Showing posts with label Baking Partners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baking Partners. Show all posts

Mango CheeseCake

With dark fluffy clouds, fierce winds and occasional snows my part of world is still in the clutches of winter...Everyday sun tries to make an effort to shine high and bright but immediately it is attacked by cold and dark clouds that it goes unnoticed. With all these dull stuffs happening here I was eager to bring in some sunshine to the hearts of my loved ones. It was at that time Baking partners group decided to bake cheesecake and this bright and summery cheesecake was in there. Immediately seeing mango I fell for them and decided to go for it. It was all perfect, delicious and an eye catchy stuff  and very easy to put together with no baking included. This recipe was suggested by Sweatha adapted from Divine Taste. Now lets move on to the recipe...





For Crust:
Digestive biscuits/any plain sweet biscuits-11/2 cups(160 gms, crushed)
Butter-1/2 cup(100 gms, chopped)

For Filling:
Fine sugar/powdered sugar-1 cup(160gms, add more if needed)
Thick full fat yogurt-3 cups(800gms)
Paneer Cheese-2 cups(400gms)
Water-11/2 cups(375ml)
Agar Agar/china grass-15 gms
Mangoes-2 nos/1 cup(peeled, chopped, pureed)
Pure Vanilla Extract-1 tsp

For Mango Glaze:
Mango-1 nos/1/2 cup(peeled, chopped, pureed)
Water-2 tbsp
Sugar-2 tbsp
Lime Juice-1 tbsp

Method of preparation:
Preparing thick yogurt:
1. Place the yogurt in a cheesecloth and let drain to a colander overnight. The quantity will reduce to half (400 gms or 11/2 cup)next day.

Preparing Crust:
1. Place the biscuits in a zip lock bag and crush it to powder using a rolling pin.
2. Add this powder and the cubed butter into the food processor and process till the mixture is well mixed.
3. Remove the mixture and press it on to a 8"/9" springform pan.
4. Chill in freezer for 15 minutes or in refrigerator for half an hour.

Prepare Filling:
1. Break and soak the  china grass in 11/2 cup water for 10 minutes until it becomes soft.
2. In a food processor blend the paneer and thick yogurt to smooth and  creamy mixture. Transfer to a bowl.
3. Heat mango puree in a saucepan over medium heat. Do not allow it to boil.
4. In another pan, place the china grass and water mixture and stir on low heat until it melts completely, about 5 to 6 minutes. Do not allow this to boil.
5. Once the china grass melts completely, pour the hot china grass mixture into hot mango puree, stirring all the while.
6. Slowly add mango mixture into yogurt and cheese mixture, stir in the sugar and vanilla extract and beat well with a wire whisk until well blended.
7. Pour this mixture over the prepared crust, level with a spoon and chill in refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours.



For mango glaze:
1. Place all ingredients for glaze in a pan and  cook over medium heat.
2. When it begins to boil, reduce heat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Spread it on cheesecake with spoon.
4. Allow the glaze to set over the cheesecake for 2 to 3 hours or more before slicing it.



Notes:
1. You can use cottage cheese instead of paneer. In that case let the water drain completely before using. The cheese should be dry to get a perfectly set cheesecake.
2. Blend the paneer to puree here.
3. China grass should be completely melted to set properly. Do it on low heat.
4. Break the strands of china grass to small pieces  before soaking it.
5. While mixing the china grass mixture let both the liquids used to mix be hot, so that it sets properly.
6. If china grass sets before u mix to another mixture, then reheat till it melts completely.
7. The sugar mentioned here is just sweet. If you have a sweet tooth then add about 1/4 to half cup more. Applies if your mangoes are sour too. Taste the mixture to check it before setting.
8. You can use the mixer to powder the biscuits too.
9. You can make the cheesecake as individual servings too.
10. I have used graham crackers for the base.
11. I  used 9" springform pan.



White Bread using Tangzhong Method

Baking a bread and then enjoying the fruit of your work is the best thing to do..And if the bread turns super soft and delicious then you can sing along about it..:) This time Baking Partners group came up with baking bread using either Asian method-Tangzhong or the Scandinavian method. I went with the Tangzhong method where in one part of flour is heated to 65C with five part of water. This method yields soft breads. The recipe is from Christine's Recipe   and thanks Swathi for suggesting it. The bread was super soft and had great texture..Here is how its done..



