Eggnog Cheesecake

I whipped this up for our annual Christmas dinner party. I took a recipe that I've had for many years and switched it up a bit by adding in some dark rum and fresh nutmeg. I'm sure it would taste a little more like eggnog if I were to use brandy and bourbon instead of rum, but rum is all I had in the kitchen :) This cake is light and fluffy, a perfect match for a heavy Christmas feast.
I think the base cake recipe is terrific. I will most likely try it with different flavor combinations so stay tuned.

Recipe

Crust

1C Graham Crumbs
1/2C Chopped Pecans
2Tbsp Sugar
1/4C Melted Butter

Filling

3pkgs Cream Cheese
3/4C Sugar
2Tbsp Flour
3 Eggs
3/4C Sour Cream
1/4C Rum(or mix Brandy & Bourbon)
1 Nutmeg

*Mix crust ingredients and press into a spring form pan
*Combine cream cheese, and sugar, then add nutmeg and flour. Next add eggs
one at a time. Blend in sour cream and rum.
*Pour filling over crust
*Bake at 450 for 10min. decrease temp to 25o and continue
baking for 30-45 min, until set

I melted some of my Pomegranate Jelly over the top of each slice before serving just to Christmas it up a bit more.

Pomegranate Jelly

I've made this Jelly twice now and I still get excited each time I taste it. This Jelly is pure magic on your tongue. It's really messy to make but so worth it. Each pomegranate yields about half a cup of juice. I find gently pressing the seeds in a sieve will get the most juice, and be careful not to crush the seeds as they are very bitter. Fresh juice is advised as juice sold in jars just doesn't have the same kick.

Recipe


6-8 Pomegranates(3 1/2 C juice)
5C Sugar
1Pouch Pectin

*boil juice and pectin
*add sugar and bring to a full boil
*skim off foam and floaty bits
*seal in jars

Rum Balls

I remember having the best rum ball of my life when I was a teen in Ontario. They were made by a Russian fellow at a flea market I used to frequent with some terrific friends. They were big as a fist, smelled like trouble and tasted like heaven. I would love to reproduce them sometime if I can, so I may end up trying many different recipes to find the right one. Although the flavor of those Russian Rum Balls may have been enhance by the company of good friend and the thrill of the the hunt for treasures. The variety presented here is just delicious. they have a good balance of rum flavor and dense chocolate texture. I like them served chilled :)

Recipe

3/4 C Butter
6oz Chocolate
3 Eggs
1/2C Brown Sugar Packed
1tsp Vanilla
1/2tsp Salt
3/4C Flour
1/4C Dark Rum(maybe a splash more if you like)
Sugar for sanding(choose fine or coarse, or use choc. sprinkles?)

*melt butter and chocolate in double boiler, set aside
*whisk eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. stir in
chocolate mixture. then fold in flour.
*pour into lightly greased 12X17 pan
*bake @350 10-12 min(until tester comes out cleanish) cool
*break up cake and mix in rum until it comes together
*form into small balls and roll in sugar
*eat,eat,eat, and share