Vanilla-Dark chocolate "Swirl Burfi"

Mixing and matching flavors that you like into your favorite dish makes the dish even more delectable!! The melt in your mouth pedhas/ burfis made with ricotta cheese are my favorite and a 'have-to -have' for Diwali kind of sweet!
This year I tried a variation of the old recipe.Added vanilla and dark chocolate and made this beautiful 'Swirl Burfi'!!

Recipe:
Ingredients:
425 gm whole milk Ricotta cheese
7 oz Sweet condensed milk\
1 cup dry milk powder
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 cup Dark cocoa powder
2 tsp ghee

Pistachio and Sugar pearls for decoration

Method:
1) In a non stick kadhai/skillet, melt 1 tsp 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 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.Add the condensed milk and cook for 5 more mins.

3) Mix well. Take off the gas.Divide into 2 parts.To one part, add vanilla essence.To other add dark chocolate powder.

4) Let it cool. Roll the Vanilla mixture in between buttered parchment paper with a buttered rolling pin.

Layer and roll the dark chocolate layer on top

5) Roll into  a log

6) Slice the log gently with a sharp buttered knife. Place the burfi in a cup cake liner.Decorate with pistachio and sugar pearls.

 The above ingredients yield about about 30 Burfi depending on how big or small you cut them.

Malpua-Malai Cups

Malpua-Malai Cups

This year for the 'Cooking and Food creativity contest' at the Columbus Ganesh Utsav, one of the competition categories we had designed was 'Dessert Shots'. The participants had to make traditional desserts but present them in a modernized form in form of 'Shots'. There was a superb response, we got to see and taste rabdi-jalebi shots, tri colored kulfi shots etc. They were all lip smackingly delicious!!
For Dussera as I was thinking what dessert to make...I thought of giving the traditional Malpua-Rabdi, a new look. I made the Malpua in the form of cups in the appe pan.The 'malai' filling was made with ricotta cheese.The cups came out crispy and did hold their shape well and with the thick malai filling...tasted delectable!

Ingredients:
For malpua cups in appe pan-
3 tbsp All purpose flour
1 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp ghee
3/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp cardamon powder


For Malai filling-
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4tsp nutmeg powder
1/4tsp cardamon powder
1/4 tsp saffron warmed in in 2 tbsp milk

Chopped almonds, pistachios for garnishing

Method:
1) Maplua Cups
Mix all the ingredients for the mapua cups. Make a thick batter.Heat the appe pan on medium heat
2) Add little ghee to all the wells. Turn the heat to low.Add 2 tsp of batter in the wells. Spread the batter to the sides of the well to cover the entire well and make the 'cup' shape. Add ghee from the sides. Let it cook till golden brown.Gently remove on a serving platter.

3) Malai filling:
In a non stick pan cook the ricotta cheese with milk  for 10-15 mins till it thickens up.It shouldn't be too runny as it will otherwise make the malpua cups soggy.Let it cook completely.
Fill the filling in pastry bags/ ziplock bag and fill the maplua cups.

4) Garnish with saffron milk and chopped nuts.

Spinach-Ricotta Cheese Lasagna

We were just back from our first ever camping trip and wanted to cook something delicious but easy for our wedding anniversary.'E' had been been asking me to make 'Lasagna' for past few days..so I thought...it would be a perfect 'family favorite' dinner menu.....Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna followed by 'Dessert Shots'(store bought)

Ingredients:
2 Cups frozen spinach thawed in the microwave
1.5 cups mozzarella cheese
1.5 cups Ricotta cheese(whole milk)
1.5 cup Pasta sauce (store bought or make your own)
8-10 'Oven ready' Lasagna sheets
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Zucchini sliced into circles
2 eggs
1 Clove garlic minced finely
1/2 tsp Black ground pepper
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp Red chili powder/ Chili flakes
Salt

Method:
1) Pre heat the oven to 375 F
2) Mix together ricotta cheese, thawed spinach,eggs,garlic,pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, red chili powder, Parmesan cheese etc.

3) In a 9x9 oven safe dish, spread about 1/2 cup pasta sauce. Line 4 lasagna sheets length wise.
4) Spread generous amounts of Spinach-Ricotta mixture.Place the zucchini slices in single layer. Layer with lasagna sheets, pasta sauce, zucchini,spinach-ricotta, pasta sauce.
5) On the very top spread mozzarella cheese and some red chili flakes
6) Cover with aluminum foil.
7) Bake in the oven for 45 mins. Take out and let it rest for 10 mins before cutting.

