Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap-Walnut Crust

Doesn't Fall remind you of baking. Having the house smell of maple, clove or cinnamon, is so delightful. 

Here's a goody from Eating Well.

 

 

 

Ingredients

• 4 ounces gingersnap cookies (18-20 1 3/4-inch cookies)
• 1 cup walnut halves, divided
• 4 teaspoons walnut oil or canola oil
• 12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 16-ounce container nonfat cottage cheese
• 1 15-ounce can unseasoned pumpkin puree

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Tightly wrap the outside of the pan bottom and sides with heavy-duty foil to help keep the water bath from leaking into the cake. Put a kettle of water on to boil for the water bath.
2. Grind cookies and 1/3 cup walnuts to a fine meal in a food processor. Drizzle in oil and process, scraping the sides as needed, until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Place the pan in a roasting pan and set aside. Clean the food processor.
3. Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until the spice is incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until completely smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides occasionally. Beat in vanilla.
4. Process cottage cheese in the food processor until completely smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides once. Gradually beat the cottage cheese and pumpkin puree into the cream cheese mixture on medium speed. Scrape down the sides and beat a final time to make sure no streaks remain. Pour the batter into the crust.
5. Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to come 1 inch up the side of the spring-form pan to create a hot water bath for the cake. Carefully transfer the roasting pan to the oven. Bake the cheesecake in the center of the oven until it’s set around the edges but the center still jiggles slightly, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.
6. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Let the cake cool in the water bath until the water is room temperature. Coarsely chop the remaining 2/3 cup walnuts. Toast them in a dry skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the water bath. Remove the foil. Place the nuts decoratively around the edge of the cheesecake. (Alternatively, turn the nuts into Candied Walnuts and decorate just before serving; see Variation.) Refrigerate, uncovered, until very cold, at least 4 hours. Wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight if desired.
7. To serve, remove the sides of the pan. Transfer the cheesecake to a cake stand, if desired.

Tips & Notes

Maple-Brined Turkey Breast with Mushroom Pan Gravy

Ingredients


3 quarts water
1 1/2 cups maple syrup
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
6 garlic cloves, crushed
3 bay leaves
2 (2-pound) boneless turkey breast halves
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 cups finely chopped cremini mushrooms
4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chilled butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

1. Combine first 8 ingredients in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Cool completely. Add turkey to brine; cover and chill 4 hours.

2. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Rinse turkey; pat dry. Loosen skin from breast by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Rub 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper under loosened skin. Place on a roasting pan coated with cooking spray.

3. Preheat oven to 400°.

4. Bake turkey at 400° for 45 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160°. Remove from oven; cover loosely with foil. Let stand 15 minutes. Remove skin, and discard.

5. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Add mushrooms; sauté 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broth; bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to 2 cups (about 20 minutes). Combine flour and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Stir flour mixture into mushroom mixture; simmer 3 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently with a whisk. Remove from heat; stir in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir in parsley and remaining 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper. Serve gravy with sliced turkey breast.

Cooking Light

NOVEMBER 2009