Paula Deen Lemon Cheesecake Food

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove 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 or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

PAULA'S NY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 °F.
• Crust:
• In a medium size bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with 1/4 cup sugar and 7 tablespoons melted butter. Mix well and place in the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform cake pan. Make sure to press against the sides and bottom of the pan. Place into oven and bake for 8 minutes. Let cool.
• Filling:
• Prepare the filling by beating cream cheese. Mix in 1 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla while beating until well blended. Add in eggs and vanilla and combine. Pour mixture into prepared crust. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to serve, top with chocolate glaze, cherries, whipped cream and or powdered sugar.
• Chocolate Glaze:
• In a medium saucepan melt 1/4 cup butter over medium-low heat. Add chocolate to the butter. Whisk in 3/4 cup sugar, whipping cream, cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and salt. Whisk until combined. Cook over medium-low heat for 2 minutes while whisking constantly.

LEMON BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Grease the bottom of a 9 by 9-inch baking pan with butter. Then place parchment paper over the top, pressing down at the corners. In a food processor, process the sugar, cinnamon and graham crackers until you have the texture of bread crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse a couple of times to fully incorporate. Pour into the lined baking pan and gently pat down with the base of a glass. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes until golden. When done set aside to cool.
• Add cream cheese, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar to the food processor and mix until well combined. It should have a smooth consistency. Pour onto the cooled base and then cover with blueberries. They will sink slightly but should still be half exposed -- as the cake bakes they will sink a little more and break down.
• Bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until the center only slightly jiggles. Remove from the oven and cool completely before refrigerating for at least 3 hours. Once set, remove from pan using the parchment lining and slice into 10 rectangular bars. Dust with powdered sugar.

LEMON MERINGUE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter together in a bowl until evenly combined; press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon zest into cream cheese mixture, scraping bottom and sides of the bowl. Spread mixture over cookie crust in the springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until almost set in the center, about 1 hour. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 3 to 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat egg whites in a bowl using an electric mixer until soft peaks form; add 1/4 cup sugar and cream of tartar and beat until stiff, but not dry, peaks form.
• Spread lemon curd over cheesecake. Mound whipped egg whites over the curd, sealing around all the edges.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meringue is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Chill uncovered in refrigerator, about 1 hour.

JOANNE'S ALMOST FAT-FREE LEMON CHEESECAKE (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Lightly spray a 9" springform pan with cooking spray.
• Mix crumbs and melted butter in a bowl.
• Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up side of pan.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and crust is set.
• Cool on rack.
• Make filling: In large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high, beat cream cheese and sour cream for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in Splenda.
• Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, just until incorporated.
• Beat in zest and juice.
• Pour into crust.
• Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until center is almost set, but still slightly jiggly. (Do not overbake, as it will firm as it cools).
• Let cool completely.
• Make lemon curd: In the top of a double boiler, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, egg, egg yolk, and Splenda over gently simmering water.
• Whisk until hot and frothy, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in butter and continue whisking for 7 minutes or until thickened and coats back of spoon.
• Remove from heat and cool for 30 minutes.
• Run a thin blade around the edge of the springform pan and remove sides.
• Transfer to a serving plate.
• Spread lemon curd over top.
• Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Garnish with raspberries, if desired.
• Cool cheesecake in refrigerator several hours or overnight before serving.
• Note: When I put just Splenda in the ingredients, it would not take it. I would not recommend using anything but sugar or Splenda in this - no other substitutes.

PAULA'S LEMON CAKE (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
• To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
• To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.