"Sweet Treats"- Chocolate Burfi

Last week was 'M's birthday.He has a sweet tooth and will eat anything and everything sweet! This 'burfi' was a surprise treat for him.

Ricotta Cheese has become my 'go to' ingredient for making Indian sweets. You can make-
Pedhas:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/treats-for-diwali-ricotta-cheese.html
Kaju- Pista Rolls:
 http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2010/11/ricotta-kaju-pista-rolls.html
Rasmalai:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/sweet-treats-no-big-deal-ricotta-cheese.html
Kalakand (yet to try) and many other sweets.


Chocolate Burfi recipe
Ingredients:
425 gms Whole milk Ricotta cheese
1 and 1/4th cup Carnation milk powder
2.5 Tbsp Cocoa powder
3/4th cup sugar
1/4th cup milk+2tbsp milk
1tsp ghee
1tsp Vanilla essence
Almond chips for decoration

Method:
1) In a non stick kadhai/skillet, melt 1tsp ghee. On medium to low flame add the ricotta cheese. Stir for about 15 mins. First the cheese will melt and then start getting thick again. This is similar to Khoya/ Khava.
Ricotta can burn easily. So, use non stick skillet and keep the flame low/medium!

2) When it starts leaving the sides of the kadhai, add milk, sugar and milk powder. Stir all together. Cook till it starts leaving the sides of the kadhai. This will take about 15 mins or so. The mixture will become thin first and then thick.The mixture should become like soft dough( thick enough to be able to be rolled)

3) Add the vanilla. Mix well. Take off the gas.

4)Let it cool.In the cocoa powder add 1tbsp milk and make into smooth paste.If required add the other tbsp milk.But do not make the mixture too runny.
5) To 1/3rd of the Ricotta mixture add the cocoa powder and mix till well blended.
6) Apply ghee to the surface of a aluminum foil sheet.Spread the chocolate-ricotta mixture and roll with buttered rolling pin till about 1/2inch thick square/rectangle

 7) On top place the white ricotta mixture and roll gently.

8) Place a large platter on the white rectangle and flip to transfer the burfi onto the plate

9) Cut into squares and decorate with almonds

9) Store in refrigerator

"Appetizers"- Paneer-Spinach Puffpastry Pinwheels

'Puff pastry' is my favorite 'tea time/ breakfast time/ snack time/ anytime....favorite thing to bake!!!!It is an 'Anytimetizer'!!! With all the help available from 'Pepperidgefarm'...baking Puff pastry is a breeze.
And you can use them is so many ways- change fillings, fold them in different shapes-
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/appetizers-puff-pastry-pinwheels-with.html
or
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/everyday-cooking-spinach-cheese-swirls.html
or
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/09/everyday-cooking-veggie-puffspattice.html

 Recently I invited some families over for 'tea' on different weekends.' Puff pastry' was on the menu for each one of them.'M' actually joked that if they meet each other and talk about our meeting over 'tea', they all are going to find out that I made the 'same menu' for them !!!

Paneer-Spinach Pinwheels:
Filling:

1 and 1/2 cup Thawed,drained(well) frozen Spinach
1 cup grated Paneer
1/2tsp Garlic paste
1/2tsp Garam masala
1/2tsp Red pepper flakes
1 tbsp Bread crumbs(to soak any extra moisture in the filling)
salt


Method:
1) Squeeze the Spinach to remove all the water (you can add this water to soups, curries etc)
2) Mix all the ingredients.
3) Thaw the puffpastry sheets as on packet directions.
4) Fold and fill the Pinwheels-
Detail Directions:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/appetizers-puff-pastry-pinwheels-with.html

 5) Bake the Puffs at 350F till golden brown and crisp

6) Serve Hot with Maggie 'Hot and Sweet' Sauce. Enjoy!