Paradise Cheesecake
Coconut Crust
1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 44 cookies)
1 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup butter, melted
Process the vanilla wafers in a food processor until finely ground. Mix the vanilla wafer crumbs together with the coconut; stir in melted butter. Press mixture along the bottom and sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Chill until ready to use.
Cheesecake
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1 (6 ounce) can pineapple juice
3 eggs, separated
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup dark Jamaican rum or 2 teaspoons rum extract (I used 1/4 cup pineapple rum)
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
In a saucepan, mix gelatin and 1/2 cup sugar, add pineapple juice and let stand for 1 minute. Heat mixture over low heat until gelatin dissolves (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Allow to cool slightly.
Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the gelatin mixture, rum, and coconut extract; blend well. Chill quickly by setting mixture over a bowl of ice water. Stir until thickened slightly.
In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Spoon into prepared crust, refrigerate overnight.
Topping
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
In a saucepan, combine undrained pineapple, sugar and cornstarch. Cook, stirring continuously, until mixture boils and thickens. Cool; spoon over cheesecake.
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