INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

To prepare pumpkin cheesecake, coat the inside of a 9"x1 1/2" cake  pan
with 1 tsp. butter.  Line the pan with an 8-inch square of  parchment
paper. Coat the parchment paper with the remaining teaspoon  of butter.
Set aside until needed.  Place 1 pound of softened cream cheese, 3/4
cup sugar, the flour, and  1/2 tsp. salt in the bowl of electric mixer
fitted with a paddle.  Beat on low for 1 minute and on medium for 2
minutes. Scrape down  sides of bowl, then beat on medium for 2 more
minutes and on high for  3 minutes. Scrape down bowl. Add 3 eggs, one
at a time, beating on  high for 20 seconds and scraping down bowl after
each addition. Add 1  tsp. vanilla and beat on medium for 15 seconds,
then beat on high for  2 more minutes. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon,
allspice, and  cloves, then beat on medium for 30 seconds.  Remove the
bowl from the  mixer. Use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the batter
until it is  smooth and thoroughly combined. Pour the pumpkin
cheesecake mixture  into the prepared cake pan, spreading evenly.
Place a 9"x1 1/2" cake pan partially filled with 4 cups of hot water
on the bottom rack of the 300 F oven (the bottom rack should be at
least 3 inches below the center rack).  Place both cheesecakes on the
center rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, until the
internal temperature of the cheesecake fillings reaches 170 degrees  F.
Turn off the oven and allow the cheesecakes to remain in the oven  for
an additional 20 minutes. Remove form the oven and cool at room
temperature for 20 minutes. Refrigerate the chocolate cheesecake for  1
hour, but keep pumpkin cheesecake at room temperature (do not  remove
either cake from pan.  To prepare the ganache, heat the heavy cream,
butter, and sugar in a 2  1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
When hot, stir to dissolve  sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Place
the chocolate in a stainless  steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over
the chocolate and allow to  stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
Allow to cool to room  temperature.  Pour 1 cup of the semi-sweet
chocolate ganache over the top of the  chilled chocolate cheesecake.
Spread evenly over the top of the  cake. Invert the pumpkin cheesecake
onto the layer of ganache.  Gently press down on the cake to set in
place. Wrap the entire  springform pan with film wrap and refrigerate
for 3 hours.  The cheesecake can now be released from the springform.
Remove film  wrap and wrap a damp, hot towel around the sides of the
pan (the  towel should be large enough to completely wrap around and
cove the  sides of the pan) and hold around the pan form 1 minute.
Carefully  release and remove the springform pan. Using a cake spatula,
smooth  the sides of the cake with 2 to 3 Tbsps. of the ganache. Spread
the  remaining ganache evenly across the top of the cake. press
remaining  cookie/pecan crumbs into the sides of the cake, coating
evenly.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting and
serving.  Heat the blade of the serrated slicer under hot water before
cutting  and run it under hot water after making each slice. (In the
notes  section of the recipe called The Chef's Touch, Marcel suggests
the  following: For an extra special touch, decorate the top of the
uncut  cake with sour cream and brown sugar: whisk together in a
stainless  steel bowl 3/4 cup sour cream and 1 Tbsps. light brown
sugar. Pour  the mixture onto the center area of the cake. Using a
spatula, spread  the sour cream to within 2 inches of the outside edge
of the top of  the cake. Now for the final touch, evenly space 12 pecan
halves 1/2  inch from the outer edge of the top. refrigerate for an
hour before  cutting and serving.)  Posted to FOODWINE Digest 24
November 96  Date:    Mon, 25 Nov 1996 07:15:19 -0500  From:    Rosebud
<janetm@ONLINE1.MAGNUS1.COM>

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