Ingredients for tangzhong: 
Bread Flour-1/3 cup/50 gms
Water-1/2 cup
Milk-1/2 cup

Ingredients for bread:
Bread flour-21/2 cups/350gms
Caster Sugar-3 tbsp+2 tsp/55 gms
Salt-1 tsp/5gm
Egg-1 large/56gm
Milk powder-1 tbsp+ 1 tsp/7 gm(optional)
Milk-1/2 cup/125ml
Tangzhong-120 gm
Instant Yeast- 2 tsp/5 to 6 gm
Butter-3 tbsp/30gm(softened)

Method of Preparation:
1. Mix flour n water well without any lumps. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly  to avoid burning or sticking. The mixture starts to become thick.
2. Once you see some lines appear in mixture when you stir with spoon remove from heat. The temperature of mixture will be 65c/149F.
3. Transfer it to a clean bowl and wrap with a cling film to avoid drying. Once cooled completely this can be used to make bread. You can use it the same day or the next day.



Method of making bread:
1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl make  a well in center and set aside.
2. whisk egg, milk, tangzhong together and add this into the dry ingredients. Knead until everything comes together and you get a dough shape and gluten has developed. Then knead the butter.
3. Knead the dough into a ball shape and keep it in a  greased bowl covered with a kitchen towel to proof till its doubled in size, about 40 minutes or more depending on the weather.
4. Transfer it to a clean  floured surface. Deflate and divide the dough into four equal portions. Knead into small balls, wrap in cling film and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile grease a 9"X 5" loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 350F.
5. Take a small ball and roll it to a small oval shape using a rolling pin. Fold the smaller side into center and then the other side slightly over the earlier one.
6. Now roll again to form a small rectangle and then make it to a roll. Keep the roll in the baking pan and continue with the other dough ball.
7. Set it aside covered with a kitchen towel to proof  for 40 minutes or till it reaches to 3/4th of the tin.
8. Apply a layer of egg wash to the dough and bake it in the preheated oven for  35 to 40 minutes. To check doneness tap the bread and you should hear a hollow sound.
9. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy soft freshly baked bread. You can keep it in airtight box for later use.


Turned them to a simple sandwich.....
Notes:
1. Tangzhong can be kept fr a day or two in fridge. Do not use it if you see it has turned dark. Top be on safer side use it on the day its made or the next day.
2. You can make this bread into rolls, shape it, fill it.
3. Instead of bread flour you can use all purpose flour.
4. For the half milk half water used in making tangzhong you can use full 1 cup water.
5. Instead of egg wash you can use milk or cream to get brown color, but gloss will not be there.
6. While baking if the top of your bread is browning fast then cover it with a foil.
7. The rise time of dough depends on the area you live.
8. The dough is very sticky.Its a mess when you knead with hand. You have to knead till it is soft and elastic and do not add extra dough. Kneading properly should help to get rid of stickiness.


For shaping the bread check this link.

French Macarons- Baking Partner challenge #7

This time  Baking Partners group came up with cute but devilish recipe..yes..MACARONS. The recipe was suggested by Swathi and Vidhya from Martha Stewart. These are such cute and delicious treats that seeing them and the ingredients you definitely will want to try them. They are easy to get hold on  but it requires lot of patience, perfection and homework to achieve that.I went with the basic recipe and the things I did are written in notes and have kept a few links too.Felt great baking them and getting it right. A note of thanks to the lovely ladies in this group. Feels great to work together and this time it was more evident that we are awesome together.. :)
So here are my attempts...Need to perfect a lot..



Icing sugar/Confectioners' sugar-3/4 cup
Almond flour-3/4 cup
Egg whites- 2 large at  room temperature(aged)
Cream of tartar- Pinch
Superfine sugar-1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon



1.  Pulse confectioners' sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture twice/thrice.
2.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk whites with a mixer on medium speed until foamy.
3.  Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low, and then add superfine sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes.
4.  Sift flour mixture over whites, and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny.
5.  Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe 3/4-inch rounds 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, dragging pastry tip to the side of rounds rather than forming peaks. 6. Tap bottom of each sheet on work surface to release trapped air. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
7. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until macarons are crisp and firm, about 10 minutes.
8. After each batch, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees, heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to 325 degrees.
9.  Let macarons cool on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack. (If macarons stick, spray water underneath parchment on hot sheet. The steam will help release macarons.)
10. Sandwich 2 same-size macarons with 1 teaspoon filling. Serve immediately, or stack between layers of parchment, wrap in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months.



