Sun Dried Tomato And Basil Cheesecake Appetizer Recipes

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor, blend the bread, 1/2 cup softened butter and 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Spray cooking oil in the bottom of a nonstick 91/2-inch springform pan. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the bottom of the pan. Press crumb mixture into pan, going up 1/4 inch on sides. Refrigerate.
• Beat the cream cheese until smooth in a sturdy electric mixer. Add chopped onion, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup melted and cooled butter, 1 tablespoon oil and herbs from the tomato jar, and the basil. Add eggs, 7 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes and sour cream, blending until smooth.
• Pour a third of the filling into the refrigerated crust. Add a layer of about 15 coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, followed by another third of the filling. Add a thin layer of pesto (don't go too close to the edge with this) and remaining third of filling.
• Bake 50-60 minutes on second-to-lowest rack of oven, placing a foil sheet underneath to catch drippings. When set in center, turn off oven and let the cheesecake sit 20 more minutes. Cool and refrigerate for a day.
• Remove sides of pan and place cheesecake on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and pieces of sundried tomato. Enjoy with crackers or rustic breads.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, pour enough boiling water over dried tomatoes to cover. Let stand 5 minutes; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Finely chop tomatoes.
• In medium bowl, mix eggs, oil and reserved tomato liquid until well blended. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder and the red pepper. Stir in tomatoes. Divide dough in half. On ungreased cookie sheet, shape each half into 10x3-inch rectangle.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 10 minutes. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 16 (about 1/2-inch) slices. Turn slices cut side down on cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 minutes. Turn biscotti. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until crisp and golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, mix cream cheese, basil and dash of garlic powder. To serve, spread each biscotti with about 1/2 teaspoon cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon chèvre cheese.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Stir together bread crumbs and melted butter. Pat into the bottom of a greased.
• 9-inch springform pan (OR 9-inch deep dish pie plate).
• Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• In large bowl whip cream cheese just to soften. Add shredded cheese and seasoning and mix to combine. Add eggs, one at a time and beat just until each egg is no longer visible. Fold in tomatoes. Pour filling into crust. Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until almost firm in the middle.
• Combine sour cream and Italian seasonings and pour over cheesecake. Return to oven for 5 minutes. Turn off oven, leaving door slightly open, let cake cool in oven for about 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and run a sharp knife around the edge of the cake. Let cool completely before removing sides of pan. When cooled, wrap tightly and chill overnight or preferably a couple days.

Steps:

• NOTE: If your sundried tomatoes do not already have Italian seasoned herbs in their oil, you will need to first stir in 1 Tbsp of Italian seasoning blend to your tomatoes, then cover and chill overnight.
• Drain off the oil from your tomatoes.
• Spread a generous spoonful of cream cheese onto each cracker and top with a strip of marinated sundried tomato.
• Place onto a platter and garnish with strips of fresh basil leaves, if desired.
• Serve immediately.
• (You may need more or less or any of the ingredients- the Zaar computer only accepts specific amounts, so I have tried to give you a rough guess).