'Panjiri' is one high-energy food that is normally consumed in the northern parts of india and pakistan. Made with whole wheat flour roasted in copious amounts of 'desi' ghee and sweetened with 'bura' or natural cane sugar, it is delicious and quite filling too. While a few dry fruits are a mandatory addition to any panjiri recipe, a friend's mother-in-law makes one that consists almost entirely of dry fruits and especially 'phool makhana'. Apart from the various dry fruits, one can also add spices like saffron (for a lovely aroma), ajwain (for digestion), sonth (for heat) and even fennel/cardamom. Desiccated coconut and edible gum (or 'gond') is usually put into this recipe. A few spoonfuls with warm milk is enough to keep one going through the winters. But since there is quite a bit of roasted wheat flour in this recipe, it transforms magically into an 'atta ka halwa' with some hot water.
