Saying that I love my kids’ teachers is an understatement. I don’t think I fully grasped the importance of a great teacher until this school year. Watching the indelible impressions made on my children day after day by the most caring, nurturing and thoughtful group of educators I have ever come across, is a blessing I shall always be grateful for.
One of my favorite things about Kenya and Chloe’s school is that they encourage both the teachers and families to share the traditions and celebrations that are meaningful to them. One of Kenya’s teachers is from India and a holiday that is special to her is Holi. Holi, which is also known as the Festival of Colors, is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. For the Holi celebration, each family was asked to bring something for everyone to eat pot luck style. There were a wide array of delectable Indian dishes including potato curry, mango lassi, rice, lentils, (Masoor dal) tandoori, samosas and several different chutneys which kids and parents alike devoured.
I was asked to make Kulfi, a frozen dessert that has a base similar to ice cream, but without all the air whipped into it, so it is dense and solid. Kenya’s teacher said it was one of her favorite treats growing up as a child, so I felt a lot of pressure to not botch it! Kulfi comes in all sorts of flavors like pistachio, cardamom and mango, but Kenya’s teacher really wanted her all time favorite, plain, which is simple and sweet.
Realizing it might be challenging for me to try to make kulfi for so many kids and adults in my popsicle molds (hunting down 40 sticks after the party was not my idea of a good time), I just poured the mixture into individual Dixie cups, placed wooden sticks in the centers, popped them in the freezer and a few hours later they were ready. All the kids had to do was peel off the paper cup and enjoy.
As good as the pops were, the party was even more amazing. It was a blast watching the kids run around, paint their bodies, put on bindis and enjoy a host exciting dishes, many of which they had never tried before. It was a beautiful, bright day full of color, magic and flavor that I will never forget. Here’s to the teachers!
Here’s a few sweet faces that visually describe how yummy they can be on a warm summer day_
Kulfi Ice Pops
Ingredients
- 1 can (12-ounce) evaporated milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 can (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together all the ingredients.
- Pour mixture into popsicle molds or Dixie cups.
- Freeze until set, several hours to overnight.*
- Serve.
- *If using Dixie cups or another mold without a popsicle stick attachment, freeze for one hour then insert popsicle stick into the center, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way deep, and continue to freeze until set.
BTW we boil milk on low flame for very long time, till milk reduces, and have to constantly keep an eye on it and keep stirring. Can’t believe we just have to mix the ingredients, and it tastes even better than the long process.
I am from India, and live in US now. This tastes so original. It tastes like the authentic kulfi we get in India. Very nice recipe. Catherine you are awesome. I added approx, little bit of ground almond and pistachio powder to it, it gives a nice taste.
I’d never heard of these before, but they’ve become a big hit in our house. I think the can sizes differ in Canada and the US, so I do approximations and the results have been great! We’ve added vanilla and mint extract, and it’s hard to choose a favourite. 🙂
You could try whole milk, but it will be a different consistency and flavor.
Any substitution for heavy cream? Have all the ingredients but that.
Amazon has food-safe ice pop sticks for $5!! http://astore.amazon.com/weelicious-20/detail/B000MMKPEC
anyone know where to get popsicle sticks? went to publix and walmart and they only sell craft ones.. when i called the company they said they should not be used for food purposes