Cooking with Chef Singh

Blueberry cheesecake

Ingredients: Serves 10 to 12. Portions

For crust

• 2 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

• 1/4 cup sugar

For filling

• 4 8- ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• cup all purpose flour

• 5 large eggs

• 1 16- ounce container sour cream

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For topping

• 1/3 cup all-fruit blueberry spread

• 2 6- ounce fresh blueberries or 12-ounce package frozen blueberries, thawed, drained

Make crust:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Wrap outside of 10-inch-diameter spring form pan with heavy-duty foil. Combine all ingredients in processor. Blend using on/off turns just until crumbs are moist. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer crust to rack and cool. Maintain oven temperature.

Make filling:

Using electric mixer beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until will blend. Beat in flour. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined. Beat in sour cream, milk and vanilla. Pour filling into crust.

Baking Methods: Place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of pan. Bake cheesecake until just set in center and top is slightly puffed and golden brown, about 1 hour. Turn off oven; keep door closed. Let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from roasting pan. Refrigerate until cold.

Make topping:

Stir blueberry spread in large skillet over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Add blueberries; toss to coat. Spoon blueberry mixture over top of cake, spreading evenly. Chill until cold.

Run small sharp knife around sides of cake to loosen. Release pan sides. Transfer cake to platter. Cut into wedges. And Serve your choice of topping.( whipped cream, fresh fruit coulis or fresh slice fruits.

Chef’s cooking tips: Adjusting Seasonings: Many recipes (including some of mine) end with the instruction to “adjust seasonings.” This is a personal way to finish the dish. Salt is the main ingredient used to season. Used correctly, it allows us to fully taste the other ingredients. But it ruins a great meal if overused. Remember that it’s easy to add and almost impossible to remove. Sugar wakes up flavors. But it can distort the flavor of a dish if overused. Be careful adding additional herbs. Learn each herb’s strength. Teaspoon parsley would hardly be noticed, where as a teaspoon of sage could overpower.