Pecan-Pie Cheesecake

 Overview

This is a  perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, it has pecan pie topping and a delicious cheesecake below it. I got this recipe from food network site and tried it for this thanksgiving and it came out real good. The recipe asked for chocolate graham crackers which I did not have so used cocoa powder with regular graham crackers.

Pecan-Pie Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the pie crust

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

9 Chocolate Graham cracker( or regular graham cracker and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder)

2 Tablespoon sugar

Pinch of salt

Filling

Four 8 oz packages cream cheese at room temperature

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 cup sour cream

6 large eggs at room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Topping

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

Steps

1. Pre heat oven to 325 F. Butter the inside of the springform pan( I used normal round cake pan).

3. Roast the pecans for about 10 minutes and keep aside.

2. Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until they are ground. add the butter, sugar salt( and cocoa powder is using plain graham crackers) and pulse until mixture comes together.

3. Pour to the pan and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until crust is just firm about 10 minutes.

4. Remove crust from oven and let it cool to room temperature

5. Fro the filling in a food processor pulse the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until completely smooth without any lumps. Add the eggs slowly along with vanilla extract and pulse till the mixture is smooth. 

6. Pour the filling into the prepared cooled crust. place the pan in a roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the sides of the pan.

7. Bake the cheesecake until the edges is set but centre slightly joggles about 1 hour and 10 minutes. 

8. Turn off the oven and keep the cheesecake in the oven for about 60 more minutes until it is cooked completely about 1 hour.

9. Transfer cheesecake to a cooling rack.

10. Heat the cream, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt in a small sauce pan over medium heat. reduce heat to low and keep it warm.

11. In another pan cook the sugar in an even payer until it starts to caramelize. gently swirl the pan until the sugar mixture is completely caramelized. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the warm cream mixture to this

12. Return the caramel sauce to medium heat and cook to reduce slightly about 2 minutes. Let this cool.

13 Pour the cooled sauce on top of the cheesecake and layer the toasted pecan halves on top of it.

Refrigerate for up to 4 hours and serve .

 

Simple Flan

Overview
An easy to make flan with very few simple ingredients. Takes very less time to prepare and is a delicious dessert. You can add other flavors like coffee or chocolate also to this. A very easy and simple dessert to make when you are in a hurry and have just few ingredients at home.

Simple Flan

Ingredients
Milk - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Sugar  - 8 Tablespoons
Vanilla essence - 1 teaspoon
A pinch of salt

Steps
1. Add 2 tablespoon sugar in a pan with 2 .tablespoon water and caramelize the sugar till it is golden brown. Pour this mixture immediately into the dish you want to make the flan in since it will harden soon. Spread it to the bottom of the pan and keep aside.
2. Beat the egg with the remaining 5 tablespoons of sugar and vanilla essence. Mix slowly the cold milk to this. stir well.
3. Strain this mixture with a strainer and pour it to the dish which had the caramelized sugar.
4. Steam in steamer for about 15 minutes.
5. Take it out of steamer and bring it to room temperature
6. Refrigerate for 3 - 4 hours.
7. Take it out from refrigerator and place it on warm water for 1 minute. Cover dish with a plate and gently flip it upside down.

Your delicious flan is ready to enjoy.

Peppermint Bark

Overview
A quick and easy holiday treat made with candy canes. Layered semisweet chocolate and white chocolate is topped with crushed peppermint candy cane to make this delectable sweet. You can layer any kind of chocolates you like.

Peppermint Bark

Ingredients
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons oil
6 peppermint candy canes roughly crushed

Steps
1. Crush 6 peppermint candy canes roughly and keep aside
1. Add I tablespoon oil to the semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl mix well and microwave for 1 minute.  Mix well.
2. Pour the melted semisweet chocolate to a oiled flat pan. Keep it freezer for about 10 minutes till the chocolate is set.
3. Next mix the white chocolate chips with one tablespoon oil  and microwave for one minute. Mix well till all chips are melted and it is smooth.
4. Pour the while melted chocolate evenly over the set semisweet chocolate. Make a smooth layer. sprinkle a layer of crushed peppermint pieces over the white chocolate layer and press slightly and let it refrigerate till the chocolate is set.
5. Break into pieces and serve.

