Strawberry Balsamic Cheesecake Food

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Tightly wrap outside of a 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil.
• Mix biscotti crumbs and butter in bowl.
• Press mixture evenly onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan.
• Chill 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, mascarpone and 1 1/4 cups sugar in large bowl until smooth.
• Add eggs 1 at a time; beat just until blended.
• Spread cheese mixture evenly over crust in pan.
• Place springform pan in large roasting pan.
• Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan.
• Bake until cheesecake is golden and center of cake moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Transfer cake to rack; cool 1 hour.
• Chill overnight.
• (Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving.) Mix strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and vinegar in large bowl.
• Let stand at room temperature until juices form, about 30 minutes.
• Cut cake into wedges.
• Spoon strawberries alongside and serve.

MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE WITH BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Tightly wrap outside of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Mix biscotti crumbs and butter in bowl. Press mixture evenly onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan. Chill 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, mascarpone and 1 1/4 cups sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time; beat just until blended. Spread cheese mixture evenly over crust in pan. Place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake until cheesecake is golden and center of cake moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Transfer cake to rack; cool 1 hour. Chill overnight. (Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving.)
• Mix strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and vinegar in large bowl. Let stand at room temperature until juices form, about 30 minutes.
• Cut cake into wedges. Spoon strawberries alongside and serve.

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Add vinegar to 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl; stir until sugar is almost dissolved. Add strawberries; stir until evenly coated. Let stand 1 hour; drain, reserving vinegar mixture.
• Meanwhile, combine wafer crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.
• Arrange half the strawberries over prepared crust. Pour cream cheese mixture over strawberries.
• Bake 45 to 50 min. or until center is almost set, covering loosely with foil for last 15 min. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Bring reserved vinegar mixture to boil in small saucepan; simmer on medium heat 5 min. or until mixture is reduced to syrup-like consistency, measuring about 1/2 cup. Cool completely.
• Spoon vinegar mixture over cheesecake. Top with remaining strawberries.

STRAWBERRY-STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Grind cookies in processor to coarse crumbs. Add butter and blend until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake crust until just golden, about 8 minutes. Set aside while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Puree thawed strawberries and juices in processor until smooth. Measure 3/4 cup puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use); do not wash bowl. Add cream cheese and sugar to processor. Blend until smooth. Using on/off turns, blend in flour. Add eggs; process until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Add 3/4 cup strawberry puree, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and almond extract; process until well blended. Transfer filling to prepared crust.
• Bake cake until center is softly set and edges begin to color, puff and crack, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Place hot cheesecake on rack. Refrigerate uncovered on rack until cold, at least 4 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• For topping:
• Using small knife, cut around pan sides to loosen cake; remove pan sides. Stir jelly in heavy saucepan over low heat until melted. Arrange berry halves atop cheesecake in concentric circles; brush with warm jelly to glaze. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.

CHEESECAKE SUNDAE WITH STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Beat first 3 ingredients in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Whisk in COOL WHIP. Scoop cream cheese mixture into 12 balls, using about 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture for each ball; place in single layer in foil-lined pan. Freeze 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in medium skillet on medium heat. Add strawberries; cook 3 min. or until slightly softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 Tbsp. brown sugar; cook 1 min. Remove from skillet.
• Mix vinegar and remaining brown sugar in same skillet until blended; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on medium-low heat 8 min. or until mixture is reduced by half, stirring frequently. Stir into berry mixture. Cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Reserve 1 Tbsp. graham crumbs; roll cheesecake balls in remaining crumbs until evenly coated. Sprinkle reserved crumbs onto large plate just before serving; top with cheesecake balls and berry mixture.