Date Citrus Paskha (Middle-Eastern Cheesecake) with Date Amaretto Citrus Compote

Prepare Paskha mold 6,3-inches size, or use two-1-pound plastic ricotta container. If using ricotta containers, place 4 to 5 nail size holes in the bottom of each. Place two dampened 1-sq.ft. cheese clothes to line each plastic container or one dampened 1-sq.ft. cheese cloth for the Paskha mold, lining the inside bottom and sides, overlapping the extra over the outsides; set aside.

Prepare Date Citrus Paskha. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, using an electric mixer over medium high speed until blended and creamy. Add 1/2 cup each butter and powdered sugar, continue beating low and gradually increasing to medium high speed until cheese mixture is blended and creamy. Add drained ricotta cheese, condensed milk, vanilla and orange zest and continue beating over medium speed until cheese mixture is blended and smooth. Fold in 1 cup chopped dates and candied diced orange peel into cheese mixture until just blended. Carefully, spoon cheese mixture evenly into each lined plastic mold or the lined Paskha mold, and fold the hanging cheesecloth over the molded cheesecake mixture to cover. Place a saucer on the tops over cheesecloth, then add 2-pound weight, such as a can, on the saucer or saucers. Put the Paskha mold or plastic container molds , in a large oblong 13x10x2-inch dish, enough for the liquid to drain into. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours, overnight for best results.

The day of serving dessert, about 1 hour prior to serving, prepare Date Amaretto Citrus Compote. In a heavy-duty saucepan, heat over medium heat, add amaretto liqueur, 2 tablespoons butter and brown sugar, whisking frequently, mixing together until amaretto begins to reduce. Reduce heat to low, spoon in each 16 chopped dates and orange segments; also add in 4 tablespoons orange juice and as compote mixture starts to thicken stir gradually, remove from heat. Pour compote mixture into shallow bowl; let cool completely about 15 minutes. Add extra orange juice if needed to loosen texture of mixture.

Prepare, assemble and serve. Carefully, remove Paskha mold or molds from fridge. Remove can or cans, saucer or saucers. Slowly, lift the one or the two cheesecake (Paskha) molds from the mold or each molds. Then fold back cheese cloth material tops of each cheesecakes, invert upside down the cheesecake mold (Paskha) onto a serving plate or shallow bowl. Then carefully, remove the entire cheese cloth from each cheesecake. Spoon some date amaretto citrus compote over the top or tops and around sides of cheesecake (Paskha), serve the remaining compote with the individual servings. Eat and enjoy.