Mango Cheese Cake

Fresh ripe mangoes are used to make this light and refreshing cheesecake. This is delightfully delicious dish and can be enjoyed by just about everyone.

Ingredients serve 8
Crust
1 cup graham cracker squares, crushed (or marie biscuits)
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter

Filling
1 1/2 cup cream cheese at room temperature
2 tsp cornstarch
3/4 cup sugar
1 large ripe mango

For the Mango Glaze
1 mango (1/2 cup), peeled, chopped and pureed
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp lime juice

For Garnish
8 thin mango slices
Few mint leaves

Method
Crust
Preheat oven to 175 degree C.
Add broken graham crackers, sugar and butter to a food processor. Mix well until looks nicely crumbled, takes approx. 30 seconds.
Place graham cracker mix into a 9” pie plate, spread evenly and press down firmly.
Bake at 175 degree C for 6 minutes, on the medium rack.

For the Mango Glaze
Place all the ingredients for the glaze in a saucepan and cook over medium heat. When it begins to boil, reduce the flame and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Allow to come to room temperature and then spread the glaze over the cheesecake with a spoon. Allow the glaze to set over the cheesecake for 2 to 3 hours or more before slicing it.  Allow the cheesecake to set for an hour or so before spreading the glaze over it.

Filling
Prepare mango by peeling and chopping into chunks.
Add mango chunks, cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch to the food processor. Mix for 20 seconds, until it is smooth in texture. Do not mix for too long.

How to proceed
Pour the mixture over the pie crust and bake for 35 minutes at 175 degrees C. The surface should look dry and cooked.
Let the cheesecake cool and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Pour glaze and garnish with mango slices.

Tips
If using Marie biscuits then reduce the amount of sugar in crust.
If transferred out of the oven too quickly, the cheesecake could crack so allow it to sit in the oven (turned off) for sometime
Adding a teaspoon of corn flour to the cheese cake batter prevents the cake from cracking.

Cheesy Melon Skewers

Quick to make starter & with a difference :)

Ingredients (makes 10)
10 toothpicks
20 melon balls (scoop outs), seedless
Cheese slices or cheese cubes (cut in small squares)
1 tbsp mixed herbs
Pinch of red chilli flakes
salt to taste

Method
Sprinkle cheese with herbs, salt & chilli flakes
Arrange on tooth pick like shown.
Serve chilled :)

Tips
Make these few hours in advance & refrigerate, covered with cling film.
Make sure to remove seeds from melon.
You can cut melon in squares, same as cheese, & either arrange them on tooth pick or just keep a cheese slice on a melon slice & a spring of mint & serve.

Veg Frankie

A quick meal you can fix for your kids anytime of the day :)

Ingredients
For The Rotis (makes 4)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
salt to taste
1/4 tsp oil for kneading
butter or oil for cooking

Spread
2 tbsp mayonnaise
4 tbsp green chutney

Paneer Stuffing
1 cup crumbled fresh paneer
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp pizza seasoning

Capsicum Stuffing
1/2 cup shredded cabbage or lettuce leaves
1 cup red & yellow capsicum, diced
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
Salt & pepper to taste

Method
For The Rotis
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and knead into a soft and pliable dough using enough water. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and keep aside for 10 minutes.
Knead again using ¼ tsp of oil till it is smooth and elastic.
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and roll out each into approx. 8" diameter thin circle.
Heat a tava (griddle) and cook each roti lightly on a medium flame, using little butter or oil, and keep aside.

Paneer Stuffing
Mix everything and keep aside.

Capsicum Stuffing
Mix everything and keep aside.

How to proceed
Apply the mayo & chutney spread evenly on roti.
Place paneer stuffing in the centre.
Place capsicum stuffing on paneer. Sprinkle a tsp of chutney on the stuffing.
Roll it up tightly & secure with a toothpick if you want.
Serve immediately with any sauce.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 3 more frankies.

Tips
Add salt to vegetables just before you want to make frankies, or else they will lose lots of water and frankies will become soggy.
You can use any filling in frankies, just use your imagination.

Raw Mango Jam

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Raw Mango (peeled and finely grated)
3/4 cup sugar (if you like it more sweet, increase accordingly)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Pinch of Cardamom

Method
Mix grated mango with salt & keep for aside few hrs. It will leave water.
Take a wok & put all ingredients along with the grated mango water.
Place the wok on medium flame. Keep stirring.
It will be ready when all the liquid dries up & the jam will have a golden colour.

Tips

Jam should simmer at a very slow boil. If it is too high, it will burn.
Don't make this jam in an aluminum wok or the colour of jam will turn dark brownish.
You can avoid cardamom powder & use saffron threads instead (dissolve 2-3 threads in 1/2 tsp water & rub). Or you can avoid both; it will still taste & smell good :)
Enjoy the tasty raw mango jam with bread, dosas, chapatis and rotis.