Pistachio Brittle Cheesecake Food

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour and almonds; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/4 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and pudding mixes until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350°. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , Slice cheesecake; drizzle slices with chocolate syrup. Garnish with whipped cream and pistachios if desired.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray a quarter-sheet tray with cooking spray.
• Combine the baking soda and vanilla paste in a small bowl and reserve.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, syrup, butter and 1 tablespoon water with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to 280 degrees F slowly over medium heat. Add the pistachios and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F, or hard-crack. Remove from the heat and carefully add the baking soda and vanilla paste mixture, continuing to stir.
• Carefully turn out onto the greased sheet tray and spread thinly and evenly with a spoon. Sprinkle sea salt flakes over the top. Let cool at room temperature until hardened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Break into pieces. Eat as-is or with vanilla ice cream. Store any remaining in an airtight container.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. Stir sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil until deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 12 minutes.
• Stir nuts into caramel and immediately pour onto prepared sheet. Working quickly and carefully (caramel is very hot and hardens fast), press tip of small knife into edges of caramel and gently stretch in all directions to form very thin sheet, approximately 12 by 10 inches. Cool brittle completely.
• Break brittle into irregular pieces. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For bottom layer: Preheat oven to 350°F Mix flour, butter and sugar until crumbly.
• Spread evenly over bottom of ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Press firmly. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely.
• Cheesecake layer: In medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and icing sugar.
• In small bowl, combine milk and instant pudding. Beat pudding mixture into cream cheese mixture, until well mixed.
• Spoon over base. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
• Cut into small squares and top with whipped cream.