Arizona Sunset Cheesecake

Shortbread Crust
1 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Finely ground pecans
1/3 c Sugar
1 lg Egg, separated
1/2 c Butter, softened
Cranberry Glaze Filling
1 cn Whole berry cranberry- sauce OR 2 cups cranberry orange relish
2 tb Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
1 tb Grated lemon zest
1 tb Lemon juice
White Chocolate Filling
1 1/2 c Fresh orange juice
1-3 Inch x 1 inch piece- of orange peel (orange part only)
4 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
2/3 c Sugar
1 tb Grated orange zest
2 tb Cranberry Liqueur (such- as Crantasia Schnapps)
8 oz White chocolate, melted
4 Eggs
Candied Orange Topping
4 c Water
2 c Sugar
3 Seedless oranges (unpeeled)- cut into paper-thin slices
Garnish
Whipped Cream
Shortbread Crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Working on a large flat
surface, such as a pastry board, place flour, pecans, and sugar in the center of the
surface and mix together. Form a small depression or well in the center of the
mound. Add the egg yolk and the softened butter to the well, then blend these with
the dry mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly using your hands -- there is no
substitute for warm hands. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
Chill for at least 10 minutes. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. You
should have a circle of about 11 inches in diameter. For best results, roll out your
dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, then peel away the paper and cut the crust
in a 9 inch circle. Place the circle inside a 9 inch springform pan. Prick the crust
several times with a fork to keep the crust from puffing up during the baking. Place
the springform pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown.
Allow to cool. Using the leftover dough, line the sides of the springform pan. Press
the dough against the sides of the pan, smoothing it so as to have a continuous layer
of crust all the way around the sides of the pan. Make sure that the side crust meets
the bottom crust all the way around. Brush the reserved egg white onto the shell,
covering the bottom and sides. This will seal the dough and keep it from becoming
soggy. Set aside until ready to use.
Cranberry Glaze Filling: Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small
saucepan. Stir in the cranberry sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,
until thick. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside to cool slightly.
White Chocolate Filling: Reset the oven to 350 degrees F. Boil the orange juice
and piece of orange peel in a heavy medium saucepan until the juice is reduced to 3
Tbsp - about 12 minutes. Remove and discard the strip of orange peel and set aside
the reduced orange juice. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar,
grated orange zest, Crantasia, and reduced orange juice until smooth. Beat in the
melted white chocolate and then the eggs, one at a time, beating just until
combined. Pour the cranberry glaze filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly.
Pour the white chocolate filling over the cranberry layer and bake about 50 minutes
(the top will be dry and the sides puffed slightly - the center will not be set). Move
cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. Chill in the
refrigerator overnight.
Candied Oranges Topping: Cover a wire rack with waxed paper. Set aside.
Combine the water and sugar in a heavy shallow wide skillet. Stir over medium heat
until the sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Add the orange slices 1 at a time
and adjust the heat so that the syrup bubbles only around the edges of the pan.
Cook the oranges for one hour. Turn over the top layer of oranges and cook until the
oranges are translucent and the orange peels tender, about another one hour longer.
Lift and drain each orange slice out of the syrup, and arrange the slices in a single
layer on the prepared rack. Let dry 1 hour. Boil the orange-sugar syrup until thick,
about 6 minutes. Loosen and remove the sides of the springform pan. Set the
cheesecake on a serving dish. Overlap the candied orange slices around the top of
the cheesecake. Reheat the orange syrup, if necessary, and brush over the orange
slices. Drizzle any remainder over each serving. Garnish: whipped cream.
NOTE: You may substitute grapefruits for the oranges in the Candied Oranges
Topping if you prefer.