TROPICAL AMBROSIA

Cooking Time : Nil.
Preparation Time : 9 mins.
Makes 2 glasses.

Ingredients
1 cup mixed fruits, chopped (strawberry, pineapple, peaches, pears)
½ cup hung curd
2 tablespoons cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
a few drops vanilla essence

Other ingredients
2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons sugar

Method
1. Dry roast the desiccated coconut and sugar together on a pan over a slow flame till the coconut turns golden brown. Keep aside.
2. Combine the hung curd, cream, sugar and vanilla essence and whisk well. Keep refrigerated.
3. Arrange half the fruits in a long stemmed glass.
4. Top with the curd and cream mixture.
5. Sprinkle the desiccated coconut mixture on top and chill.
6. Repeat to make another glass.
7. Serve chilled.

Tips
Approximately 1 cup fresh curds will yield ½ cup of hung curds when hung in muslin cloth for approx. 20 minutes.

KOPRA PAK

Cooking Time : 15 mins.
Preparation Time : 20 mins.
Makes 20 pieces.

Ingredients
2 cups grated fresh coconut
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
a few saffron strands
1 teaspoon milk
1/4 teaspoon cardamom (elaichi) powder
2 teaspoons ghee

For the garnish
5 pistachios, blanched, peeled and cut into slices

Method
1. Warm the milk in a small bowl, add the saffron and rub in until the saffron dissolves.
2. Dissolve the sugar with 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil. Add the lemon juice.
3. Remove the floating dirt using a slotted spoon and strain the syrup if necessary.
4. Boil the syrup again until it is of 2 string consistency.
5. Add the coconut, ghee, prepared saffron and cardamom powder. Remove from the fire while stirring continuously.
6. Spread the mixture on a thali (flat metal plate) and allow to cool.
7. Decorate with the pistachios. Cut into desired shape.

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package angel food cake mix
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch pan with vegetable oil spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pineapple (with juice). Mix until well blended.
3. Pour batter into prepared 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.
Serve with whipped topping

ALMOND PISTACHIOS PRALINE TRIANGLES

Preparation Time : : 10 mins.

Cooking Time : : 15 mins.

Serves 4.

Ingredients
1/3 cup coarsely powdered nuts (almonds and pistachio)
2 tablespoons melon seeds (charmagaz)
2 tablespoons poppy seeds (khus khus)
1/4 teaspoon cardamom (elaichi) powder
1/2 cup sugar
oil to grease

Method
1. In a heavy bottomed pan, add the sugar and melt it over gentle heat, stirring continuously till the sugar is light brown in colour (caramelised).
2. Remove from the fire, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour this mixture onto a greased marble or stone surface.
4. Using a large greased rolling pin, roll out the praline as thinly as you can.
5. While it is still warm, cut into triangles. Allow it to cool completely.
6. Store in an air-tight container.

Tips
Sugar burns very quickly, so give it your full attention.
Remove the sugar from the flame just when it starts to caramelise because it continues to brown even after it is removed from heat.