Badam Kheer / Badam Payasam

Photo and recipe courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)

Badam Kheer! Yumm! This is one of the easiest and tastiest kheers I have known.. Loaded with the goodness of badam...a pure delight...! This recipe goes to Shanti Krishnakumar's sweet time event

Ingredients:
5 + 1/2 cups milk
1 cup badam/almonds
2 pinches orange food colour
4-5 strands saffron
3/4 -1 cup sugar (vary to suit your taste)
1/2 tsp elachi powder (cardamom powder)

If you are using whole badams with skin, soak it hot water for 15 minutes and peel off the skin.
If using slivered peeled badam, soak it in 1/2 cup milk first.
Grind the badam to a paste (need not be fine)
Transfer milk to a kadai, bring to boil
After it boils for about 5 minutes, add the badam paste, sugar, elachi powder, saffron and food colour
Let it boil for 10 more minutes or till the desired thickness is achieved.
Garnish with slivered almonds.
Serve hot or cold!