Chocolate Ganache
Bitter sweet chocolate-8oz
Heavy whipping Cream-3/4 cup

Method of Preparation:
1. Chop the chocolate to small pieces and keep aside in a bowl.
2. Heat cream in a pan on medium heat and when it starts to boil turn off the heat.
3. Pour the hot cream on chocolate and keep for 2 minutes without stirring.
4. Then mix until smooth and set aside to cool and thicken for some time. Once thick to the consistency you need it add to a piping bag with round nozzle and squeeze little to center of nacaron. Then press the other one on top and twist it to spread the ganache.

Notes:
1. Making Almond Flour:
         I used blanched almonds. Powdered them along with the little icing sugar to fine powder without releasing oil. If you feel that the almonds stick to the wall just tap on outside of mixer and if the powder falls back its fine, but if it starts to stick then oil is generated. In that case stop grinding and dry the flour.
2. Now sieve the flour to get fine powder. Mix remaining sugar to it and sieve again for 3 times. If any big particles are there then powder it again and if they cant be powdered future discard them.
3. I kept the egg whites separated for 11/2 days outside closed with a kitchen tissue. You can keep it up to 5 days in refrigerator. To beat the whites use a clean oil and dirt free vessel.
4. Have used an extra baking sheet to slow the process of having feet and dome due to high heat at the bottom.
5. Tap the tray and any air bubbles not broken is poked with a toothpick. Any air bubbles left will lead to cracks.
6. The temperature for baking perfect macarons depends on your oven settings. It need notbe the same as I have mentioned here. The above temperatures were perfect for my oven.
7. Macarons  can be filled with buttercream, ganache, jam, lemon curd. Once filled they taste great after 24 hours of resting in fridge.
8. There are a lot of videos and sites I have checked. some of them are:
 http://www.ironwhisk.com/2012/05/french-macarons/
 http://foodnouveau.com/2010/03/destinations/europe/france/how-to-make-macarons-a-detailed-illustrated-step-by-step-recipe/
 http://daydreamerdesserts.com/2010/11/demystifying-french-macarons.html/
 http://www.syrupandtang.com/201003/of-ovens-and-baking-and-macarons/
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDo0SgDKLVw
 http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/2010/08/macaron-troubleshooting-new-recipe.html


         

Sun Dried Tomato and Onion Tart-Baking Partners

This time we the Baking Partners decided to bake pies. As always I was waiting for the beautiful day to bake one that the flu visited us through my son..Poor baby he was very badly hit by it and the flu has caught all of us with severe headache, fever and cough ..With all this around I was not in a position to bake and enjoy anything..When I could finally get some relief yesterday decided to bake this tart..There is another reason too..when I had decided to join this group my main idea was to bake things other than cakes and breads..so this time I wanted to do it..I went with this easy tart suggested by Samantha of Samantha Menzies from here. It was very easy to put together and required very less effort and was equally delicious.



 Thawed puff pastry sheets-2 nos (9 by 9 inches)
Olive oil-2 tbsp
Onions-3 cups (thinly sliced)
Thyme- 4-6 sprigs
Salt to taste
Dijon mustard-1½ tablespoons
Heavy cream-1½ tablespoons
Gruyere-1 cup grated
Sun-dried tomatoes- ½ cup (roughly chopped)



Method of Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place sheets of puff pastry on a baking tray. Prick surface with a fork, leaving a ½-inch border untouched. Bake until  lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
3. Meanwhile, prepare onions. Set a  pan over medium heat. Heat oil and add onions, thyme and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions turn golden, about 15 minutes. Season with salt.
4. In a small bowl, mix mustard with cream. Once pastry is slightly cool, return it to baking tray and spread mustard-cream sauce over top, leaving ½-inch border untouched.
5. Scatter half of cheese over sauce and top with onions. Add remaining cheese and tomatoes over top.
6. Return trays to oven and bake until cheese melts and browns in spots, about 15 minutes.




Notes:
1. Even after pricking the puff sheets they puff up while baking so do prick them after taking out.
2. I replaced thyme with dried Oregano & fresh parsley leaves
3. Instead of Gruyere I used Emmental Swiss Cheese.
4. I halved the recipe.