Recipes

Preheat oven to 325ºF. Adjust oven rack to lower third of the oven. Prepare 12 small ramekins by greasing them well with butter. In a food processor, pulse crackers until sandy. Transfer to a small bowl and add melted butter and 1 Tbsp sugar. Mix until all the mashed crackers are dampened. Press mixture into the bottom of the ramekins evenly and bake for 10 minutes or until fragrant and golden on the edges. Set crusts aside to cool and increase oven temp to 500ºF. In a large mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and salt and beat until fluffy. Add ricotta, sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla and mix to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently. Add the eggs and egg yolks and beat until smooth. Pour filling into the ramekins. Place the ramekins on top of a cookie sheet and into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Without opening the door, reduce oven temp to 200º F and bake for another 1-1.5 hours or until a thermometer reads 150ºF. Let cool, then chill at least 2 hours before serving.  Serve drizzled with honey and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts.