Ambrosia Cheesecake
1 1/2 cups flaked
coconut
1/4 cup chopped almonds
2 tablespoons butter, melted
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup apricot nectar
1/2 cup cream of coconut
4 large eggs
8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
sliced assorted fruits: bananas, seedless green and red grapes, kiwi fruit,
canned Mandarin orange slices, strawberries, etc.
2 teaspoons shortening, melted
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate pieces, melted
1/4 cup white chocolate pieces, melted
Day before serving: Preheat oven to 350° F.
In medium bowl, combine coconut, almonds and butter; mix
well. Press mixture into bottom of 9 inch springform pan. Bake until golden,
about 15 minutes. Cool.
In large bowl of electric mixer, at high speed, beat cream
cheese, sugar, flour orange peel and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in apricot
nectar and cream of coconut. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until blended. Stir in
pineapple; pour into prepared crust.
Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on wire
rack; refrigerate overnight.
Just before serving, arrange fruit over top of cake. Stir one
teaspoon melted shortening into each of melted semisweet and white chocolates
until blended. Place each mixture in a separate small pastry bag fitted with
small plain tip; pipe over fruit.