Coffee Flan

Overview
This caramel pudding is a custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top. If you like the flavor and aroma of coffee you are sure to love this coffee flan. You can use your favorite brand of instant coffee powder. Caramelized sugar adds a delicious topping to this dessert.

Coffee Flan

Ingredients
Eggs - 4
Sweet condensed milk - 1 can
Vanilla essence - 1 tablespoon
Instant coffee powder  - 3 teaspoons
Water 1 1/2 cups
Sugar 3/4 cup with 3 tablespoon water for criminalization

Steps
1. Boil 1 1/2 cup water  and add the instant coffee powder to this. Mix well and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Heat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
3. Heat 3/4 cup sugar with 3 tablespoon water in a heavy bottom pan on medium heat. Mix sugar and water. do not stir after that. keep on medium heat till the caramel is formed and is amber color. Turn of heat.
4. Pour prepared caramel into the mould to bake.
5. Beat the eggs well in a bowl. Add the condensed milk and the cooled coffee mixture  and vanilla essence to this and mix well.
6. Pour this mixture in the mould to which caramel was added first.
7. Place the mould in a tray with water and bake in an oven for about 35 - 40 minutes till the pudding is set.
8. Let it cool to room temperature. Invert the mould to a serving dish and cool in refrigerator.

Serve chilled.


 

Fruit Cake

Overview
Fruit cake is a must to have treat in Kerala for Christmas. This is my mothers recipe for fruit cake. Each region in Kerala has its own recipe. The caramelized sugar syrup added to the cake batter adds a unique color and flavor to this cake. You can add any dried fruits and nuts of your choice to this cake to give it your own unique touch.

Fruit Cake

Ingredients
Flour 3 cups  + 6 tablespoons for dried fruits
Sugar 3 cups
Unsalted butter softened 4 sticks
Eggs 8 large
Vanilla essence 2 tablespoon
Baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Sugar  1/4 cup for caramelizing
Candied cherries red and green, citron, raisins and cashews finely chopped 3 cups total -  1 cup nuts and 2 cups chopped dried fruits. You can adjust the amount of fruits and nuts to your taste.

Steps
1. Add 2 - 3 tablespoons of water to 1/4 cup sugar in a heavy bottom pan and bring it to  a boil. Keep stirring it till the sugar turns golden brown. Add 4 - 6 tablespoon water to this and bring to boil. Turn off heat and let this caramelized sugar syrup come to room temperature.
2. In another bowl mix the  flour with baking powder and salt and mix well and keep aside.
3. In a bowl mix all the chopped dried fruits and nuts with about 6 tablespoons flour and mix well so that each piece is coated with flour.
4. In a large bowl mix the butter and sugar well till it is fluffy
5. Add one egg at a  time and mix well  till it is well blended and all eggs mixed well.
6. Add the flour mixture little at a time and mix well to make a smooth batter.
7. Add the vanilla essence and the caramelized syrup at room temperature to this and mix well. Mix in the flour coated dried fruits and nuts to the batter .
8. Pour the batter into two 10 inch round pans which are coated with butter.
9. Bake at 350 for about 30 - 40 minutes till a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Cranberry Lemon Bundt Cake

Overview
This is a good cake to make during thanksgiving. The filling of the cake is made with cranberries and sugar which adds a distinctive sweet and tart taste. The cake is soaked in lemon syrup to add a extra layer of flavor. Decorated with sugar coated cranberries this cake makes a very elegant presentation. I have been making this cake for thanksgiving ever since I got this recipe from a magazine.

Cranberry Lemon Bundt Cake

Ingredients for the cake
3 cups self rising flour
1 3/4cups of granulated sugar
6 tablespoons milk
4 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons Lemon Zest
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the syrup 
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup Lemon juice

For the filling
12 Oz bag of fresh cranberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar

For the glaze
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

For sugar coated cranberries for decoration
30 - 40 fresh cranberries washed and dried
1/4 cup sugar with 3 tablespoon water to make a thick syrup
4 - 5 tablespoons granulated sugar to coat the cranberries

Steps
1. Heat oven to 350 degree F.  Coat the bundt cake pan with butter and flour and keep aside.
2. Heat the cranberries in a pot until they start to release juices. Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar and cook over medium heat until the mixtures is thick and reduces to about 1 1/4 cup. turn off heat and let this cool to room temperature.
3. Whisk together the milk, whole eggs, yolks and vanilla in a medium bowl and set aside.
4.Whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 3/4 cups sugar, the lemon zest, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.
5. Add 3 1/4 stick soft butter( at room temperature) and beat  till the mixture is smooth.
6. Add the milk mixture little at a time and  to make a smooth batter.
7. Transfer 2/3 of the batter to the bundt pan. Spoon in the prepared cranberry filling in a ring around the middle of the batter with out touching the pan. Top with remaining batter and smooth evenly
8. Bake until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean about 45 - 55 minutes.
9. Make the syrup by dissolving 1/4 cup granulated sugar in 1/2 cup lemon juice in a sauce pan., Heat on low flam till the sugar dissolves. Let it cool to room temperature.  Poke holes on the cake once it is at room temperature and drizzle with this syrup little at a time.
10. Carefully invert the cake on a cake stand.
11. Make a thick syrup with 1/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoon water. Once this cools down dip each cranberry in it and roll in granulated sugar and keep aside.
11. Mix the lemon juice and confectioners sugar to form a thick glaze and drizzle over the cake.
12. Decorate the base of the cake with the sugar coated cranberries.

Top view of Cranberry Lemon Bundt Cake

Gulab Jamun

Overview
Gulab Jamun is one of the most popular desserts in India that you can get at any Indian restaurant.  It is a dumpling made with milk and immersed in sugar syrup. The word Gulab Jamun translates to Rose Berries since this dessert is flavored with rose essence and looks just like berries. This is an easy recipe to make at home. I used non fat milk powder and Bisquick pancake mix to make this.

Gulab Jamun

Ingredients
Non fat milk powder - 1/2 cup
Bisquick pan cake mix(Flour with baking soda) - 1/2 cup
Milk to make the dough - 1/2 - 3/4 cup
Ghee 1 teaspoon
Oil - 2 -3 teaspoons
Oil for deep frying

For Syrup
One cup sugar
Two cups water
Rose essence  - 1 teaspoon or Cardamom seeds powdered( seeds from 5 - 7 cardamom pods)

Steps
1. Mix the milk powder with the pancake mix.  Add the ghee and mix well. Slowly add the milk and make a smooth dough.
2. Put some oil in your hands and make small balls with the dough. Do keep in mind the size of the balls you make since they double in size when they are fried and immersed in sugar syrup.
3. Heat oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot keep the flame in medium. We need to fry the balls in medium heat so we get a the golden color and the inside of the balls also gets cooked. Deep fry all the balls in batches till they are golden brown.
4. To prepare the syrup add the sugar and water mix well and bring this to boil. Once it starts boiling add the Rose essence( or cardamon powder) and let it boil for about 10 minutes in medium heat.
5. Add the fried balls to the hot prepared syrup. Keep it immersed in syrup for about 4 hours to overnight.

Serve hot or cold

Mango Pie

Overview
This mango pie is easy to make and is very delicious. There is no baking or cooking for this pie, just mix all ingredients and let it set in the refrigerator. I have used sweetened can mango pulp to make this pie. This pie has silky texture and has a deep yellow ripe mango color. Anyone who likes mango is sure to like this pie.

Mango Pie

Ingredients
1 Can of sweetened Mango pulp (14 oz)
If using unsweetened mango pulp add 8 OZ of sugar to it
8 oz softened cream cheese
8 oz of cool whip
2 packets of no flavor gelatin
2 pre-made graham cracker pie crust

Steps
1. Add softened cream cheese and cool whip and  mix it with a hand blender or whisk till it is mixed well with out any lumps
2. Add the mango puree to this and mix well.
3. Dissolve 2 packet of gelatin in 8 fl oz of tepid water. Strain the dissolved gelatin and add this to the mango puree mixture and whisk well  to make a smooth and consistent mixture.
4. Pour this prepared mixture into the pie crust. Cover the pie crust and refrigerate for  4 hours before serving.

