Paskha An Old Russian Easter Tradition Recipes

Steps:

• Press cheese through a medium strainer set over a bowl.
• Using a mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk yolks with sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium; add cheese, butter, nutmeg, zest, and peel and mix until very smooth. Still mixing, add cream in a slow, steady stream just until combined. Stir in vanilla.
• Line a 5 1/2-by-7-inch paskha mold, flowerpot, or strainer with dampened cheesecloth; add batter. Fold cheesecloth over top. Top with two stacked plates weighted with 2 to 3 cans (or 2 to 3 pounds of pie weights). Place filled mold over a wide, empty cooking pot in refrigerator; let drain overnight.
• Remove weights and plate; pull back cheesecloth from base. Carefully invert mold onto a serving plate and remove paskha; remove cheesecloth. Decorate with dried fruits; serve.

Steps:

• NOTE: THIS IS A SPECIAL CAKE REQUIRING A NEW LARGE FLOWER POT 7 X 7-INCHES AT A MINIMUM.
• Press the cheese through a sieve.
• Combine the cheese with the egg yolks, beating in 1 yolk at a time.
• Add the sugar and blend well.
• Heat the cream in a large saucepan until it almost boils, then add the cheese mixture and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
• Remove from the heat before it begins to boil.
• Stir in the fruits, almonds, and lemon rind.
• Cool.
• Cream together the butter and the vanilla, then stir into the cooled cheese mixture.
• Line the flower pot with several layers of moistened cheesecloth, leaving enough cloth at the top to form a flap that will cover the pot.
• Fill the pot with the cheese mixture and cover with the flap.
• Put a weight on the top and place in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
• The whey (liquid) will drip out the bottom of the pot, so be sure to place a pan under it.
• When drained, carefully unmold the cake with a knife.
• Remove the cheesecloth and smooth the sides with a hot knife.
• Prepare the sauce.
• Beat together the egg yolks, sugar, Madeira, and lemon rind in the top of a double boiler.
• Cook and continue beating until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the lemon juice and the rum, then chill briefly.
• Pour the sauce over the cheesecake and serve.
• NOTE: This very unusual cheesecake is a traditional Russian Easter dish.
• In the old days, the custom was to decorate it with paper flowers or religious emblems and have the priest come by and bless it.
• Back then, it was made in a special pyramid-shaped form, but you can make it in an ordinary red clay flower pot.
• Visually, the effect is quite striking, and the drainage hole allows the excess whey to escape.
• To make paskha, you will need a large flower pot and some cheesecloth.
• The paskha will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks, but be sure to make it at least three days in advance.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream and butter.
• Gradually fold in sugar, lemon extract, vanilla extract, almonds and currants.
• Transfer the mixture to a shallow medium dish. Cover with a cloth, and chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.