New York Cheesecake With Rose Petal Syrup Food

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Prepare your springform pan by spraying with cooking spray, placing a parchment round on the bottom then spraying the top of the parchment with cooking spray.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter together. This should resemble damp sand.
• Pour your crumb mixture into the prepared springform pan and press evenly into the pan. You can use the bottom of a flat glass or a flat measuring cup to really press it in well and get a nice, even crust.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Allow to cool completely.
• Add your softened cream cheese to the mixing bowl of your stand mixer and beat with a paddle at medium/high speed for about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for a few seconds more.
• Add sugar and sour cream and mix at medium/low speed until just combined. Scrape the bowl again and mix 10 seconds.
• Add eggs and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds-1 minute. Scrape the bowl again.
• Add vanilla and lemon zest. Beat until just combined. At this point your batter should be smooth and fairly runny.
• Using 18 inch heavy duty aluminum foil, wrap the outside of your springform pan with 4 sheets of foil. You can use regular foil, but it may take a couple more sheets to ensure the water does not get into your pan.
• Place your wrapped pan in a deep roasting pan. You can alternatively use a baking sheet, so long as the sides are about 2 inches deep.
• Add your cheesecake batter to the springform pan.
• Using very hot water, add water to the baking sheet/ until thee is about 1 ½ inch of water around the springform pan. On a rack in the lower 3rd of the oven, carefully move your pan into the oven.
• Bake for 1-1 ½ hours. After about an hour of baking, check the cheesecake's consistency. A slight jiggle of the pan (while still in the oven) should tell you if it's ready or needs more time. The cheesecake should be jiggly, but not liquid. If it seems very liquidy still, give it 15 more minutes and check it again.
• Once the cheesecake is firm, yet jiggly, turn the oven off but leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour or so, until the oven has cooled down. Resist the temptation to open the oven during this time! The purpose of this step is to allow the cheesecake to cool slowly as the oven cools. Doing this will prevent it from cracking, as one of the biggest reasons cheesecakes crack is the drastic temperature change going from the hot oven into the much cooler kitchen.
• Once the oven and the cheesecake are cooled, remove from the oven and carefully remove the foil lining the pan.
• Chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours.
• Before serving, run a knife around the edge of the pan to ensure an easy release when the springform is removed.
• Top with desired toppings and enjoy!

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.

ROSE CHEESECAKE TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Pulse the shortbread cookies and salt together in a food processor until fine crumbs form (you should have about 2 cups). Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand. Transfer to a 9-inch tart pan and, using a measuring cup, press the crumbs firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake until the edges are lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.
• For the filling: Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons warm water in a small microwave-safe bowl and stir to combine, then set aside to soften, about 5 minutes. Microwave on high, stirring every 10 seconds, until completely melted.
• Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla, orange zest and salt in a food processor and process until the sugar has dissolved and no lumps remain. Add the melted gelatin and process until the gelatin is incorporated and the mixture is completely smooth.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate, uncovered, until the cheesecake is just set but still soft, about 30 minutes.
• For the rose: Peel the mangoes using a vegetable peeler. With a very sharp knife, carefully cut each mango in half, tracing your knife around the pit. Slice the halves lengthwise as thinly as possible, about 1/8 inch thick. Halve the plums and remove the pits. Slice the halves as thinly as possible, about 1/8 inch thick.
• Fan out small stacks of about 6 to 7 mango slices into 8-inch-long strips. Arrange around the outer edge of the tart, leaning the slices upright against the crust. Overlap the strips slightly, making two rings of mango. Fan out a stack of about 6 to 7 slices of plum into 6-inch-long strips. Arrange the plum slices inside the innermost ring of mango, repeating with additional slices to create a ring of plums. Repeat with the remaining mango and plum slices creating alternating rings until you reach the center. Shingle 4 slices of mango to form a 4-inch-long strip; tightly roll it up and place it in the center of the cheesecake to create a rose bud.
• Refrigerate uncovered for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. Drizzle with honey before serving.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter together in a mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into the springform pan and using a mixing cup press the crumbs into the base. Using your fingers gently press crumbs into the sides of the pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Let cool.
• Filling:
• In a food processor, cream the cream cheese and the sugar together. Add the zest and vanilla, Blend until smooth. Add 5 egg yolks and heavy cream, pulse until smooth. Pour into a large clean bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until a soft froth forms. Add 2 tablespoons sugar slowly to the egg whites and continue to whisk until soft peaks form. Fold into cream cheese, a little bit at a time until fully integrated. Pour into the prepared springform pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until firm. Let cool for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Topping:
• Mix the creme fraiche and sugar together and gently spread over the top of the cooled cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Let cool until the topping is set or chill overnight and serve. Best served at room temperature.
• Serve with Cherry Confit.
• In a medium non-corrosive saucepan place water, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and thyme. Bring to the boil, turn down heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Add cherries and simmer for 1 hour. If more liquid is needed add water. Continue to simmer until the cherry mixture is thick and the cherries are soft. Pour into a clean container and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Yield: 6 servings
• Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