8) Cut into squares and serve hot along withe extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top!

Dessert shots: They were super yummy with flavors like Tiramisu and strawberry shortcake and the perfect size for a dessert!

Ricotta Cheese and Veggie Bhurji

After the last weeks "Kalakand"...all that was left over was few crumbs of the kalakand and half a tub of the Ricotta cheese. The kalakand was long gone....but half of that Ricotta tub was still sitting in the refrigerator. After all the "sweet" overindulgence in Diwali..I hardly could dare to make anything sweet with the Ricotta. So I put my thinking cap on.....and came up with this Spicy Ricotta Bhurji Recipe....and it was worth it!! We had a perfect tasty colorful 'subzi' to go along with rotis for that days dinner.

Ingredients:
14 Oz Ricotta cheese
1/2 onion chopped
1/4 cup chopped Red Pepper
1/4 cup chopped Green pepper
1/4 cup green peas
1tsp Kitchen King masala/ Shahi Paneer masala
1/2tsp Red chili powder
1/2tsp Cumin seeds
salt
oil

Method:
1) In a microwave safe bowl....add the Ricotta. Cook 2 mins. Stir. Cover with loose lid and cook for 3 mins. Stir again. Cook again for 3 mins loosely covered. Drain the excess water. Let the cooked Ricotta cool.
2) Heat oil, add cumin and veggies. Saute till slightly tender.Add the Shahi paneer masala, chili powder,salt and ricotta cheese.Mix.
3) Serve hot along with Rotis/Naan/Chapati

Wish you All a Very Happy Diwali 2013 with "Two layer (Chocolate Malai) Kalakand "

                                        Happy Diwali 2013 !!!

Over the last few years, I have made a variety of 'Diwali Faral' recipes and posted them on TheSizzlingPan.
Here is a compilation of  those:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/Diwali%20Treats

This, year...it's different!! I am enjoying and being pampered with 'mom' made faral/ treats by mom-in- law and my mom:)) 
But could help myself making this sweet specially for Diwali!

Two Layer (Chocolate-Malai ) Kalakand 

 Malai Kalakand

 
This recipe is adapted from "Showmethecurry"(www.showmethecurry.com)

My version:
15 oz Ricotta Cheese
14 oz Sweetened Condensed milk
1/2 cup milk powder
1/2tsp Cardamom powder
1/2tsp vanilla essence
1/4cup unsweetened Hershey's cocoa powder

Chopped Pistachios, sugar pearls etc for garnish

 
 Method:

1)Follow instructions from "showmethecurry.com"
2)After the kalakand is made.Split it into two parts.To one part add cardamom powder, to other add Vanilla and chocolate ----mix.
3) Apply ghee to a pan in which you want to set the kalakand.Press the white layer.On top layer which chocolate layer.
4) Garnish with nuts etc.
5) Let it set for 1 hour in refrigerator.Cut into pieces with sharp knife.

One layer Malai kalakand -

 
 

"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"- (Guest- Soniya Keskar)- Shahi Tukda

Guest Recipe by: Soniya Keskar
This recipe comes from my friend Soniya, who these days I call....'The Queen of Sweets" ....she makes amazing desserts of various kinds. She made this delicious luscious Mango dessert for a party. I already got this wondeful recipe of Mango Cheese Cake from her-
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/07/aroma-from-guest-kitchen-guest-soniya.html
Then the other day she made a 'Cake pudding' similar to bread pudding..but with pound cake,nuts and chocolate.It was sooo good....everyone was tempted to go for seconds:)
The 'Shahi Tukda" was her first attempt and a wonderful dessert I thought after a traditional meal.
 It consisted of bread cut into heart shape and fried to crispy golden brown.Then it was dipped in sweetened milk and topped with 'Malai - Kesar Pedha mixture. The crispy bread soaked in milk and topped with smooth sweet malai....was heavenly combination!

Ingredients:
White slice bread
oil/ butter/ghee to fry the bread
Milk- sweetened like basundi and flavored with cardamom/ Saffron etc
Malai mixture-Ricotta cheese, milk powder, sugar, saffron.
Garnish- chopped nuts/ almonds/ sliced cherries

Method:
1) Cut the bread with a cookie cutter into heart shapes. Deep fry in Butter/ Ghee/ oil till golden brown and crispy.

2) Heat milk and add sugar, cardamom.Let it cool to 'luke' warm temperature.
3) Make the Malai mixture by this recipe. Keep the consistency little loose than the 'Pedha' , so that the malai mixture can be easily spread on the bread.
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/treats-for-diwali-ricotta-cheese.html

4) Just before serving....dipped the fried bread in warm milk and place on the serving plate. Spread the malai mixture on the bread and garnish with chopped nuts/almonds.

