leaving the sides of the pan and white streaks start to appear. Garnish with the fried cashews and raisins and cardamom powder. If you prefer to cut it into little squares or diamonds transfer it into a greased tray or mould and once it cools down cut it in your desired shape.