Mini Cheesecakes with Wine Gelees
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing
- 7 whole graham crackers
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- Pinch of salt
- One 10 1/2-ounce log of fresh goat cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons creme fraiche (5 ounces)
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cold water
- 3 tablespoons each of orange Muscat, rose, Pinot Noir and tawny port
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- Preheat the oven to 325.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut out four 3-inch rounds of shirt cardboard.
- Brush the insides of four 3-inch-round and 2 1/2-inch-deep ring molds with butter.
- In a food processor, grind the crackers with the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of the sugar.
- Set the molds on the baking sheet and line the bottoms with the cardboard rounds, trimming to fit.
- Pack the crumbs into the molds; press to compact.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Let cool.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg, egg yolk, salt and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the goat cheese and beat until smooth.
- Fold in the creme fraiche.
- Spoon the mixture into the molds and smooth the tops.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until the cheesecakes are just set but not browned.
- Let the cheesecakes cool, then refrigerate them until chilled, at least 1 hour.
- Heat a sharp, thin-bladed knife under hot water; dry the knife.
- Carefully run the blade around the edge of each cheesecake.
- Pressing up on the cardboard, ease the cheesecakes out of the molds; return to the baking sheet.
- Cut four 11-by-2 1/2-inch strips of parchment paper.
- Wrap the paper around the perimeter of each cheesecake to form a collar that extends 1 inch above the surface; secure with tape.
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let soften.
- Microwave at high power for about 15 seconds or just until the gelatin is melted.
- Put the 4 wines in separate ramekins.
- Add 2 teaspoons of the sugar to the rose and to the Pinot Noir and microwave for 20 seconds; stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Stir 1 teaspoon of the melted gelatin into each of the 4 wines.
- Let the wines stand until cooled, about 10 minutes.
- Pour one of the wine gelees over each cheesecake and refrigerate until chilled and set, about 20 minutes.
- Remove the parchment-paper collar from each cheesecake.
- Carefully remove the cardboard bottoms and serve.
unsalted butter, graham crackers, sugar, egg, egg yolk, salt, goat cheese, creme fraiche, unflavored gelatin, cold water, orange muscat, sugar
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mini-cheesecakes-wine-gelees (may not work)