Serve this 'new' dessert along with your traditional meal and 'wow' your guests!

"Sweet Treats"- GulabJamun with Sweet Ricotta filling

A Twist on the old favorite!

To keep up with the ever changing tastes of the world...you have to change yourself ....so that you accommodate within the new world....

 Recipe Idea: Manisha

Like you see many sweets getting a new face and getting served in different combinations....these "Gulab Jamun with Sweet Ricotta filling' serve as a perfect example.....( Gulab Jamun with Malai pedha in the center) The others would be- Gulab Jamun with Vanilla ice cream, or warm Vermicelli kheer with cold icecream or Burfis molded into shapes of fruits and vegetables, Rasgulla sandwiches...

I had seen,'M' made these for her daughter's birthday and everyone was crazy about these little bundles of goodness! She had made the Gulab Jamun's little larger than usual and fried them on more darker side to get a good visual effect of brown jamun's with plain white ricotta filling.

Ingredients:

1) Gulab Jamun mix of your choice( Gits/ Deep/ Chitale)

2) Sugar syrup ( 1 and 1/2 cups sugar and 1 cup water) Add rose essence/ Saffron/ Cardamon

3) 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese

4) 3 tsp milk powder

5) 3-4 tsp sugar

6)1/2tsp ghee

Method:

1) Make the Jamun's as directed on the packet

Make the Jamun's the size of a small table tennis ball and fry them a little longer than usual to get a dark brown color

2) Soak into the sugar syrup which is little thicker than normal.( 1 and 1/2 cup sugar to 1 cup water)

3) After 15-20 mins, carefully pull out the jamun from the syrup and let it sit on a plate

4)Ricotta Filling: Meanwhile heat a non stick pan and heat 1/2tsp ghee.Add the ricotta cheese and let it cook for 15-20 mins on low flame till it solidifies. Add the milk powder and sugar and continue to cook till dough like.

Detail recipe:http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/10/treats-for-diwali-ricotta-cheese.html

5) Cut the Jamun in the center about 3/4th through.Fill with 1/2tsp of the ricotta filling

6) Do the same for the remaining Jamuns.

"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

"Everyday Cooking"- Pasta Shells stuffed with Spinach,Mushrooms and Ricotta Cheese

 Making Pastas can be 'simple' or 'elaborate'.It depends on how you choose to make it.On busy days, I make pastas that are simple, just throw in cooked veggies and marinara sauce (store bought sometimes!) in cooked pasta and Done! But this was not one of those days. I chose to spend some quality time with my Pasta!
Not many times have I made 'stuffed' pasta...for the time it takes and for it's 'heaviness'.It can be a pretty heavy meal mind you! But instead of just stuffing the pasta with cheese, I used a lotttt of Spinach and mushrooms and a 'Skim' Ricotta cheese. The deal wasn't bad at all...in fact it was DELICIOUSSSSS and pretty looking!!!!

Ingredients:(Makes about 6-8 servings)
1 12oz pkg of Jumbo Pasta shells
1 15oz Skim Ricotta cheese
3/4-1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella)
3 cups chopped spinach
1cup chopped mushrooms
1tsp minced garlic
1tbsp chopped onion
1 cup crushed tomatoes (saute chopped tomatoes till cooked)
1/2tsp sugar
2tsp olive oil
Italian seasoning
Black pepper
Red Pepper flakes
Some milk

Method:
1) Saute chopped spinach,1/2tsp garlic and mushrooms in little oil. Saute till all water evaporates.Add salt and red pepper flakes.Drain if necessary and keep aside and cool.The water can be used in soups or the marinara sauce.

2) Heat little oil, add chopped garlic, onions, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, sugar.Cook for 2-3 mins.Marinara sauce is ready
3) In the sauteed spinach mixture add the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning and some salt.Mix.
4) Cook the Pasta shells as per packet directions.Drain and let cool a little.
5) Stuff the shells with spoonful of spinach-ricotta mixture.

6) Arrange in 'oven safe' baking dish. Spread marinara sauce and shredded cheese on top.

7) Sprinkle little milk on top and cover with aluminum foil.Bake at 325 for 20-30 mins till the cheese melts.

8) Serve the pasta steaming hot with a salad or a soup.
Salad:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/03/everyday-cooking-field-green-salad-with.html 
 Soups:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/Soup