QUAIL IN ROSE PETAL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: Make an X over the flat ends of the chestnuts with a small sharp knife. Toast in oven at 350 degrees F 10 to 12 minutes. Bring 1 quart water to a boil and drop in the chestnuts. Boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes and drain. Set aside to cool. When the chestnuts are cool enough to handle, peel the shells and remove the skins. Place them in the blender.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the garlic and anise seed until lightly browned. Add the rose petals, and the cactus or plums and saute 1 to 2 minutes. Add to the blender with honey, salt and pepper and puree while slowly adding 1 cup stock or water.
• Strain the puree into a skillet and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring. Add red food coloring if desired and set aside, covered.
• For the quail: Season quail with salt and pepper and stuff each with an onion slice and garlic clove. Tie legs together with string. Saute the quail in butter to brown, then pan roast for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees F.
• Reheat the sauce if necessary. Add the quail to the sauce and stir, covering the birds completely, for 3 minutes. Serve 2 quail per person with plain white rice to absorb all the lovely, perfumed sauce.

RASPBERRY VINEGAR SYRUP

Steps:

• In a stainless steel saucepan combine the raspberries with vinegar to barely cover them and the sugar. Bring this to a boil, slowly, skim off frothy scum and let cool to room temperature. Strain, pressing down on the fruit. Refrigerate the liquid. Use as an intense syrup with club soda, gingerale; vodka as well and other fruit.

ROSE-PETAL SYRUP

Steps:

• Gently swirl rose petals with your hands in a bowl of cold water to clean. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Bring 5 cups water, the petals, and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; let steep, covered, 1 hour. Pour syrup through a fine sieve set over a bowl; let cool. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use, up to 1 week.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven shelf in the middle of the oven. Heat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/ gas 4.
• Line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin by putting a square piece of parchment paper or foil on top of the tin base and then clipping the side on so the paper or foil is trapped and any excess sticks out of the bottom.
• For the crust, melt 85g butter in a medium pan. Stir in 140g digestive biscuit crumbs and 1 tbsp golden caster or granulated sugar so the mixture is evenly moistened.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while preparing the filling.
• For the filling, increase the oven temperature to fan 220C/ 200C fan/ gas 7. In a table top mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 900g full-fat soft cheese at medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
• With the mixer on low, gradually add 250g golden caster sugar, then 3 tbsp plain flour and a pinch of salt, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle twice.
• Swap the paddle attachment for the whisk. Continue by adding 1½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 tsp lemon zest and 1½ tsp lemon juice. Whisk in 3 large eggs and 1 yolk, one at a time, scraping the bowl and whisk at least twice.
• Stir a 284ml carton of soured cream until smooth, then measure 200ml (just over ¾ of the carton). Continue on low speed as you add the measured soured cream (reserve the rest). Whisk to blend, but don't over-beat. The batter should be smooth, light and somewhat airy.
• Brush the sides of the springform tin with melted butter and put on a baking sheet. Pour in the filling - if there are any lumps, sink them using a knife - the top should be as smooth as possible. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 110C/ 90C fan/ gas ¼ and bake for 45 minutes more. If you gently shake the tin, the filling should have a slight wobble.
• Turn off the oven and open the oven door for a cheesecake that's creamy in the centre, or leave it closed if you prefer a drier texture. Let cool in the oven for 2 hours. The cheesecake may get a slight crack on top as it cools.
• Combine the reserved soured cream with a 142ml carton soured cream, 1 tbsp golden caster sugar and 2 tsp lemon juice for the topping. Spread over the cheesecake right to the edges. Cover loosely with foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Run a round-bladed knife around the sides of the tin to loosen any stuck edges. Unlock the side, slide the cheesecake off the bottom of the tin onto a plate, then slide the parchment paper out from underneath.