Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake

The recipe and photo comes from Kraft Recipes

I'm a sucker for cheesecake and turtles are one of my favorite candies!

what you need

24 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 2 cups)

6 Tbsp.  butter or margarine, melted

1 pkg. (14 oz.) KRAFT Caramels

1/2 cup  milk

1 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans

3 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp.  vanilla

3 eggs

2 squares  BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

make it

HEAT oven to 325°F.

MIX crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and 2 inches up side of 9-inch springform pan.

MICROWAVE caramels and milk in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after each minute. Stir in nuts; pour half into crust. Refrigerate 10 min. Refrigerate remaining caramel mixture for later use.

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over caramel layer in crust.

BAKE 1 hour 5 min. to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.

MICROWAVE reserved caramel mixture 1 min.; stir. Pour over cheesecake. Melt chocolate as directed on package; drizzle over cheesecake.

kraft kitchens tips

SIZE-WISE

Enjoy a serving of this decadent treat on special occasions.

NOTE

Reduce oven temperature to 300°F if using a dark nonstick springform pan.

HOW TO CUT A CHEESECAKE

When cutting a cheesecake, use a knife with a thin blade, wiping the blade with a damp paper towel or rinsing with warm water after each cut for best results. Or, try using unwaxed dental floss. Just cut an 18-inch piece of floss, then wrap the ends around your index fingers. Cut the cheesecake in half by pulling the floss through the cheesecake, starting at top surface of cheesecake and keeping the floss pulled tight. Release one end of the floss and pull through bottom of cheesecake. Rewrap the floss and use to cut cheesecake into desired number of slices.

Homemade Ricotta / Herbed Ricotta Bruschettas

These recipes come from Ina Garten of the Barefoot Contessa. 

I loved the concept of making homemade ricotta . . . 

she made it  look so easy and I like being able to control the ingredients.  

The bread looked so delicious!  

No photos were provided on the Food Network website.

Ingredients

• 2 cups ricotta, store-bought or homemade (recipe follows)
• 3 tablespoons minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 round sourdough bread
• Good olive oil
• 1 whole garlic clove, cut in half
• Green Salad Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Directions

Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat.

Combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Cut the bread in half and cut each half into 6 thick slices to make 12 slices total.

When the grill is hot, brush the bread with olive oil and grill on each side for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the grill and rub each slice of bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread with the herbed ricotta. Serve 2 warm slices per person with the green salad on the side.

Homemade Ricotta:

• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons good white wine vinegar

Set a large sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 layers of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with the cheesecloth.

Pour the milk and cream into a stainless-steel or enameled pot such as Le Creuset. Stir in the salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 minute until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).

Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 to 25 minutes, occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. The longer you let the mixture drain, the thicker the ricotta. (I tend to like mine on the thicker side, but some prefer it moister.) Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining whey. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.

Hummus (Chickpea & Tahini Purée)

The Captain and I are embarking on a new lifestyle of healthier eating, although we will still indulge in those sinful foods that we love.  And I will still post those sinful recipes . . . but I'm looking for healthier alternatives and will share them as I discover them.

I have recently discovered hummus!  It is a healthier alternative for snacking since we love potato chips with sour cream dip.  We have found a selection of crackers at the grocery store that are low in fat and sodium and quite tasty.  Great with hummus!

19-oz. can chickpeas, or 1 cup dried chickpeas that have been soaked and cooked until very tender 
1/2 cup tahini (sesame-seed paste) 
1 clove garlic 
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 
Kosher salt to taste 
Olive oil for drizzling 
Cayenne for sprinkling 

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If using canned chickpeas, drain them, reserving the liquid, and rinse them. If using dried, cooked chickpeas, drain them and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.

Purée all the ingredients in a food processor until very smooth, adding the reserved liquid as needed. You should have a medium-thick paste (if it's still too thick, thin it more with water).

Season with salt. Transfer the hummus to a shallow bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with cayenne. Serve with pita bread or raw vegetables.

From Fine Cooking CWF SIP, pp. 59

January 1, 2004

Chicken Cutlets with Bell Pepper Ragout

Although this recipe calls for sliced chicken breasts, I love the convenience of chicken tenderloins that come frozen in a big bag.  After defrosting, what I usually do is pound them down.  Another variation I would make to this recipe is leave out the capers and I would add sliced mushrooms.

1 1/4 lb. ripe plum tomatoes (6 to 8), cored, halved lengthwise, and seeded 
1 medium red or orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces 
1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces 
1 small yellow onion, cut into medium dice 
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
1/4 tsp. piment d’Espelette or 1/2 tsp. cayenne 
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
1 medium clove garlic, mashed to a paste with 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, sliced into cutlets  
2 Tbs. nonpareil (small) capers, rinsed and patted dry

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Position a rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler on high.

Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with foil. Put the tomatoes cut side up on one side and the peppers and onion on the other side. Drizzle everything with 3 Tbs. of the olive oil and sprinkle with the piment d’Espelette, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Toss the peppers and onions. Broil until the tomatoes are collapsed, about 7 minutes. Flip the tomatoes, toss the peppers and onions, and broil until the tomato skins have large black spots and the peppers and onions are tender, about 5 minutes more.

Use tongs to pull the skins off the tomatoes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes to a cutting board. Put the peppers and onions in a large bowl; add the garlic paste. Chop the tomatoes and add to the bowl with the other vegetables. Mix well, season to taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm.

Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Put the flour in a shallow pan. Season the chicken with 1-1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper; dredge in the flour. Working in 2 batches, cook the chicken, flipping once, until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to serving plates. Wipe out the pan. Heat the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and fry the capers over medium-high heat until they pop open and become crisp, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle them over the chicken. Serve with the ragout.

From Fine Cooking 111, pp. 72


photo: Scott Phillips

May 5, 2011