I am a major cheesecake connoisseur. I love it tremendously. If it is an option for dessert I will most likely pick it. I especially love the home-made, added real cream cheese, baked in the oven kind. So, I finally got around to making a cheesecake the other day for the first time ever. It was easier than I thought it was going to be. I had had the cream cheese sitting in my fridge for quite a while and even bought a set of spring-form pans to get the job done. I was wondering if I could do it. I found a recipe from my Barefoot Contessa cookbook and mixed away. The mixing was easy, as was the baking. The oven procedures took some time, but that's it, only time. Nothing hard. It had to bake for awhile, sit in the oven with the door open for awhile, sit on the stove for awhile and refridgerate for awhile. That's a lot of waiting. But it was so worth it. It baked wonderfully. There weren't any cracks on the top, and I promise I did nothing extra fancy. The recipe said that this would happen. I was so excited. I dabbed a few cherries on top and dug in.
My next thought. "Why haven't I been making cheesecake, like, my whole life? This is so good!"
Answer to myself. "You haven't had this recipe your whole life, silly."
Next question to me. "Should I make this monthly or weekly?"
Answer. "Probably don't want this fattening of a temptation in my fridge waiting to accost me at every opening."
So I've decided to make it biannually.
I had to call my sisters to let them join in the fun. There's just too much cheesecake to go around. It's so good, yet so rich. Even now, after it's all gone, I can feel the texture of it in my mouth, taste the sweet, crunchy graham cracker crust on the bottom, and dream about the slightly cooked outer sides of the cake.
On second thought I better go buy some more cream cheese because I think I am going to make another!
PS, I would like to give all the credit to Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa lady, who's baking genius made it possible for someone like me to make a good cheesecake.
7 comments:
I know what you mean. I LOVE REAL cheesecake. I haven't made one since 2001. And, I didn't have a springform pan, so somehow I substituted. It turned out really well, though, and I remember wondering how often I should make it, too. I guess I just don't get around to cooking much. Even though I love it. I love food.
Jess, I have a confession. I am not a cheesecake lover, but lady-- what you made looks so good i wish what happened on Charlie and the chocolate factory... you know where you could taste something transmitted through the TV? I want to eat that cheesecake!!! I'm very proud of you and glad it all worked out :)
Willy was lamenting that he has never had a birthday cake and now he has decided that cheesecake would be just fine for his birthday. It looked yummy and I might have one small bite but that would do me for a couple of years. GJ
Right On Jess!!! cheesecake has been my favorite thing for most of my life--you come by it genetically! Dad
That cheese cake looks divine. My mouth is watering and I think I might have actually drooled a little! thanks for the hunger pains- haha
Bonnie
What a beautiful cheesecake! I am sure it was eaten very quickly. I make a similar one about 2-3 times a year. If I made it any more than that I would be about 10 pounds heavier!
I must have the same cookbook because I found it and am making one tomorrow. Wish me luck!
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