Cheesecake With Poached Apricot Food

FLAMBEED VANILLA-POACHED PEARS WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups water, sugar, and vanilla extract to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Add 3 or 4 pear halves, reduce heat to medium, and simmer gently until the pears have just turned tender, about 5 minutes. Remove cooked pears to a warm chafing dish or metal serving dish, and continue to cook the remaining pears.
• Increase heat to medium-high, and boil the syrup until it has reduced to 1 cup. Stir in apricot preserves and return to a boil. Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the simmering syrup. Cook and stir until thickened and clear, about 30 seconds.
• To serve, pour the hot sauce over the pears, and sprinkle with the rum. Carefully ignite the rum tableside with the lights turned low. Let the alcohol burn out before serving.

POACHED APRICOTS WITH ROSEWATER

Steps:

• Put the sugar into a medium pan with 150ml water. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves, then add the apricots and simmer for 15 mins until soft. Take off the heat, splash in the rosewater and leave to cool. Spoon into glasses to serve, topped with a few dollops of the yogurt and a scattering of nuts.

CHEESECAKE WITH POACHED APRICOT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment. Set a kettle of water to boil.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Mix in sugar, sour cream, and vanilla seeds. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat in lemon juice.
• Transfer cream-cheese mixture to prepared pan. Smooth top with an offset spatula. Place pan in a large roasting pan, and transfer to oven. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to reach halfway up sides of baking pan. Bake until cake is just set in the center and lightly browned on top, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer baking pan to a wire rack to cool 30 minutes. Invert cheesecake onto serving platter. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• To serve, arrange poached apricot halves, cut side down, on top of cheesecake, allowing juice to pool on surface and drizzle down edges.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & APRICOT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Break biscuits into the food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs. Brush a little butter over the base and sides of a deep 20cm flan tin. Stir the remaining butter into the crumbs. Spoon into the flan tin, then press over the base and sides. Chill while you make the filling.
• Stone and chop 3 of the apricots into small chunks. Put the gelatine in a bowl, cover with cold water, then leave to soften for 10 mins. Break up chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl with 100ml of the double cream. Stand over a pan of simmering water, then leave until melted, stirring occasionally. Squeeze water out of the gelatine, then stir into chocolate mix. Take off the heat and stir until dissolved. Beat the soft cheese and sugar together. Whisk remaining cream until stiff, then fold into the cheese. Fold in the chocolate, followed by the chopped apricots. Pour into the prepared tin and chill for at least 4 hrs or overnight.
• Line a grill pan with foil. Cut remaining apricots into quarters, then place on the foil, cut-sides up. Dust with icing sugar and grill for a few mins until lightly browned. Cool, then arrange over the top. Shave some white chocolate curls, then pile up in the centre of the cheesecake and serve.

AMARETTO CHEESECAKE WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Crust: Combine ingredients.
• Press onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
• Filling: Combine cream cheese, sugar, and flour, mixing until well blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just until combined.
• Blend in sour cream and liqueur; pour over crust.
• Bake in 450 degree F oven 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F; continue baking for 1 hour.
• Run knife around rim of pan; cool on wire rack.
• Chill.
• Glaze: To glaze cake, combine jam and liqueur in a saucepan; heat until warm and smooth.
• Strain mixture and pour over cheesecake before removing sides of pan.
• Garnish if desired.

YOGURT CHEESECAKE WITH HONEY-ROASTED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Butter the base of a 23cm springform tin and line with a circle of baking parchment. Blitz the biscuits to fine crumbs in a food processor, then tip into a bowl and mix with the butter. Pack the mixture into the base of the tin and chill for 10 mins.
• Whip the double cream to soft peaks. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, soft cheese, honey and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the cream and spoon over the base. Smooth over the top with a spatula and cover. Chill for at least 4 hrs or overnight.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the apricots with the 50g honey, the orange zest and vanilla on a baking tray. Roast on the middle shelf for 20-25 mins until the apricots are tender but still hold their shape. Toss everything halfway through, adding 1 tbsp water if the honey starts to catch. Leave to cool, discarding the orange and vanilla pod.
• Use a knife to release the sides of the cheesecake and remove from the tin. Spoon over the apricots along with the roasting juices. Drizzle extra honey over the top, allowing it to run down the sides.