A spicy cheesecake for a white Christmas with friends....

~ Spicy Kabocha Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust ~


This recipe is an extention to a previous article on Kabocha.
"Giving Thanks with Kabocha....the Japanese Pumpkin...."


Crust:
1 3/4 cups ginger snap crust
1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:
500g cream cheese, at room temperature
100g mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1 cup roasted Kabocha, pureed
4 eggs
~2/3 cup sugar, depending on the sweetness of the roasted Kabocha
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger


1. Preheat oven to 350oF.
2. In medium bowl, combine crumbs and melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch cake pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, yogourt, sugar and the spices. Beat together until well combined.
4. Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and bake in a waterbath for 45-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.


Bon Appetit!

Macaron de la divinité captures the essence of this mulberry purple coloured root....

~ le Macaron aux Taro~
Taro flavoured macaron filled with coconut white chocolate ganache


This article is part of "The Macaron Series"
http://lafleuraucacao.blogspot.com/2009/10/in-mood-for-loveand-macaronthe-macaron.html


As the potato of the humid tropics, I consider Taro is one of the most flavourful root, is commonly used within Chinese cuisine in a variety of styles; in desserts it is used in sweet soups, bubble tea, and as a flavouring in ice cream and other desserts in the China. McDonald's sells Taro flavored pies at their stores in China! To celebrate my inner passion for this mulberry purple coloured root, what could be more suited than disguising its essence behind the shining dome of a macaron?

For the Macaron Recipe, please click on this link below for the recipe for the Earl Grey Macaron:
http://lafleuraucacao.blogspot.com/2009/10/earl-grey-macaronnew-creation-for.html

* Replace the 8g of Earl Grey tea powder with 8g of Taro powder



~ Coconut White Chocolate Ganache ~

4 tbs Coconut Powder (can be found in Asian supermarkets)
4 oz White Chocolate Couverture, finely chopped and place in stainless steel bowl
1/2 cup Heavy Cream

1. Mix 2 tbs of heavy cream into the Coconut powder to form a smooth paste
2. Place the remaining heavy cream in a saucier over medium heat and bring it to a near simmer
3. Pour the hot cream over the finely chopped white chocolate, and very gently stir until all white chocolate pieces have melted
4. Stir in the Coconut paste until it has completely incorporated with the white chocolate ganache
5. Allow the Coconut ganache to cool and thicken
6. Place the Coconut ganache into a piping bag to assemble le Macaron aux Taro!


Bon Appetit!