Independence day edition : Agar-agar Merah Putih (Red and White Pudding)

Merdeka!! Happy Independence day, Indonesia. On August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence from Netherlands. It is the most important day on the history of my country. In Indonesia,  we always begin this celebration with flag hoisting ceremony and continue with a lot of festivals and celebrations everywhere. In all islands and cities on this country. Around this time of every year, everything seems to be draped in our flag's color, red and white. It is very festive. :)

Now, I'm living far away from Indonesia. Well, maybe it is not the best country on the world, but it is still my hometown. That's why, i would like to do small celebration on my own. I made red and white pudding today. It is easy to make and my kids love it.

Ingredients :

• 1 pack agar powder (I'm using white Swallow Globe agar. I bought it in Asian grocery store)
  
• 1 sheet of leaf gelatin, soaked in a cold water for 5 minutes
• 1 litre (about 4 cups) water 
• 5 tbs sweet condensed milk
• 6 tbs granulated white sugar
• red food coloring agent

Tip : You can substitute leaf gelatin with gelatin powder. 1 sheet of leaf gelatin = 1/4 tbs gelatin powder

Preparation :

1. Prepare pudding mold any shape you like, set aside. I was using 21x11 cm loaf pan.
2. In a pot, mix 1 pack agar powder with 1 litre water.
3. Turn on the heat and cook the agar until it is start to boil
4. Keep stirring for about 3 minutes and turn off the heat
5. Divide the agar into half. About 500 ml for each portion.
6. Add 5 tbs sugar and few red food coloring agent into the first portion. Stir it well until the sugar dissolved.
7. Pour the red agar into the mold until its height reach half of the mold. 
8. Leave it hardened for a while
9. Meanwhile, prepare the white part. Add 5 tbs sweet condensed milk and 1 tbs sugar into the second portion. 
10. Stir it well until the sugar dissolved. Put it on the medium heat if needed.
11. After the surface of red agar is started to hardened, pour the white agar  carefully on the top of the red agar using a ladle. Be careful not to break the surface of the red agar otherwise, it won't be layered well.
12. Leave it hardened and put it into the refrigerator. 
13. Serve it cool as a dessert. Vanilla custard is a good companion for this dish.

Tip : You can start to pour the second layer of agar when the first layered is started to hardened. If you gently touch the surface of the agar, you can feel a thin and soft layer on the surface, but the agar on the bottom is still wobbly. If the first layer is too hard, then both layer can not stick together.