Cheese Kugel

Carol Rosenstock
 
This is a recipe that a friend gave me a few years ago.  I add raisins to it and think it makes a great lunch or dairy dinner with a salad.  It is very rich and creamy.

Food Editor's Notes:  This is one of our 2006 Passover Recipe Contest winners!  You won't believe how light and fluffy (yet still rich and creamy) a Passover kugel can be!  This is basically a sweet cheese noodle kugel without the noodles.  The farfel helps to hold it together, but doesn't make it dense or heavy.  This is a sweet treat – it comes out of the oven a beautiful golden brown and puffed up high.  It's best served like this, right from the oven – perfect for a brunch or company supper - but it's also wonderful reheated for breakfast, lunch, or a special snack.
 
Ingredients
 
3 cups matzah farfel
3 cups boiling water
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
4 heaping tablespoons sour cream (can use low-fat or fat-free)
4 heaping tablespoons cottage cheese (can use low-fat or fat-free)
6 eggs or Passover eggbeaters or egg whites
8 ounces Temptee cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup scalded milk
Cinnamon and sugar, to taste
 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare a 13-inch by 9-inch glass pan by buttering or spraying lightly with oil.

Place the farfel in a large bowl.  Pour the boiling water over the farfel and let stand 15 minutes.  Drain water (if any).

In another bowl mix together all the remaining ingredients except the raisins and cinnamon and sugar.  Add the farfel and blend until smooth.  Stir in the raisins if you are using them.  Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake another 10 to 20 minutes until the kugel is browned and heated through.  You can cover with foil if it is browning too much.

An empty nester, Carol Rosenstock and her husband Steven live in Needham.  They are the proud parents of Jason and Paula, and Andrew.  Carol enjoys cooking and baking and loves to try new recipes.  She is active in Women's American ORT.  Carol was also the chair of the cookbook committee for Temple Aliyah of Needham's fabulous new cookbook, Even More Delicious!  Copies of the cookbook are still available.  Click here for ordering information or contact Temple Aliyah.  Carol is a fan of ShalomBoston.com!