Anniversary Lemon Cheesecake!!!

Wow...how long has it been since I've had a slice of cheesecake...especially with a gluten free base!!!

This week saw our Wedding Anniversary so I did a Cook Up with Vicki...to see the meal we had go over here...to my other blog Queen of the Armchair...

Vicki and I have started to do Cook Ups together with the latest issue of Donna Hay magazine and then blog about it...I thought I would put the recipe for the Cheesecake here on My Dolce Vita...

We started off with some Maggie Beer delicious Pheasant Farm Pate...

This pate began as the simple use of our own ingredients from the Pheasant Farm...as the package begins to say...and concludes with...it makes indulgence a daily option!!!

A really smooth consistency...atop with jelly and juniper berries...a lovely tasty Pate to have on hand!!!

Started off with Rice Cookies (no gluten) for the base...


whizzed them up with some almond meal (1/2 cup) and then added some melted butter (about 5 Tablespoons)...


Beating egg white...

Adding it to beaten egg yolk and sugar...

And now I've just realized I haven't put in the pic of pouring the filling onto the base!!!

After several hours turn out...

and serve...yummy!!!

LEMON CHEESECAKE (serves 12)

• 1/2 vanilla bean



• 100g sugar



• 2 eggs



• 250g quark (cream cheese)



• 1/2 lemon, juice and zest



• 4 gelatine leaves



• 250ml cream, whipped



• 75g almond flakes, toasted

METHOD

• Scrape out the bean and mix with half the sugar and the yolks. Whip until white



• Whip the whites with the remaining sugar



• Blend the quark (or other fresh cheese) with the lemon juice and zest and add to the egg yolk mixture



• Fold in the soaked and dissolved gelatine, then fold under the whites and whipped cream



• Pour mixture onto base and refrigerate several hours (I made it after lunch and it was ready after dinner)



• Finish with the toasted almonds

(Recipe adapted from TAFE Training book)

I'd love to know how you go with this if you try it...Bon Appetit, Dzintra

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US

Rich is not how much you have

or who you are

Nor even where you are going

Rich is who yhou have beside you

(From Dave Wood Calligraphy Art Gallery)

Lunch at The Mantle Restaurant at TAFE...20 October 2009

The weeks...hours...in this case are flying by so quickly and I will have completed them within a month...which means the end of the course, nearly two years worth!!!

Here Chef has prepared the whiteboard with the menus and allocated each student a meal to prepare ready for service...

My one was Mussels Sailor Style with French Bread Stick!!!

I prepared the Chicken for...Tandoori Chicken with Fried Chapattis...

Anna proudly displaying tomatoes for roasting...

for Roasted Tomato Soup...
No pic here for the Soup...I was probably too busy dealing with the Mussels as both these dishes were part of Entree!!!

Thai Coconut and Green Bean Fish Curry...

Osso Bucco...

Roasted Lamb Loin with Beetroot Confit...

Raspberry Souffle...

Iced Orange Parfait Grand Marnier...

And to finish off Dessert...Apricot and Almond Cream Flan...

Back soon...
Bon Appetit...Dzintra

Blood-sucking Brownies...A Bit of Halloween Fun!!!

Wow...we have certainly had a fun time this Halloween...Old Hallowe's Eve...Samhain...

Halloween is just starting to creep into Australia...and this year we celebrated our very first one!!!

The biggest news is...I have won my very own Blog Banner from Annabelle !!!

Annabelle had a little competion on her blog to win this Banner (and she may do this again next year)...and I love competitions!!!

I will put this Banner up on Queen of the Armchair as well with a Halloween post and what we got up to!!!

Annabelle is a very talented Artist...so if you get a chance hop on over and check out her amazing work!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANNABELLE!!!

Pumpkin plates greeting trick-or-treaters at the window...


And to celebrate I thought I would make some 'Blood Sucking Brownies'!!!
Sounds spooky to me LOL!!!



Adding raspberries to choc chips...and chocolate!!!


Melting white chocolate...see Simone your pot holder!!!

I used gluten free flour and this is the finished slice!!!

And here 'tis...Blood Sucking Brownies...this version with Ice Cream!!!

Recipe follows...and is in the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens

BLOOD SUCKING BROWNIES

• 250g dark chocolate


• 200g unsalted butter


• 3 eggs


• 250g caster sugar


• 80g plain flour, sifted


• 60g cocoa powder, sifted


• 100g mixed chocolate chips


• 1c frozen raspberries


• 50g white chocolate


• 1/4c strawberry topping
  

• Preheat oven...160c


• Line 28 x 18cm slice tin with baking paper


• Melt 200g dark chocolate and butter together


• Whisk eggs and sugar in an electric mixer on high until a firm foam forms


• Fold chocolate mixture, flour and cocoa into egg foam until nearly smooth


• Add choc chips and half the raspberries


• Mix well and pour into prepared tin


• Bake for 30m or until just firm

Line an oven tray with baking paper

• Melt white chocolate and remaining dark chocolate separately


• Using back of spoon, make 9 white chocolate circles...the size of a 20c piece, on prepared tray


• When set, use dark chocolate to pipe Halloween patterns on to each white disc


• Repeat to make 9 dark chocolate discs


• Mix remaining berries and strawberry topping


• Cut brownie into 18 pieces: top each with berry mixture and a choc disc
  
  I just made a white disc with a little blob of chocolate on it...

I used gluten free flour and it turned out fine!!!

A lovely slice...nice textured top too...

I think this will become a favourite...and will do just as well served with fresh cream!!!

I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween celebrations...and I'm really looking forward to Halloween next year!!!

Bon Appetit...Dzintra