Celebrating Eid al Adha and a Blog Anniversary with Nutty Coconut Vermicelli Truffles + GIVEAWAY

Have I mentioned before that I love celebrating Eid? Even more so now that I have a growing family. There is nothing like the anticipation of opening presents, devouring sweet treats and wearing brand new clothes when you have a two year old. It makes holidays even more special, more magical than they already are.

Eid al Adha is all about that and more. It is a time when millions of Muslims gather each year- different cultures, different races, different nationalities. Yet, all dressed in white representing human equality. They all perform rituals that culminate on Eid al Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, in Mecca.

Maryam was extra excited this year as she got to 'choose' what outfit she would wear. She is going through an independent phase where she wants to 'choose' everything from her clothes to her food, to what spoon she eats with.

And as with any celebration, food is an important part of this festival in my home- it bonds our families, it drives conversation and camaraderie, it creates unforgettable memories. Food brings us all together on this day and lunch menus generally consist of biryani and sweet vermicelli, jalebis and samosas. Sweet bites such as cookies, chocolate bars and cakes are also prepared as nibbles for visiting relatives. And Eid isn’t the same without presents- Maryam ravenously tore through layers of wrapping paper to get to her treasures.

This year, I’m inviting you to my home to celebrate Eid al Adha. Come take a peek into my kitchen as I prepare sweet treats eaten during this festival. I’m making truffles with a difference- sweetened vermicelli paired with chopped almonds and pistachios. Add some fluffy coconut to the mix and you have an eclectic truffle.

And then these buttery and crunchy pistachio cookies with pistachio butter cream.- melt in your mouth perfection.  I was so thrilled to contribute recipes for both these nibbles to the latest Holiday issue of House of Fifty magazine. You can find my work, more photos and the recipe for the Pistachio cookies on page 118 onwards. It's also been one year since this blog was born and so I have double reason to celebrate.

In the meantime, I leave you with the recipe for vermicelli truffles and a wonderful giveaway to mark the one year blog anniversary. Kenwood sent me their latest True Blender BL480 and besides using the metal lined grinding mill to chop almonds and pistachios to make these truffles, I have also been using the blender to make fluffy pancakes. The blades are wonderfully sharp and it even has an ice chopping function. With a baby on the way, I can't wait to experiment with new baby foods using the BL480.

Here is how you can enter:

1) Follow @sipsandspoonful on Twitter

2)Tweet the following: I entered to win a Kenwood Blender via @sipsandspoonful http://tinyurl.com/co6f4ob #giveaway

3) Like Kenwood Middle East on Facebook

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6) Subscribe to Sips and Spoonfuls by Email or RSS feed (links on top right hand corner)

Note: Please leave a separate comment for each of your entries or else they will not count. Please leave a valid email so you can be contacted.

The giveaway will run until midnight on Monday 21st November 2011. A winner will be announced on Tuesday 22nd November 2011. Giveaway is open to Middle East and Africa residents. Product provided by Kenwood Middle East but all views expressed above are my own and I have not been paid to do this review.

Nutty Coconut Vermicelli Truffles

Ingredients:

3 tbs butter

1 ½ cups vermicelli

1 cup desiccated coconut

¼ cup chopped almonds

¼ cup chopped pistachios

150 ml condensed milk

Extra desiccated coconut for dusting

Directions:

Melt butter in a pan and fry the vermicelli until brown and cooked. Use a wooden spoon to keep stirring and breaking the vermicelli as you don’t want it too brown too quickly. Take the mixture off the heat and let it cool before adding all the rest of the ingredients. Stir well. Use your hands to shape the mixture into 1inch balls. Roll in desiccated coconut before serving.

Note: Press the mixture between your hands to form a ball. If it is still difficult to make the truffle, you can add more condensed milk to the mixture o help form the truffles.

Makes approximately 28-30 truffles depending on size.