ITALIAN PESTO CHEESE TORTA

      Title: ITALIAN PESTO CHEESE TORTA
  Categories: Seasonings, Appetizers
       Yield: 1 Torta
  
       1 lb Cream cheese; softened
      15 oz Ricotta; drained
     1/2 lb Fresh mozzarella; drained
      12    Fresh basil leaves
       1 c  Toasted pine nuts
     3/4 c  Pesto (see separate recipe)
       1 ts Salt
  
   Line a standard bread pan with a double thickness of fine-weave
   cheesecloth.  Allow enough cheesecloth to fold over the top of the
   mold after the cheese has been layered. Arrange fresh basil leaves in
   a decorative pattern on the cheesecloth and sprinkle on 1 to 2
   tablespoons of the pine nuts.
   
   Combine cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, and salt in a food
   processor (or use an electric mixer) and blend until smooth. Place
   one-third of the cheese mixture in the pan and smooth it into an even
   layer. Spread half the pesto over the top and sprinkle on half the
   remaining pine nuts. Repeat these layers, ending with a cheese layer.
   Fold the cheesecloth over the top of the cheese and press slightly to
   even up the mold. Refrigerate one to three days.
   
   To unmold, press down on the cheesecloth to make sure that the cheese
   is firmly in place.  Fold back the top of the cheesecloth and pull up
   on the sides a little to loosen the mold. Invert a serving plate over
   the pan, keeping the cheesecloth away from the top of the mold. Turn
   over the mold together with the plate, then lift the pan off the
   cheese. Peel the cheesecloth carefully off the torta.
   
   Variation: Substitute sun-dried tomato pesto for traditional pesto.
   Arrange whole sun-dried tomatoes, sliced black olives, basil, and
   pine nuts in a decorative pattern in the pan for the top of the torta.
   
   * Source: The Herb Companion - June/July 1993 * Typed for you by Karen
   Mintzias
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