Chipotle Cheesecake Appetizer
Chipotle Cheesecake

2 packages (8 ounces
   each) cream cheese,
   softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Colby-
   Monterey Jack cheese
   (8 ounces)

  1/4 cup chopped drained
   roasted red bell
   peppers (from 7-ounce jar)
4 chipotle chilies in
   adobo sauce (from
   7-ounce can), seeded and
   chopped (2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from
   can of chipotle chilies
Large tortilla chips, if desired

Tortilla Crust
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted


PREP: 20 min; Bake: 45 min; Cool: 2 hr; Chill: 2 hr    Makes 36 servings

Chiptole Cheesecake
1. Heat oven to 375°. Make and bake Tortilla Crust.


2. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Beat cream cheese in large bowl on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs; beat until well blended. Beat in sour cream. Stir in cheese, bell peppers, chipotle chilies and adobo sauce until well blended. Spoon evenly over crust.

3. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Run knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen. Cool completely at room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Remove side of pan. Serve cheesecake appetizer with tortilla chips.

Tortilla Crust
Mix ingredients until well blended. Press evenly in bottom of springform pan, 9x3 inches. Bake about 8 minutes or until golden brown.

1 Serving: Calories 80 (Calories from Fat 65); Fat 7g (Saturated 5g); Cholesterol 35mg; Sodium 95mg; Carbohydrate 1g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 3g
%Daily Value: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 4%; Iron 0%

Diet Exchanges: 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Fat

Special Touch

Arrange chopped green, yellow or red bell pepper, chopped green and ripe olives and chopped nuts in wedge shapes on top of cheesecake appetizer. You've created a sampler with lots of flavor options!

Success Tip
Make it easy for your guests to help themselves to this savory appetizer. Cut a 4-inch diameter circle in center of cheesecake before cutting into wedges, so guests can easily cut short wedges from 2 rings of cheesecake instead of longer wedges.