Cordon Rose Cheesecake

Cordon Rose Cheesecake
printed from Food Network.com
Recipe courtesy of Rose Levy Beranbaum

Packaged ladyfingers
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups sour cream
4 to 5 cups strawberries, hulled
1/4 cup currant jelly
1 tablespoon Chambord or water

A 9-inch by 2 1/2-inch or higher springform pan, grease outside of the pan wrapped with a double layer of heavy-duty foil to prevent seepage. 1 (12-inch) cake pan or roasting pan to serve as water bath.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Leave the ladyfingers attached and trim rounded bottoms so that you will have a ring of ladyfingers resembling a picket fence. Line the sides of the pan with the ladyfinger ring, rounded sides against the side of the pan. Add or trim if necessary to complete the ring. Line the bottom with more ladyfingers rounded signs down, trimming as necessary to fill the spaces. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese and sugar until very smooth (about 3 minutes), preferably with a whisk beater. Beat in eggs, beating until smooth and scraping down the sides once or twice. Add the lemon juice and salt and beat until incorporated. Beat in the sour cream just until blended. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan in the larger pan and surround it with 1-inch of very hot water. Bake the cake in 350 degree oven for 45minutes. After 25minutes, cover loosely with foil to keep ladyfingers from over-browning. Turn off the oven without opening the door and let cake cool for 1 hour. Remove it to a rack and cool to room temperature (about 1 hour). Cover with greased plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. To unmold, wipe sides of pan several times with a towel run under hot water and wrung out. Arrange strawberries on top. If you have rinsed them make sure they are thoroughly dry. In a small saucepan or microwave oven, heat the currant jelly until melted and bubbling. Stain it into a small cup and stir in the Chambord or water. Brush it onto berries.