Shelly's Recipe

CHEDDAR CHILI CHEESECAKE

Category: Spreads -- Cold

1 1/2 tbsp butter, for pan
1/4 cup fine bread crumbs, toasted
1/4 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
6 oz thinly sliced ham
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup cottage cheese
3/4 cup chopped green onion
4 eggs
3 tbsp jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tbsp milk
1 clove garlic, halved

Preheat oven to 325. Butter a 9 inch springform pan. Mix bread crumbs and 1/4 cup cheddar. Sprinkle mixture into pan, turning to coat. Refrigerate. Dice about half the ham and reserve remaining slices. Mix diced ham with remaining ingredients in flood processor until smooth. Pour slightly more than half the filling into the prepared pan. Top with reserved ham slices in an even layer. Cover with remaining filling. Set pan on baking sheet and bake for 1 1/4 hours. Turn oven off and cool cheesecake about 1 hour with door ajar. Transfer cheesecake on rack. Remove sides of pan and cool to room temperature before serving.