Eggnog Cheesecake With Honey Bourbon Praline Sauce Food

EGGNOG CHEESECAKE WITH HONEY BOURBON PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• CRUST.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle position. (If using a pressure cooker, make sure the pan can fit inside your pressure cooker without touching the sides or top.) Cut a parchment circle to fit in bottom of springform pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Blend together with a fork until it is combined. Press crumbs onto the bottom and about half way up the sides of the pan. (Don't worry if the side edges aren't the same height all around, the point is to create a sturdy barrier so the batter won't leak out of the pan.).
• Place crumbed pan into the preheated oven and bake until set and golden brown around the edges, approximately 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• When crust has cooled, place the pan in the middle of a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Pull foil up the sides and press around the outside of the pan to make a waterproof shield for the pan. If planning to bake in the oven, place the springform pan in a large high-rimmed roasting pan and set aside. (It is important to leave some clearance between the springform pan and the roasting pan or between the pressure cooker interior wall and the springform pan.).
• FILLING.
• Use either a stand mixer or a medium-size bowl with a hand mixer. Place softened cream cheese and granulated sugar in the bowl and mix until well blended and smooth.
• Add eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition.
• Add the vanilla extract, and slowly add the eggnog while beating at low speed. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, approximately 2-3 minutes.
• Pour filling into the cooled crust.
• IF BAKING IN OVEN.
• Make sure oven has preheated to 350°F Boil a pot of water. The filled springform pan should have an aluminum foil bottom cover and be sitting inside a large high-rimmed roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the outer roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Bake for about 40-50 minutes. You want to remove the cheesecake when the cake is slightly "jiggly" in the center.
• Remove from the oven. Leave the cheesecake in the water bath and let set until they are both cooled to room temperature.
• Continue with Step 24.
• IF STEAMING IN PRESSURE COOKER.
• Pour 2 cups water into bottom of 6-quart or larger pressure cooker. Set trivet on top.
• Make 2 4-ply aluminum straps about 1-1/2 inches wide and 28-inches long (you might need to piece together 2 shorter strips by folding it over twice like closing a paper lunch bag). Lay 1 strip across the width of the pressure cooker, then lay the other strip at a 90° angle (as if wrapping a gift).
• Place filled crust (with aluminum foil bottom wrapping) on top. Secure the ends of each aluminum foil strap. (These straps will make it much easier to remove the pan from the pressure cooker after steaming.)
• Secure the pressure cooker lid. Over high heat, bring to high pressure. Reduce heat as low as possible that will just maintain high pressure. From moment high pressure is reached, cook for exactly 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow the pressure to fall naturally. Remove the lid, tilting to direct steam away from you.
• Allow cheesecake to rest 10 minutes while still in the pressure cooker.
• Use aluminum foil straps to carefully pull springform pan from pressure cooker. Place springform pan on wire rack and allow to cool completely. If there is a small pool of condensed water in the middle of the cheesecake, blot with paper towel.
• CHILL.
• Cover the springform pan and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
• To serve, run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen edges. Remove outer band, loosen the cheesecake from the base (I leave parchment paper stuck to cheesecake) and transfer to a serving plate.
• Serve cheesecake with praline sauce.
• HONEY BOURBON PRALINE SAUCE.
• In 400°F oven, dry toast coarsely chopped pecans until golden brown (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a shallow pan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
• Add brown sugar to butter, stirring constantly until it, too, is melted and well blended with the butter.
• Stir in the honey, cream, bourbon (or rum or brandy) and toasted pecan pieces. Mix well.
• Cool sauce to room temperature. Pour over chilled cheesecake.

EGGNOG CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• CRUST:
• Using a lightly greased, 10 inch Springform pan, combine crumbs, cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter and press firmly into pan, coming up sides 1-2 inches, depending on how thick you like your crust. Press firmly into and up the sides of the pan using a measuring cup or other flat, round utensil. Chill in freezer while you make the filling.
• FILLING:.
• Place a full kettle of water on to boil.
• Beat Philadelphia cream cheese for one minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Scrape bowl.
• Add large eggs one at a time, beating well in between. Scrape bowl.
• Gradually add sugar and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape bowl.
• Add sour cream, extracts and spices and mix well. Scrape bowl making sure all of the ingredients are WELL incorporated.
• Before filling pan, wrap outside of spring form pan with tinfoil.
• Pour filling into spring form pan, and tap lightly on counter to remove any air bubbles.
• Place springform pan into a large baking pan and place it in preheated oven. Then fill baking pan with boiling water, so that it comes up about half way up the springform pan. (It is easier to fill the pan with water after the cheesecake is in the oven than trying to fiddle with getting a baking pan INTO the oven that is full of boiling water).
• Bake 325 degrees for 75 minutes.
• When done baking, turn off oven and crack open oven door slightly, and leave it cracked open while oven cools.
• DO NOT DISTURB CHEESECAKE.
• Remove the cheesecake when the oven is completely cooled.
• Remove tinfoil and dry off the outside of the springform pan.
• Place in refrigerator and chill at least 4 hours before serving.

HOUSE OF BLUES SWEET POTATO CHEESECAKE W/PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground pecans and cookie crumbs; add the melted butter and mix well.
• To form the crust, press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• In a mixer, beat the cream or Mascarpone cheese until smooth, then add the sugars and spices and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
• Add the sweet potato purée and mix until just blended.
• Add the eggs one at a time, scraping bowl after each egg.
• Stir in heavy cream at low speed until completely blended.
• Pour the filling into into the pan.
• Put the pan into a 1 to 1/2 inch bain marie, or warm water bath (it's a good idea to wrap the bottom and sides of the springform pan to prevent water from leaking in.) Cook the cheesecake in the bain marie for 50 minutes at 350°F.
• Cool the cheesecake at room temperature for 45 minutes.
• Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
• While the cheesecake is cooling, make the praline sauce: melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the brown sugar, cream and pecans.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Keep warm.
• To serve, place each serving a slice of pie onto a dessert plate, then spoon a pool of warm praline sauce over and around each serving.
• Top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and garnish with a sprig of mint.
• YIELD: 8 servings.

ROASTED BANANA BREAD PUDDING WITH BOURBON-PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Generously butter 8 (1/2-cup) ovenproof ramekins or custard cups. Place ramekins in large shallow pan; ramekins should not touch each other.
• Place bread in 15x10x1-inch pan. Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
• Heat oven to 425°F Lightly butter 8-inch square baking pan. Set 1 banana aside for garnish. Peel remaining 4 bananas; place in pan. Bake at 425°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until soft and slightly browned.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F Place 2 baked bananas in medium bowl; mash with fork. Let remaining 2 baked bananas cool slightly; cut into 1/4-inch slices. (Bananas are very soft but can be sliced.) Place 3 or 4 slices in bottom of each ramekin.
• In large bowl, whisk together all remaining bread mixture ingredients except reserved banana. Whisk in mashed bananas. Stir in toasted bread. Let stand 4 to 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
• In separate large bowl, whisk eggs until mixed. Add all remaining custard ingredients except 2 teaspoons sugar; whisk until blended. Spoon scant 1/3 cup soaked bread mixture into each ramekin, filling nearly to top; do not pack. Pour custard over bread mixture in each ramekin. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar.
• Place ramekins in large shallow pan; fill pan with hot water to about 1/3 way up sides of ramekins. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until tops are puffed and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove puddings from water bath; place on wire rack to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, to prepare sauce, place pecans and butter in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 4 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring frequently. Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup cream; stir until smooth. In small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons milk and cornstarch. Stir cornstarch mixture into sauce. Increase heat to medium-high; cook until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla and dash salt. Serve warm. (Store sauce, covered, in refrigerator. If too thick after reheating, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk.).
• Diagonally slice reserved banana. Serve puddings warm in ramekins, topped by warm sauce and garnished with banana. Or to unmold, run knife around sides of each ramekin; top each with dessert plate and invert with sharp downward motion. Turn puddings right side up onto plate. Refrigerate leftovers.

BOURBON-PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• place pecans and butter in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 4 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring frequently.
• Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup cream; stir until smooth. In small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons milk and cornstarch. Stir cornstarch mixture into sauce.
• Increase heat to medium-high; cook until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla and dash salt. Serve warm. (Store sauce, covered, in refrigerator. If too thick after reheating, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk.).

EGGNOG CHEESECAKE III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a food processor combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and eggnog; process until smooth. Blend in eggs, rum and nutmeg. Pour mixture into cooled crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 250 and bake for 45 minutes, or until center of cake is barely firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and immediately loosen cake from rim. Let cake cool completely before removing the rim.

VISKO'S PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan.
• Stir in the brown sugar.
• Add the Karo syrup and the water and cook the mixture over medium heat until it reaches the boiling point.
• Continue boiling for a minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
• Stir in the rum, maple extract and pecans.
• The sauce will thicken as it cools.
• Serve slightly warm over good quality vanilla ice cream.
• Should there be any left over, store it covered in the fridge.

EGGNOG CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Combine 1/4 cup butter, wafer crumbs and white sugar.
• Press firmly on the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
• Add eggs.
• Mix well.
• Stir in 1/4 cup rum, vanilla and nutmeg.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake at 300 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Cool.
• Chill.
• To make the sauce~In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the cup of water.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 tablespoons butter.
• Stir in the brown sugar and cornstarch mixture.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the 2 tablespoons dark rum.
• Cool.
• Just before serving, stir the pecans into the sauce.
• Remove the sides of the springform pan from the cheesecake.
• Serve with the sauce.