Serve chilled with ripe mango slices.

Peanut Butter balls

Overview
I got this recipes from one of my coworkers. My boys love peanut butter so I wanted to try these peanut butter balls and it came out very good and they loved it. Very easy to make and no cooking. Anyone who likes peanut butter is definitely going to love these peanut butter balls. It tastes a lot like Reese's peanut butter cups.

Ingredients
Peanut butter - 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
Mini Chocolate chips - 1/2 cup
Milk powder - 1/4 cup
Graham Crackers - 4 - 6 powdered

Steps
1. Mix all ingredients except the graham crackers powder n  bowl.
2. Make balls and roll in the graham cracker powder.
3. Place in Candy cups and refrigerate for 4 - 6 hours

Makes about 16 peanut butter balls

Almond Pedda

Overview
Pedda is a very popular sweet in North India. Usually made with milk and sugar.This is a very easy to make almond pedda recipe. Though it just takes few minutes of heating in the microwave it is very tasty and the end results are just the same as making it from scratch using whole milk. Cardamom powder adds a  very delicious aroma to this sweet.

Almond Pedda

Ingredients
Condensed milk - 1 can 14 oz
Dried non fat milk powder - 2 cups
Unsalted butter - 1 stick
Almonds powdered - 1/2 cup( Skin removed)
Cardamom - 8 - 12
Blanched almond pieces - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1.  In a microwaveable container with lid, add the condensed milk, milk powder and butter. Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes( time depends on your microwave so try 2 minutes first)

2. Remove from microwave and stir well

3. Microwave again for about 2  - 4 minutes. Stir well and make sure you get a fudge like consistency.

4. Allow to cool for about 3 - 5 minutes. Add powdered almonds and powdered cardamom seeds. Mix well.

5. Make into desired shape. Add fried blanched almond pieces on top for decoration.

Kerala Parrippu Paysam

Overview
Parrippu paysam made from split green gram Dal is a very special dessert made for special occasions  especially Onam. This is a signature dessert of Kerala. Made with fresh coconut milk and jaggery this dessert has a very distinctive flavor and aroma. Molasses can be substituted for jaggery.

Parrippu Paysam

Ingredients
1 one split green gram Dal
1 1/2 cups molasses
1 cup thick first coconut milk(made from about 1pound fresh grated coconut)
4 cups 2nd and 3rd coconut milk
Ghee(clarified butter) - 6 Tablespoons
Cumin  powder - 1 teaspoon
Dry ginger powder -1 teaspoon
Cardamom powder - 11/2 teaspoon
Coconut chips thin sliced - half coconut
Cashew half - 1/2 cup
4 tablespoon oil to fry the coconut chips

Steps
1. Wash and drain the Dal and keep aside.
2. Fry the coconut chips till golden brown and keep aside. Fry the cashew half  and keep aside.
3. In a heavy bottom pan  add the Dal and roast till the Dal turns dark brown and gives out a nutty aroma.
4. Add 2 cups water to the Dal and cook till the Dal is cooked very well. Mash well  the cooked Dal.
5. Add the molasses and ghee to the Dal and keep stirring till the molasses is mixed well with the Dal and all water has almost evaporated.
6. In Half cup of the second coconut milk mix the cumin, dry ginger powder and cardamom powder and keep aside.
7. Add the second and third coconut milk to the Dal and molasses mixture and keep stirring. Add the half cup coconut milk mixed with the cumin, ginger and cardamom powder to this. Keep stirring.
 8. Continue stirring till the liquid has evaporated to almost half.
9. Turn off the heat and add the first coconut milk to it. Add the fried coconut chips and fried cashews to this. Mix well and serve.

Can be served hot or cold.

