Lemon Cheesecake South Beach Food

SIMPLY PERFECT LEMON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325F (not fan-assisted/not convection)
• Make the Crust: Add graham cracker crumbs to a medium bowl and stir in the brown sugar. Pour the melted butter overtop, then stir until all the crumbs are moistened and have a wet sand texture. Add a pinch of salt if you used unsalted butter.
• *If using an 8-inch springform pan, remove 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture, as you won't need it all for the base. You can reserve to sprinkle on top of the finished cake, if you like (sprinkle around the outside edge in a ring).
• Press the moist crumb mixture into the bottom of your springform pan. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to make sure the crust is really pressed down, to make it easiest to cut later on.
• Bake the crust until it is lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Leave oven on and set at 325F.
• Make the Filling: Combine the room temperature cream cheese, sour cream and granulated sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is extremely smooth and well blended, a minute or two. Remove the lid of the food processor and scrape down the sides and bottom of the food processor and try to reach under the blades if you can, to fine and incorporate any stubborn chunks of cream cheese. Process again briefly after scraping. (Getting a perfectly smooth batter at this point is important to prevent cracks in your finished cake, so take the time here to make sure it's well blended and smooth).
• Add the eggs, lemon juice and zest and a pinch of salt and keep processing until it's super smooth and creamy, another 30 seconds or so.
• Pour the filling into the baked crust *You may have some leftover filling if you are using a regular cake pan.
• Bake in preheated 325F oven until mostly set, with a little jiggle in the centre 3-4 inches, with the outsides looking set and puffy, about 20 to 30 minutes. The filling should not brown at all. Don't over-cook, as this can cause your cheesecake to crack.
• Turn the oven off and open the door a crack (inserting a wooden spoon in the crack will help it say open). Let the cheesecake sit in the oven for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack on the counter to cool completely.
• Once cooled completely, over the top of the springform pan with plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Place the cheesecake in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
• To serve, remove from springform pan. Topping option: citrus slices, a scattering of blueberries or blackberries, a mint leaf and a dusting of icing sugar, if you like.

THE SOUTH BEACH DIET CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Beat ingredients for'cake' until smooth.
• Pour into a 9" greased square pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven for 15 minutes-- leave oven on.
• Meanwhile-- mix topping ingredients together and mix well.
• After the 15 minutes has elapsed, pour topping over the cheesecake and spread evenly, and bake for 10 minutes more.
• Chill.

LEMON CHEESECAKE - SOUTH BEACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Coat a 10" springform pan with cooking spray and line the sides with a double layer of 6"-wide (high) waxed paper.
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, blend the ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar substitute, and sugar until smooth. Beat in the cornstarch, lemon juice, flour, eggs, and 2 teaspoons of the vanilla extract. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until the top of the cake is brown.
• Turn the oven off and allow the cake to remain in the oven for 1 hour longer.
• In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar substitute, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Spread over the cheesecake and return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the topping is set. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight before slicing.

LOVELY LEMON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 10-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan., In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan; refrigerate while preparing filling., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake 70-80 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., Remove rim from pan. If desired, top cheesecake with lemon slices.

LEMON DREAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto bottom and 2 in. up the inside of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cream, lemon juice, flour, lemon zest, extracts and, if desired, food coloring. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Return pan to baking sheet., Bake 55-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan.

BREAKFAST CHEESECAKE (SOUTH BEACH DIET, PHASE 1)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Blend the cottage cheese for about a minute until perfectly smooth and free of lumps.
• Add yogurt and blend another minute.
• Add remaining ingredients and blend just to mix.
• Correct seasoning.
• Spray a 9 inch square pan with cooking spray.
• Pour the batter into the pan.
• Bake about 40 minutes or til set (insert a needle or small sharp knife that comes out clean).
• Let remain in turned off oven, with the oven door closed, until oven cools completely.
• Remove from oven; let cool on a rack.
• Chill for at least 12 hours.

VANILLA RICOTTA "CHEESECAKE" (SOUTH BEACH DIET)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Mix well. (Use a blender or hand mixer if necessary to achieve whipped, smooth texture. Use care, if it is not blended well enough it will not cook to a smooth texture).
• Pour into 4 ramekins.
• Bake for 20 minutes.