Helen Olesss Cheddar Cheese Ring Food

ROSALYNN CARTER'S CHEESE RING

Steps:

• Combine cheese with mayo, chopped nuts and onions.
• Mix in black pepper and cayenne, and blend thoroughly.
• Press into a 3-cup ring mold.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• To serve, dip mold into a pan of hot water for 15-20 seconds before turning out onto a serving platter. Fill center with strawberry preserves. Serve with crackers of your choice.

CHEESE RING

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, green onion, cayenne pepper, and garlic salt until well blended. Coat a ring shaped gelatin mold generously with cooking spray. Spoon the cheese mixture into the mold, cover, and chill for 2 to 3 hours to set.
• Unmold onto a serving plate, and pour raspberry preserves into the center. Arrange wheat crackers around the outside of the ring.

HELEN OLESS'S CHEDDAR CHEESE RING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a saucepan, heat milk, butter, salt and sugar to lukewarm. Add 4 cups of cheese gradually and stir until cheese and butter are melted. Pour into a large bowl and when lukewarm, add yeast mixture and 2 cups semolina flour.
• Work the mixture with a wire whisk until smooth then add caraway seeds and dry mustard. Mix. Batter will begin to thicken and take on a grainy look. Add 1/2 cup of cheese. Mix.
• Add 3 cups bread flour, gradually, stirring with a wooden spoon. Dough will be sticky.
• Turn out on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, gradually adding remaining 2 cups of flour.
• If you want to make a braided loaf, shape the dough into 3 balls of equal size and roll out each ball into an 8-inch-by-12-inch rectangle with rolling pin. Starting two inches from the top, slice each rectangle into three equal-size strips. Loosely braid the strips on each rectangle. Pinch the braided ends and form a circle with each piece of dough by connecting it with the other end. This will yield three rings. (If you want a nonbraided ring, simply roll out the three equal-size dough balls into loaves in the shape of French bread, and make a ring.) Make slashes on top of the ring with a sharp knife.
• Place dough rings on baking sheets dusted with cornmeal and let them rise until doubled.
• Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, until a hollow sound is heard when the bottom is tapped.

HELEN'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 9-inch or 10-inch springform cake pan. Set aside 3/4 cup of the crumb dough to sprinkle over the top. Press crumb mixture on bottom and up sides of form (as much as will stick).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix butter, egg yolks, sugar together. Add cheese, vanilla, grated rind and lemon juice, flour and baking powder. Beat 4 egg whites until peaked. Fold into cheese mixture and pour on top of dough. Add chopped walnuts to reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle mixture over the top.
• Bake for 1 hour or until set. Turn off heat, open oven door and let stand for 1 hour or until cooled. Remove rim of spring form pan and set cake with its cake bottom on serving plate.

MARINATED OLIVE & CHEESE RING

Steps:

• Cut cream cheese lengthwise in half; cut each half into 1/4-in. slices. On a serving plate, arrange cheeses upright in a ring, alternating cheddar and cream cheese slices. Place olives in center., In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, oil, parsley, basil and garlic until blended; drizzle over cheeses and olives. Sprinkle with pimientos. Refrigerate, covered, at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve with baguette slices.