Pansy Man's Cherry Cordial Cheesecake

My dad is the Pansy Man. He was labeled that about 16 years ago when a local newspaper came to see the greenhouses he ran for our worldwide-church and the reporter saw the inordinate number of pansies the sweetest man on earth was able to produce. In a very deep Russian accent the reporter said, "Pansy Man" and that was in fact the title of the article... Some men would have taken offense to that nickname, but my father, who is one of the most tender kind beings to ever walk the earth...it fit. He's strong. Not to be confused with the term applied to wimpy men. His Super-Pansy strength has allowed him to raise me...who, let's face it...would take the strength and emotional stability of Job. He's a nurturer and the embodiment of creativity. Yes, to raise me would take that most amazing of souls. He did it...with flying colors. He did in fact raise 4 children with that same spirit of love. Today on his 60th birthday as children and family gathered around to celebrate his life...this is the cake he wanted. Cherry Cordial Cheesecake. A real man's cake. He is a man who will answer to God that he did, in every way, love and support his family. That my friends, is worth celebrating.
Cherry Cordial Cheesecake
seriously altered and Adapted from the Pillsbury Christmas Cook book 2007

Crust:
2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
3 T melted butter

Filling:
2 lbs cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 tsp orange oil (King Arthur)
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 cup prepared cherry filling (canned or fresh homemade)
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Ganache Glaze:
1 cup cream
1 lb chopped high quality chocolate (we used Guitard)
1/4 tsp hazelnut oil
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ancho chile powder
Crust:
Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl combine crust ingredients. Mix well. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of ungreased spring form pan.
Filling:Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature. Add sugar, almond extract,vanilla and orange oil. Cream this mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides of your bowl several times to ensure it is all combined.
It should look very smooth. Add the cream and combine again.

Beat in the eggs one at a time. I mean it. One at a time. This will give you a very even nice batter.

Pour 1/2 of the batter in the prepared crust in a spring form 10 inch cheesecake pan.
Do everything in your power to avoid licking the rim of that mixing bowl...or at least tie your hair back so it doesn't get in the batter. Sick-o.

Cherry filling. One cup. Canned or homemade? Yeah...whatever you want. Just make sure it tastes like cherry filling and not tin can. That's all I have to say about that.

Spoon the one cup of cherry filling over the middle of the cheesecake filling, leaving an inch around the outside edge and a 3 inch circle in the middle.

Gently cover the filling with 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips and then lightly spoon the remaining cheesecake batter over the top of the filling. It should cover the filling completely.
Bake 325 degrees 1 hour and 5 minutes. I personally prefer baking 2 hours at 300 degrees.
Now, hunk off 1 lb of high quality chocolate. The Professor was in town for this event, and he mathematically calculated how much I would need.

Boil one cup of cream in a sauce pan and pour over the chocolate. I added 1/4 tsp hazelnut oil, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8th tsp ancho chile powder...and blended until smooth. Want to see something evil?

Don't hurt yourself. Once cheesecake has been removed from the oven, chill 4-6 hours. Remover spring form ring and spread the chocolate ganache glaze over the top of the cheesecake (use a spatula...I know you'll want to use your tongue...but don't do it). Once glaze has been done, shaved chocolate or decorations may be added as desired.

All I know...is the Pansy Man said it was perfect. You just don't get better approval than that.

There you go dad. Thank you for being a Pansy Man. I love you forever!

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess