Red Pepper Cheesecake Food

RED PEPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Wrap the outside of a 9" springform cheesecake pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil.
• Place the ricotta, cream cheese, and goat cheese in a food processor. Pulse to mix.
• Add the sugar, egg, and salt and pulse a few times until well mixed. Stir in the red pepper strips.
• Pour the cheese mixture into prepared cheesecake pan.
• Place the cheesecake in a roasting pan. Pour enough hot water in the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.
• Bake until the cheesecake is golden at the edges and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 45 minutes(the cheesecake will become firm when it is cold.).
• Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
• To make the pita chips, cut the pitas in 8 triangles each(like a pie). Drizzle the pita with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. (This can be done with olive oil nonstick spray, as well).
• Bake until crisp and golden, about 12-15 minutes.
• To serve, combine the jam and the water in a small bowl and stir until the jam is liquefied.
• Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan.
• Place on a serving plate and drizzle the jam mixture over the top of cheesecake.
• Serve with the pita chips alongside.

HOLIDAY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crostini, cut the baguettes into 1/4-inch thick slices. Using a pastry brush, brush the baguette slices with olive oil. Place on 2 foil-lined baking sheets and bake until crisp and golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Reserve 25 of the crostini slices for the cheesecake. Cool the remaining crostini, then store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• To make the cheesecake crust, put the 25 crostini slices in a food processor and run the machine until crostini are like bread crumbs, about 1 minute. Add the melted butter and pulse a few times to combine. Press the bread crumbs into the bottom of the cheesecake pan. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• To make the cheesecake, wrap the outside of the cheesecake pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Place the ricotta, cream cheese, and goat cheese in a food processor. Pulse to mix. Add the eggs, sugar, and salt and pulse a few times until well mixed. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the red pepper, basil, and thyme.
• Pour the cheese mixture into the cheesecake pan. Place the cheesecake pan in a roasting pan. Pour enough hot water in the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake until the cheesecake is golden at the edges and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour (the cake will become firm when it is cold.)
• Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
• To serve, combine the jam and the hot water in a small bowl and stir until the jam is liquefied. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan by running a knife around the inside of the rim and unlatching the pan's ring. Then, run a long metal spatula under the cheesecake and gently slide onto a serving plate. Drizzle the jam mixture over the top of the cheesecake, encouraging some of the jam to run down the sides. Serve with the reserved crostini alongside.

ROASTED RED PEPPER CHEESECAKE WITH ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Line 9-inch-square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Combine cracker crumbs, butter and onions; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 min.
• Beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in cheddar and peppers; pour over crust.
• Bake 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan; spread with marmalade.

BLACK-PEPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Butter an 8-by-2-inch round cake pan, line the bottom with a round of parchment paper, and butter the parchment paper; set aside.
• Blanch peppercorns in a small saucepan of boiling water for 1 minute; drain. Repeat two more times. Pat peppercorns dry with paper towels
• Spread peppercorns evenly in a small baking pan. Transfer to oven until thoroughly dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, grind peppercorns to medium-fine; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until very smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean, and add to the cream cheese mixture with reserved pepper. Reserve the pod for another use. Beat in creme fraiche and lemon juice. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in cream.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan. Place the pan in a large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come 1 inch up the sides of the roasting pan. Bake until edges are set and center shivers slightly when shaken, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove the cake pan from the roasting pan, and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• When cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• To unmold cheesecake, run a thin knife or spatula around the edges to loosen. Then carefully place the pan over a hot burner, shaking gently from side to side, for about 20 seconds. Invert the cake onto a serving plate, peel off parchment paper, and serve with pineapple, if desired.

HERB & ROASTED PEPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., Place cream cheese, ricotta cheese, salt and pepper in a food processor; cover and process until smooth. Add eggs; pulse just until combined. Add red peppers, herbs, bacon and garlic; cover and pulse just until blended. Pour filling into prepared pan. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to larger pan., Bake 35-45 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes; loosen edges from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Remove rim from pan. Just before serving, drizzle cheesecake with oil; top with red pepper strips and chives if desired. Serve with pita chips.

RED PEPPER JELLY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, eggs and garlic with a mixer or in a food processor. Blend in half the jelly.
• Oil a 9 inch springform pan and pour in the mixture. Place on top rack of a preheated 350 oven. Place another pan filled with water on the bottom rack of the oven beneath the springform pan to keep the cheesecake from drying. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake is brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
• Remove ring from springform pan. Spread remaining pepper jelly over the top. Serve with Crackers.