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Lemon: Lemon Marble Cheesecake

Source of Recipe

Baker's Dozen show (food tv network)


List of Ingredients

***FOR THE LEMON CURD***
Grated zest of 1/2 lemon
1/3 cup strained lemon juice
5 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

***FOR THE CHEESE CAKE***
1 cup sugar
2 cups lowfat small curd cottage cheese -- drained at least 30 minutes (in fridge) in a strainer over empty bowl.
8 ounces Neufchatel Cream Cheese -- (buy brick version, not in the tub)
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons strained lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
34 tablespoons graham cracker or Zwieback crumbs or
-- crushed Chocolate Cookies or gingersnaps
8 inch round pan with a solid bottom -- (no spring form), at least 2" deep
Oven proof baking dish or skillet -- at least 11 inches in diameter and 2 inch deep


Recipe

Make the lemon curd: Combine the lemon zest, juice, and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile beat the egg until light in a small bowl. Beat some of the hot lemon mixture into the egg. Scrape the egg mixture back into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly and reaching all over the bottom and sides of the pan, until the mixture barely starts to simmer around the edges. Continue to cook and stir for about 15 seconds. Pour through a strainer set over a clean bowl. Stir in the vanilla. Cool to room temperature.

Make the cheesecake batter: Position rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Place a round of parchment paper in the bottom of the cake pan and spray sides of pan with vegetable oil spray. Put water kettle on to boil for baking procedure. Process the cottage cheese in a food processor for 2 1/2 3 minutes or until silky smooth, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl once or twice as necessary. Set aside.

In a small microwave safe bowl, soften the Neufchatel cheese in microwave on high for about 30 seconds. Or, warm gently in the top of a double boiler. Stir until smooth. Scrape into the processor. Add the eggs, remaining sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt. Pulse until incorporated and perfectly smooth. Do not over process.Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Distribute slightly rounded tablespoons of lemon curd evenly over the cheesecake batter. Using a table knife or teaspoon, use circular strokes to marble the batters until nicely but not to completely mingled.

Slide oven rack part way out. Place cheesecake pan in baking dish or skillet and set on oven rack. Carefully pour boiling water around the pan to a depth of about 1-inch. Slide oven rack in gently to avoid sloshing. Bake until cheesecake has puffed and risen slightly and is just beginning to shrink from the edges of the pan, about 40-45 minutes. Remove cheesecake from water bath and cool on a rack. When completely cool, cover and chill for at least 12 hours or up to 2 days before serving.

To unmold and serve: Cover the pan with tightly stretched plastic wrap. Place a flat dish on top of plastic. Invert pan and dish and rap the pan gently until cheesecake is released from pan. Remove pan and peel parchment liner from bottom of cake. Place cake circle or serving plate on the cake and carefully invert so that cake is right side up. Remove plastic wrap. Press crumbs around sides of cake. Cut with a sharp thin knife. Dip the knife in hot water and wipe it dry between cuts. Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Tips: Once the Neufchatel Cheese has been added, pulse only enough to incorporate. Over processing thins the batter. If you use nonfat cottage instead of low fat, the results will be not be nearly as good and you would save only about .4 grams of fat per serving. It's not worth it.
NOTES : Make one day before serving.









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