Judy Walerts Cheesecake Food

THE ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the Crust:
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
• For the Filling:
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not over-beaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.
• Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water. Wipe dry after each cut.
• In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.

THE BEST NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar and salt in a medium bowl until evenly moistened.
• Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Cool completely on a rack. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and place in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add the cream, beating until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and juice, vanilla and salt and beat just until combined, taking care not to over whip. Pour into the crust.
• Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Carefully place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour enough hot water in the roasting pan to come about halfway up the side of the foil-wrapped springform pan.
• Bake until the top of the cheesecake is lightly browned around the edges, but the center still jiggles slightly, about 2 hours.
• Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Bring the cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water and wipe dry before slicing each piece.

JULY 4TH RED, WHITE AND BLUE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To Make the Crust:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch springform pan or cake pan with parchment.
• In a food processor combine the graham crackers, butter, sugar and salt, until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or just until it starts to turn golden brown. Cool the crust completely, then freeze the crust.
• To Make the Cheesecake Batter:
• Cream together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and cornstarch, until very smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Divide the batter equally into 3 bowls. Add the raspberry preserves and a drop of red dye to one. Add the scraped vanilla bean to the next. Add the blueberry preserves and blue dye to the last bowl.
• Pour the red layer over the frozen crust and return to the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the batter is slightly firm to the touch. While this layer is chilling, place the other bowls of batter in the freezer to allow them to set as well.
• Once the red layer feels thick, but not frozen solid, very carefully pour the white batter over the red. Do this very slowly, in small amounts, so that it doesn't break the surface of the red layer. Freeze the pan again for about 20 minutes. Check to make sure the blue batter isn't setting too firmly in the freezer; if it is, move it to the refrigerator.
• Turn the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Add the blue layer in the same careful way. Place the pan on a baking sheet. Place in the oven, then pour hot water in the baking sheet, which will help the cake bake evenly. (If you are using the springform pan, you will need to cover the bottom of the springform pan with foil, to prevent any water from seeping in). Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or when it is set in the middle.
• When the cake is set in the middle, remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for several hours.
• Run a hot knife blade around the edge before removing the cake from the pan. If you are using a regular cake pan, you will need to heat the bottom quickly over the stove, then cover the top with plastic, invert onto a plate and finally transfer to the serving platter. Refrigerate the cake while you make the topping.
• In a small bowl add the gelatin to the cold water, stir to combine and allow to bloom for several minutes. Once the water has absorbed all the gelatin, add it to the hot simple syrup. If you made the simple syrup ahead, heat it. Add the blueberry preserves and transfer to a clean bowl to cool.
• Once the glaze has come to room temperature, it will thicken, but still be pourable.
• Place the blueberries on top of the cake.
• Pour the thickened glaze over the berries. It will run down the sides, which I think is quite pretty. Refrigerate until the glaze has set a bit. If you prefer clean sides, use a hot metal spatula to scrape the excess off the sides (this is very easy to do).
• Use a hot blade to cut the cake to keep the stripes distinct, and enjoy!

JUDY WALERT'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine first three ingredients.
• Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
• Add egg yolks and vanilla.
• Blend thoroughly.
• Pack 1/3 of dough on bottom of 9" spring-form pan with sides removed.
• Bake in 400 degree oven about 8 minutes or until golden.
• Cool.
• Attach sides and bottom.
• Butter and pat remaining dough to sides 1 1/4" high.
• Filling:.
• Let cream cheese stand at room temperature to soften.
• Beat until creamy, add vanilla and lemon peel.
• Mix last 3 ingredients separately and gradually blend into cheese.
• Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating after each just to blend.
• Gently stir in whipping cream.
• Turn into greased, lined pan.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes.
• Reduce to 300 degrees and continue baking for 55 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool.
• Loosen sides with spatula after 30 minutes and remove sides of pan at the end of 1 hours.
• Allow to cool 2 hours longer before glazing with fruit (optional).