Paskha

12 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 pounds Cottage cheese,dry-curd
1 cup Sugar
4 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 packs Farmer's cheese(7 1/5 oz)
1 cup Raspberry jam,seedless
¾ cup Butter,unsalted,softened
2 teaspoons Lemon rind,grated
6 drops Red food coloring (optional)
⅓ cup Raisins,golden
¼ cup Orange peel,candied,chopped
¼ cup Almonds,ground
Candied cherries for garnish
Almonds,sliced for garnish

Directions

1. Line paskha mold or clean 7 1/2x5" plastic or unglazed flower pot with drainage hole with 3 double-thicknesses of cheesecloth. Place on wire rack set over cake pan.

2. Place ½ pound cottage cheese, the sugar and eggs in food processor or blender. Whirl, scraping down side as necessary, until smooth. Scrape into medium-size saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 6 minutes or until mixture almost somes to boiling or instant-read thermometer registers 150'F. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour into large bowl to cool. 3. Working in 2 batches, add remaining cottage cheese, farmer's cheese, jam, butter, lemon rind and food coloring, if using, to CLEAN food processor or blender. Whirl, scraping down side. Whisk into bowl with cooked cheese mixture. Stir in raisins, orange peel and almonds. 4. Pour into prepared mold. Fold excess cheesecloth over top; cover with plastic wrap. Place flat-bottomed plate or saucepan, slightly smaller than diameter of mold, on top to weight. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Weight top with two 23-ounce cans or heavy iron skillet. Drain for 2 days in refrigerator or until center is firm. Refrigerate up to 1 week.

5. Unmold and remove cheesecloth. Decorate mold with candied fruits and almonds. Slice into wedges and serve as cheesecake, or spread on Kulich.

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