Guava Cheesecake

Sister T. made this to use up some guava paste and brought it to a dinner party. I like cheesecake-- I'm not crazy-- but I rarely find it very interesting. It's possible that I'm not alone in this. After all, cheesecake is frequently subjected to baroque variations. But somehow-- some way-- even the craziest cheesecakes with all sorts of fun and exciting flavors never really translate into "interesting" to me. Something about all that creamy dairy tends to stifle the novelty of the flavors... maybe?

But I really liked the flavors in this cheesecake.

It wasn't set up all the way when it was served (it hadn't been chilled overnight), so we thought maybe it needed to bake longer. But, afterward, when chilled more thoroughly, it was pretty perfect.

The source for this recipe is http://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/guava-cheesecake-recipe/. Go check out this fun blog and click around. I always feel torn when posting recipes from another personal blog. This "blog" is really meant to just be my personal recipe box, accessible to family and friends if they want a recipe reference, rather than an effort to put anything out there as being a product of any personal genius.

Guava Cheesecake

1 3/4 c sugar, divided
1 1/4 c graham cracker crumbs
4 T butter, melted
cooking spray
1/2 c water
1/2 c lime juice
8 oz guava paste, cut into small pieces (about 1/2 bar)
5 large egg whites, divided
1/2 c sour cream
2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 t vanilla
1/8 t salt

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a 9-inch sprinform pan with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine 1/4 c sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and butter. Press into the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of the springform pan. Bake for 7 minutes; cool on wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

3. Combine 1/2 c sugar, 1/2 c water, lime juice, and guava paste in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.

4. Pour mixture into a blender, and process until smooth. (Or use an immersion blender). Cool completely, then stir in 1 of the egg whites.

5. Combine remaining ingredients: sugar, sour cream, and cream cheese. Beat with a mixer at low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla and salt. Gradually add remaining 4 egg whites, beating well after adding each one. Pour into the graham cracker crust.

6. Drizzle guava mix over cheese mix.  Swirl them together with a knife.(I don't know if my sister's was thicker, but it did not get as blended with the cheese as in the picture on the blog-- and I liked it). Instead it was like big fissures of guava.

7. Bake at 325° for 45 minutes or until cheesecake center barely moves when touched. (It may crack a little along the edges.)

8. Turn the oven off; cool cheesecake in closed oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven. Run a knife around the outside edge.

9. Cool to room temperature, cover, and then chill at least 8 hours before serving.

Pepper toast!

Speaking of liking the taste of black pepper, here is something that is sort of odd that I've done for a while and which is delicious. It is pepper toast!

You take one piece good white bread. (Isn't it a little funny when cookbook writers say that? "Take good milk and good strong flour and good olive oil...")

Toast it.

Butter it well. With good butter yo.

Grind some black pepper on it. Not too much.

Yum!