STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE WITH AN OREO COOKIE CRUST by CK
2 cups Oreo cookies with cream center removed, finely ground (2 sleeves)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 8-oz. packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
Position oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325º F. Put a tea kettle or large pot of water on the stove to boil for the water bath.
Mix together the crust ingredients and press into 9” springform pan. You can press the crust just into the bottom, or up the sides of the pan too – baker’s choice. Set crust aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and salt until smooth. If using a mixer, mix on low speed. Add the whole eggs and the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well (but still at low speed) after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and sour cream. Pour the batter into the springform pan on top of crust.
Place the springfrom pan in a larger roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with the boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cake pan. *If your cheesecake pan is not leakproof, cover bottom securely with foil before adding water.*
Bake until the cheesecake is firm and slightly golden on top, 70 to 80 minutes.
Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and cool to room temperature. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until very cold, at least 3 hours or overnight.
STRAWBERRY GLAZE
1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed
1 pint fresh small strawberries, washed and hulled
3 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
red food coloring, optional
Puree frozen strawberries in a small food processor or with an immersion blender. Press blended strawberries through a fine mesh strainer in to a small saucepan. Add water.
In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cornstarch. Stir into the puree in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened and clear. Add food coloring, if desired. Cool to room temperature.
Arrange strawberries in a single layer around the cooled cheesecake. Drizzle cooled glazed evenly over strawberries on cheesecake. Store, covered, in refrigerator.
BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST by gkt
12 slices day-old white bread, crusts removed
2 pkg. (8 oz) each) cream cheese
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
12 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 c. 2 % milk
1/3 c. maple syrup or honey
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 Tbsp. butter
Cut bread into 1″ cubes; place half in a greased 13×9 baking dish. Cut cream cheese
into 1″ cubes; place over bread. Top with blueberries and remaining bread cubes.
Whisk the eggs, milk and syrup in a large bowl. Pour over bread mixture. Cover and
refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before
baking. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 25-30 minutes longer
or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Combine the sugar, water and
cornstarch until smooth in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook
and stir for 3 minutes or until thickened. Stir in blueberries; bring to a boil. Reduce
heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until berries burst. Remove from heat; stir in
butter. Serve with French toast.
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