Kasi Halwa

Ingredients:

White Pumpkin / Winter Squash / poosanikai - 2 cups (Peeled and shredded)
Sugar - 1 1/4 cups
Ghee - 4 TBSP
Cashew nuts - 5 (broken into halves)
Raisins - 10
Saffron - few strands (soaked in warm milk)

Method:

1. In wide bottomed pan, saute the grated white pumpkin (with the juice), till it becomes dry.
2. Add the sugar and keep stirring for 10 minutes or until the sugar dissolves and becomes a little thick.
3. Add the ghee, broken cashews and raisins.  No need to fry them.
4. Fry for another 10 minutes in a low flame.  Add the soaked saffron and mix well.
5. Continue stirring and cooking till the halwa leaves the sides of the pan.  Do not let the halwa become hard.
6. Remove from the fire.  Let it rest for 1/2 hour before serving.