Tangerines are ebbing (sad face here)

My favorite time of the year is between November and January when tangerines are in season. Did you know that it got its name simply on a shipping route? True. Naturally known as Mandarines, years ago when trade routes were setup there was a special rought going through Tangiers, Morrocco. To differentiate to buyers that they were not the chinese varieties they called them tangerines.

I made a Tangerine (mandarine, clementine, satsuma; whatever!) cheesecake today. One of my very favorites. I didn't take photos of the ingredients or the process or even the darn finished product but I'll be making another this week in the Chronicle's test kitchen. Maybe I'll remember to that. If not, here is the recipe.

Tangerine Cheesecake


Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup melted butter

Prehead the oven to 350º. Spray a 9 inch springform cheesecake pan with non-stick spray, mix the butter with the cracker crumbs till well blended and spread evenly around the pan and edges. Cook crust in the oven for 7-10 minutes, remove from oven and let cool.

Filling:
12 oz creme cheese, softened
1 cup ricotta cheese (8 oz)
½ cup sugar
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 cup tangerine juice
1 envelope whipped topping mix and 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla [or 1 1/4 cup whipping cream, 1 tsp vanilla.] If using whipping cream add appx 1/4 cup more sugar to the cheese mixture.


2 tangerines peeled, seeded and chopped
1 fresh tangerine, sectioned for garnish

Blend together crème cheese and ricotta cheese. Add sugar.

In a small saucepan sprinkle gelatin over tangerine juice and let soften 1 minute. Heat, stirring constantly 3 minutes.

Prepare whipped topping as per package direction. Add gelatin mixture to cheese mixture. Blend until smooth. Fold whipped topping into cheese mixture. Stir in chopped tangerine pieces. Spoon into crust. Chill 4/6 hours. Garnish with Tangerine sections.

Love that cake, it's so light and airy.

By the way, have you ever seen Siamese Grapes? Here's one I found recently. Obscene really. My cousin Paul ate it. Grape is a grape but it was weird, this one.