Cracked Wheat Paysam

Overview
Paysam is a traditional South Indian delicacy made for all festive occasions. I made this paysam for Onam. There are wide varieties of paysam  made with different ingredients. Here I have used Cracked wheat which has a nutty flavor. Paysams are mainly divided into two categories    - white paysams made with plain white sugar and brown paysams made with jaggery . I used molasses instead of jaggery which is a good substitute.

Cracked Wheat Paysam

Ingredients
Cracked wheat - 1/2 Cup
Molasses - 1 cup
Ghee(clarified butter - 4 tablespoons)
Fresh grated Coconut  for coconut milk about - 3 cups
( first milk - 1 cup+ second and third milk  combined 3 cups)
Cashews - a handful
Raisins - a handful
Cumin powdered - 1/2 teaspoon
Dry ginger powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Making coconut milk

1. Combine the fresh grated coconut with warm water and grind in a blender for few minutes. Squeeze out the coconut and strain the coconut milk. this is the first milk

2. Repeat again with the same coconut adding more warm water and grinding again in the blender for the second and third milk.

Strain out the coconut milk and keep aside.

Steps
1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the ghee is a heavy bottom pan. Add the cracked wheat and roast them for few minutes till the wheat turns dark brown and nice roasted aroma comes.

2. Add the Molasses to the roasted cracked wheat and keep mixing it till the wheat absorbs the molasses.

3. Take 1/4 cup of the second milk and mix the cumin and ginger powder in it and keep aside.

4. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee in a pan and fry the cashews and golden raisins in it and keep aside

3. Add the 3 cups of second and third milk to the wheat and mix well with a spoon mixing it continuously till the milk boils and evaporates to become almost half. Add the  cumin and dry ginger powder mixed with coconut milk to this.

4. Bring the whole paysam to a boil. Turn off heat

5. Add the first coconut milk and the fried cashew and raisins to this. Mix well


Serve hot or at room temperature as a dessert

Gulab Jamun

Overview
Gulab Jamun is a traditional Indian Dessert made with milk powder and sugar syrup. The sugar syrup is flavored with rose essence or cardamom. Here I have flavored the syrup with Cardamom powder. Traditional these are made with thickened or reduced milk and does take a long time to make. This is an easy recipe to make Gulab Jamun with Bisquick pancake mix and milk powder.

Ingredients
Bisquick pancake mix - 1/4 cup
Non Fat milk powder - 1/4 cup
Milk to make the dough
Sugar 2 cups
Water - 2 cups
Cardamom - 6 - 8
Oil for deep frying the Jamuns

Steps
1.To make the sugar syrup add 2 cups sugar to 2 cups water and bring to boil. Add powdered cardamom seeds to this. Let the syrup boil for about 5 minutes and then turn it off.

2. Mix the Bisquick mix and Milk powder well and add the milk to it little at a time to make smooth dough.

3. Oil your hands and make small smooth marble size balls and keep aside.

4. Heat oil for deep drying the dough balls. When the oil is hot put few of the balls at a time and fry then till golden brown all around. Strain oil and keep aside

4. Add the fried dough balls to the syrup.

Makes about 25 Gulab Jamuns.

Serve hot or cold. Goes well cold with Vanilla ice cream

Carrot Sweet ( Carrot Halwa)

Overview
My sons love this sweet. Fresh grated carrots gives this sweet the bright orange color. A bit tedious to make since we have to stir it till it gets to the right consistency. But definitely worth it. I usually make it only for their birthdays or special occasions.

Ingredients
Carrots grated - 2 Cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Butter unsalted - 1 stick
Salt and pinch
Cardamom - seeds from 6 pods ground to fine powder
Whole Milk - 1 Cup

Steps
1. Cook the carrots with milk and sugar and salt in a pressure cooker till one whistle or in a heavy pot pan till it is cooked well.
2. Add the butter and and keep stirring. Bring it to a boil. Simmer and keep stirring till all the liquid evaporates and the carrot mixture has thickened.
3. Add the cardamom powder and stir well and switch off the heat when the oil separates out and it has thickened.
4. Spread the carrot mixture in an oiled plate and let cool
5. Make into small balls and put in candy wraps as shown in picture.
Can be chilled and served.