PESTO CHICKEN CHEESECAKES

Ingredients

  • PESTO:
  • 2 (8·ounce) packages cream cheese,
  • softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
  • 3 tablespoons Pesto
  • 1 cup chopped cooked chicken
  • 1 (S-ounce) container sour cream
  • Mixed salad greens
  • Garnish: chopped fresh chives
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed fresh' basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Step 1

BEAT cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth, Add eggs, 2 tablespoons flour, and Pesto, beating until blended, Stir in chicken. Pour into 4 (4-inch) spring form pans.
BAKE at 325° for 20 minutes. Stir together remaining 1 tablespoon flour and sour cream. Spread over cheesecakes, and bake 10 more minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Gently run a knife around edges of cheesecakes, and release sides. Serve hot or cold atop salad greens. Garnish, if desired. Yield: 4 servings.
Prep: 15 min., Bake: 30 min.
* 1 cup prepared pesto may be substituted for homemade.
NOTE: Cheesecake mixture may be baked in a 9-inch spring form pan. Add 5 minutes to the initial baking time, and an additional 5 minutes after adding the flour and sour cream.

PESTO:
PROCESS all ingredients in a food
processor until smooth. Refrigerate leftover Pesto up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months. Yield: 1 cup.
Prep: 6 min.