Country Ham Cheesecake Recipes

COUNTRY HAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Brush 9 inch diameter springform pan with 1 tbls melted butter.
• Finely grind crackers in processor.
• Mix cracker crumbs, parmesan and 5 tbls melted butter in a med bowl to blend. Reserve 1/2 cup of crumb mixture for topping; press remaining onto bottom and sides of prepared pan.
• Refrigerate while preparing filling.
• Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and eggs in a large bowl until smooth.
• Mix in remaining ingredients, pour filling onto crust.
• Sprinkle with remaining crumbs.
• Place cheesecake on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until filling no longer moves in center when gently shaken, about 2 hours.
• Cool 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• Unwrap ham and scrub off any surface mold (if you hung in a sack for 6 months you'd have mold too). Carefully remove hock with hand saw. (If this idea makes you eye your first aid kit, ask your butcher to do it. But make sure you keep the hock, it's the best friend collard greens ever had.)
• Place ham in cooler and cover with clean water. (As long as it's not too dirty you can use what southerners call the "hose pipe"). Stash the cooler in the bushes. If it's summer, throw in some ice. If it's freezing out, keep the cooler inside. Change the water twice a day for two days turning the ham each time.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place ham in a large disposable turkey-roasting pan and add enough Dr. Pepper to come about halfway up the side of the ham. Add pickle juice if you've got it and tent completely with heavy-duty foil. Cook for 1/2 hour then reduce heat to 325 degrees F, and cook another 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn the ham over, insert an oven safe thermometer (probe-style is best) and cook another 1 1/2 hours, or until the deepest part of the ham hits 140 degrees F (approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound total).
• Let rest 1/2 hour then slice paper-thin. Serve with biscuits or soft yeast rolls.
• Cooks note: Even after soaking, country ham is quite salty, so thin slicing is mandatory. If you're a bacon fan, however, cut a thicker (1/4-inch) slice and fry it up for breakfast.

HAM AND SWISS APPETIZER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Mix crushed crackers and butter until well blended. Press evenly in bottom of springform pan, 9x3 inches. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add whipping cream and eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in cheese, ham, bell peppers, onions and thyme. Spoon evenly over crust in pan.
• Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until center is set. Run knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Remove side of pan. Place cheesecake on serving platter. Cut into wedges. Serve with crackers.

OUR BEST CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix graham crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top with pie filling before serving.

COUNTRY HAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Brush 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Finely grind crackers in processor. Mix cracker crumbs, Parmesan and 5 tablespoons melted butter in medium bowl to blend. Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture for topping; press remainder onto bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and eggs in large bowl until smooth. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour filling into crust. Sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup crumbs over. Place cheesecake on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until filling no longer moves in center when pan is gently shaken, about 2 hours. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving.)