For many, the highlight of summer is throwing a grand celebration. And the event isn’t complete without bite-size appetizers. Normally, cheesecake is served at the end of the meal. Not this time. Chef Elle returns with a simple, yet elegant recipe that will impress even your mother-in-law.
3-Cheese Cheesecake Bites as prepared by Chef Elle
Crust
7 oz. puff pastry
1 1/2 T butter, softened
2 T finely grated Pecorino Romano
Filling
8 oz/ cream cheese, room temperature
3 oz. chevre, softened
1/2 c ricotta cheese
1/2 c heavy cream
1 T poppy seeds
sea salt
Slurry
1 T kudzu root powder
2 T cold water
Optional
peach chutney
onion jam
tomato confit
Tools
hand mixer, food processor, baking pan, rolling pin, measuring spoons, measuring cups, fine grater, 1″x1″ PVC pipes, piping bag, parchment paper strips
Old School Translations
T = tablespoon; t = teaspoon; c = cup
Procedure
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Place puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Coat rolling pin with flour and roll puff pastry until very thin and transfer to baking pan. Place in oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Place puff pastry, butter and Pecorino Romano in food processor and pulsate until crumbs are fine.
Place molds onto pan. Line inner mold with parchment strips (see video). Add a teaspoon of puff pastry crumbs into each mold. Using a small off-set spatula, firmly press mixture.
In a small bowl, add kudzu powder and cold water. Stir until dissolved. Add dissolved kudzu and heavy cream to pot. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until thickened. In a mixing bowl, place cream, goat and ricotta cheeses and poppy seeds and beat until smooth. With mixer on low speed, add hot cream and slowly increase speed to medium, scraping the sides and bottom to ensure there are no lumps. Season with sea salt to taste.
Place creamed cheese mixture into piping bag and fill each mold. Refrigerate for at leasst 8 hours.
Unmold cheesecakes and garnish with savory toppings and enjoy.
Fresh Followers can get tips and recipes mentioned on air by visiting www.chefellegreen.net.
Easy Solutions: Refer to Chef Elle’s Southern Panzanella Salad for instructions to prepare confit. Petite muffin cups can be used in place of PVC pipes. As always, the ingredients are organic and fresh. And for quality assurance an optimal results, Chef Elle suggests following the recipes as written and using products mentioned.
Live At 9 cooking segment sponsored by Double Door Marketing.
© 2013 Elle Green All Rights Reserved. Chef Elle appears courtesy of Simple Conceptions. Recipes developed and tested by Elle Green and reprinted with permission. Credits: Food Styling and Photography: Hillary Maloney; Home Cook Recipe Testers: Jolena Campbell, Deb Berg and Jackson Rudner.
