No. 1 : Quick Recipe
Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecakes
- 3 Cups Berries
- 1 TB Orange Zest
- 1 TB Orange Liquor
- 12 oz Neufchatel or Light Cream Cheese, softened
- ½ Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 3 TB Nonfat Greek Plain Yogurt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 Large Egg Whites
- ¼ tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 3 TB Fine Raw Sugar
Step One
Preheat oven to 325F. Place fruit in a bowl and gently stir in liquor and orange zest. Set aside.
Step Two
Beat cream cheese for 1 minute on medium-high speed or until fluffy, Add pumpkin, yogurt, sugar, salt and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Add eggs and whites, one by one, scraping bowl as needed.
Step Three
Spoon mixture into 6 – 8 small ramekins until ¾ full. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until middle is set. Remove from oven and cool at room temperature. Cakes may crack or fall in middle leaving a perfect spot for fruit. Simply spoon on top and serve.
No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop
Whether it’s made with ricotta, quark, heavy cream, milk, sour cream or yogurt, cheesecake has been around a very long time! Did you know that cheesecake was a popular dish in ancient Greece? In the United States, cheesecake got a big boost in the early 20th century when Kraft perfected “Philadelphia” brand cream cheese. The French origins of our soft creamy spread is Neufchatel, which has a more crumbly, grainer texture than North American cream cheese.
No. 3 : Clever Idea
In the middle of winter, when beautifully ripe fresh fruit isn’t available, try this method to roast fruit to bring out all the flavor. Place fruit on a sheet tray sprayed with oil. Roast at 400F for about 15 minutes or until the fruit is soft and juicy. Let cool before topping the cheesecakes. Fruit cooked like this is delicious topping your morning yogurt, too!
No. 4 : Wine FIND of the Week
Dominican Oaks Muscat
Napa Valley California
About $15
Are you a fan of Muscat? If not, its time to give it another try. Perfect as a dessert wine, this one is off-dry with a lush floral aroma of peaches, and a dry crisp tropical fruit-flavored finish. Its a super pair with the lightly sweet and rich pumpkin cheesecakes.