Posted on Monday, November 29, 2010 | By: Kristen
Category :
Cooking for me has become a great outlet for trying food and recipes that may be outside my comfort zone, relaxation and stress relief, a great way to say thank you to someone, to celebrate life events, and just break bread with my friends and family. I find it to be very satisfying on so many levels. I like the quick and easy, the long and complex, and everything in between. I've gotten to the point that I usually know when I read a recipe if I'm going to like it or not. I love to try dishes I've never made before, including those that may seem really foreign to me, calling for ingredients I haven't used before. I spend a good bit of time reading recipes, I read cookbooks like I do novels. I'm completely addicted. :) So here we go, the reason for the blog - to share my favorite recipes and experiences in the kitchen.
This recipe was an absolute find and a great way to start my blog. I grew up baking pies and cookies taught to me by my grandmother. She had a gift - never used a recipe to bake and they always came out perfect. This year I decided to branch out to cakes, cupcakes and muffins. This was my first attempt at a cheesecake, and while I was worried about the outcome, and what I thought were a few goofs, my friends exclaimed that it was the best cheesecake they had ever eaten. (I'd have to agree with that one - great recipes make all the difference.) I've made this same cheesecake three times and it just keeps getting better. Definitely a crowd pleaser and worth a try. Good luck!
by Abigail Johnson Dodge
Serves ten to twelve.
For the crust:
8 oz. vanilla wafers, finely crushed (2 cups of crumbs)
3 Tbs. granulated sugar
7 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
3 8-oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature
8 oz. white chocolate, melted and cooled
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
Table salt
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbs. Chambord
1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
For the topping:
4 cups fresh raspberries
1/4 cup seedless raspberry or red currant jam
Make the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F.
In a medium bowl, stir together the vanilla wafer crumbs and 3 Tbs. granulated sugar. Mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist and clump together slightly. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of the pan (to press, use plastic wrap or a flat-bottom measuring cup). Bake until the crust is fragrant and slightly darkened, 9 to 12 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F.
Fill and bake the cheesecake: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, melted white chocolate, flour, and a pinch of table salt on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle frequently, until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Make sure the cheese has no lumps. Add the 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth.
Add the Chambord and vanilla, and beat until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. (Don’t overbeat once the eggs have been added or the cheesecake will puff too much and crack as it cools.) Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top.
Bake at 300°F until the center jiggles like Jell-O when nudged, 55 to 65 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed around the edges, and the center will still look moist. Set on a rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. The cake can also be frozen at this point for up to 1 month (see make-ahead tip, below).
Top and serve: Unclasp and remove the side of the springform pan and run a long, thin metal spatula under the bottom crust. Carefully slide the cake onto a flat serving plate. Arrange the raspberries on top of the cake. To glaze the berries, heat the jam in a small saucepan with 1 Tbs. water, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth; strain. Brush the raspberries with the melted jam mixture.
To cut, run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife after every slice.
Make Ahead Tips: To freeze, put the unmolded, cooled cake on a rimmed baking sheet in the freezer, uncovered, until the top is cold and firm; then wrap it in two layers of plastic and one layer of foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
From Fine Cooking 104, pp. 69
YEAH!!! I LOVE IT! Welcome to the blog world! I am sure your blog with become of my favorites!!