Monday, October 6, 2008

Saturday Night; Dinner with Friends

Saturday night we had dinner at Rubee and E's house. Rubee made a delicious meal comprised of several recipes from Chef Mario Batali.
The appetizer was Prosciutto San Daniele with Black Pepper Fett'unta and Winesap Apple Marmellata (adapted from Babbo cookbook pg. 93)
The pasta course was Maccheroni alla Chitarra with Hot Pepper, Roasted Tomatoes, and Bottarga (also from Babbo, p. 147)
The main dish was grilled steak and Stuffed, Marinated Portabella mushrooms (adapted from 1998 Gourmet magazine)
I brought dessert; Obsessive Ricotta Cheesecake (adapted from Gina DePalma's Dolce Italiano)
Obsessive Ricotta Cheesecake For the crust:
3/4 cup sliced blanched almonds, toasted and cooled
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
1 large egg yolk
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups(30 ounces) fresh whole-milk ricotta
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon amaretto
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons finely chopped candied orange rind(optional)
2 tablespoons finely chopped candied lemon rind or candied citron(optional)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and position a rack in the middle. Lightly grease a 9" springform pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray, dust it with flour, and tap to knock out the excess.
To make the crust:
Place the almonds, flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and process until the nuts are finely chopped. In a small bowl, lightly whisk together the egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Add the liquids to the nut mixture and pulse several times to moisten and combine the ingredients thoroughly. The mixture should come together easily between your fingers when pinched.
To form the crust, press the mixture onto the bottom and about an inch up the sides of the springform pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes to firm up the crust, then bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is light golden brown. Remove the pan for the oven and allow the crust to cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling:
In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese with the sugar and salt on medium speed until soft and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the ricotta and beat until the mixture is smooth and light, another 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Beat in the vanilla extract, amaretto, and cornstarch. Fold in the candied fruits, if desired, with the spatula.
Pour the filling into the cooled crust, smoothing the top with the spatula. Bake the cheesecake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the center is set; it should be jiggly but not liquid. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Chill the cooled cheesecake for at least 4 hours before serving; it is best served fully chilled on the following day. To serve, remove the sides of the springform pan and cut the cheesecake into wedges with a long, thin-bladed knife. Any leftover cake should be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

5 comments:

  1. Everything looks fantastic, especially that lovely cheesecake!

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  2. beautiful... I wanna come to dinner at your place! :D

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  3. You should have called me, I would have been right over!! What a meal! and that cheesecake is to die for!

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  4. You and I are on the same wave length.......we ate at Babbo the other night, I am reading Mario's cookbook that has been on my shelf forever, and I bought ricotta for my very FAVORITE cheesecake (though I don't use cream cheese).

    Great minds think alike!
    Stacey

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