'MAY YOUR LIFE BE LIKE A WILDFLOWER ... ' ~ CHEVRE and MOREL CHEESECAKE

"May your life be like a wildflower growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day"

~ Native American proverb

Yellow Lady's Slipper

(Cypripedium Calceolus L.)

Orchid Family

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CHEVRE and MOREL CHEESECAKE

(Goat Cheesecake with Mushrooms)

~ Savory Cheesecake from France ... Routas Culinary Director Frances Wilson

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Base:

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup breadcrumbs

5 Tbsp. melted butter

course salt & freshly ground pepper

Topping:

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 washed and finely chopped leek

4 oz. washed fresh morel mushrooms

(or favorite wild mushrooms)

12 oz. fresh chevre

(or favorite goat cheese)

12 oz. softened cream cheese

1 cup creme fraiche

1 lightly beaten large egg

1 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs like tarragon, parsley or thyme

3 Tbsp. flour

2 tsp. salt

2 egg whites

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and butter in a bowl. Season with salt & freshly ground pepper. Press into base of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Heat butter in a pan and add leeks. Cook over low heat to soften the leeks. Add morels. Cook for a couple of minutes. Allow to cool.
• Place chevre, softened cream cheese and creme fraiche. Mix in the egg, chopped herbs, flour and salt. Add leeks and morels and combine.
• Beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold into the mixture. Pour mixture over the base.
• Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour our until almost set. Cool in oven for a further hour. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve as appetizer or lunch dish with green salad.

NOTE: Found in swamps, bogs, wet woods. Flower is yellow, inflated pouch, single or sometimes 2 per stem. Petals are long, narrow, twisted, and mottled with brown or purple. Stem is leafy with 3-6 broad, parallel veined leaves that somewhat sheath the stem.

(Michigan Wildflowers in Color)

Protected Michigan Wildflower ~ DO NOT DISTURB