Ginger Cheese Food

TRIPLE GINGER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Whizz together the biscuits or crush in a sealed bag until you get fine crumbs. Gently melt the butter, then mix into the crumbs. Press evenly into a 20cm loosebottomed round cake tin. Chill in the fridge while you make the filling.
• Put the remaining ingredients into a food processor and whizz until smooth. Spread over the base, then smooth the top with a knife. Leave in the fridge overnight to set. Remove the cake from the tin and top with roasted rhubarb (recipe, below) or your choice of fruit.

GINGER CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese and half-and-half.
• Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Stir in ginger; chill 8 hours.
• Sprinkle with almonds, and serve with gingersnaps.
• Yield: 1 cup.

GINGER LEMON BASQUE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease one side of 2 to 3 sheets of parchment paper. Lay them butter-side up inside a 10-inch springform pan, arranging so that they cover all sides, and crimping the edges to ensure they stay in place. Place the springform pan on a sheet tray.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar and salt. Cream on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides.
• Turn the mixer down to medium and add the condensed milk. Beat to combine, then scrape down the bowl. Add the heavy cream, fresh ginger, ground ginger, vanilla and minced lemon zest. Fully combine, then scrape down the sides.
• Turn the mixer to medium-high and add the eggs one at a time, being sure that each is fully combined before adding the next.
• Add the flour, then beat again, scraping down the sides.
• Pour the cheesecake into the center of the springform pan and tap it lightly on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
• Bake for 30 minutes, then rotate. Continue to bake until dark golden brown, another 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely set, 6 hours.
• Remove the cheesecake from the pan, then peel down the paper. (You can leave the paper in place for a rustic look.)
• Mix together the lemon curd, limoncello, sour cream, lemon juice and remaining lemon zest in a bowl.
• Pour evenly over the top of the cheesecake, then sprinkle with the powdered sugar and garnish with the basil. Cut into slices and serve.

GINGER-CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and ginger; beat until fluffy and smooth. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature, then beat until fluffy before using.)

LEMON-GINGER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Double-wrap outside of pan with heavy-duty foil. Blend ground cookies, sugar, and ginger in processor. Add melted butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press mixture onto bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust sets, about 10 minutes. Cool. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in sugar, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream and whipping cream, then crystallized ginger, fresh ginger, lemon juice, and lemon peel.
• Pour filling into crust. Place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of springform pan. Bake cheesecake until filling is set and golden brown on top (cake will rise slightly above edge of pan), about 1 hour 25 minutes. Turn off oven and prop open oven door with wooden spoon. Let cake stand in oven 1 hour (cake will fall).
• Remove springform pan from water bath. Remove foil and cool cheesecake completely on rack. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Can be prepared ahead and refrigerated 4 days or frozen up to 2 months. Defrost frozen cake overnight in refrigerator.) Release pan sides from cheesecake. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Arrange lemon slices decoratively around cake and serve.

GINGER CHEESE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Sift together dry ingredients.
• Combine egg, milk, and molasses.
• Add to dry ingredients, stirring constantly.
• Beat until just barely smooth.
• Add butter and stir in cheese.
• Fill muffin pans 2/3 full.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.