Cheesecakes Then & Now

Some desserts are irresistible and one of the major sources of temptation is cheesecakes. It's a dessert that has crossed boundaries and various cultures, showing up on menus all over the world. There are many versions of cheesecake recipes and different, regional traditions when it comes to preparing this favorite dessert.

Whether purchased from a store, homemade or consumed at your favorite restaurant, the cheesecake is a delight treat. The crust is normally made from pastry, cookie or graham cracker-crumb. The classic cheesecake filling is made from eggs, cream and a soft fat that is normally cream cheese.

It is the choice of cheese that gives this dessert its distinctive flavor and texture. Other ingredients can be sugar or fruit. There are numerous fruit toppings available for a delicious fruit cheesecake, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, bananas and black forest. Some Asian varieties may include mangos, the dessert being a favorite in Japan, where it is sold in vending machines
The choice of cheese may be decided by the culinary traditions of the region. The most common is cream cheese but ricotta, havarti, quark and twarog are also used in cheesecake. Americans prefer to use cream cheese, usually in the form of Philadelphia cream cheese. The New York style cheesecake, as it came to be known, is rich with lots of cream and eggs. Sometimes, this is augmented by lemon and cottage cheese.

In Italy, there are two main recipes. The ancient Roman version uses honey and ricotta cheese and is shaped into loaves. The modern day recipe also calls for ricotta but may use mascarpone. Vanilla extract and candied fruit is often added. Greek versions also use mascarpone or mizithra. French recipes contain Neufchatel cheese and the texture is unusually light. German varieties contain quark cheese, a soft, white curd cheese that is common in Baltic countries, Germany and Poland. Dutch and Belgian versions are deliciously flavored with melted chocolate for a delight chocolate cheesecake.

The combination of sweet and tangy flavors is almost always served as a dessert but there are savory versions, commonly using blue cheese. The savory variety can be a starter or served with salad. Vegetarians and vegans can still enjoy the delights of organic cheesecakes. Vegan recipes most often substitute tofu for the cream cheese and vegan graham crackers or granola for the crust. The variations to be found with this dessert are almost endless.
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Mothers Day Cheesecake

Can't think of that special something for Mom this Mother's Day? Welcome to the club, however there is hope. Anytime you personalize something for Mom or anyone for that matter it makes it special, so this year consider sending her a cheesecake with Mom spelled out or perhaps Happy Mother's Day! Of course it is a decadent dessert and everyone is watching their waistline it seems these days. But this is one day and a special treat that can be savored over several evenings. Or the entire gang can get involved with a freshly brewed cup of coffee ....phew it doesn't get much better...for dessert anyway.
Mom will certainly feel special with her very own heart shaped Mothers Day cheesecake. Choose from raspberry swirl, or chocolate fudge (made with a chocolate cookie crust) or New York style (made with a graham cracker crust). Each cake is topped with chocolate ganache, then garnished with a red marzipan rose!
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Cheesecake Flavors

So many desserts are impossible to resist. One of the most alluring temptations is the ever-loved and savored flavor and texture of cheesecake! Over centuries, cheesecake has crossed boundaries and cultures, and is on menus worldwide. The various combinations of ingredients for cheesecake flavors and recipes differ from region to region, and can depend large on tradition. If you prefer buying already made cheesecake, or you enjoy your own homemade or favorite restaurant fare, indulging a great cheesecake is a memorable sensation.

Cheesecake crusts are commonly made from pastry, cookie, or graham cracker-crumbs. In the UK, a biscuit base is popular for the crust, and then it is filled with the classic eggs and cream, along with some type of soft fat product, normally cream cheese.

The difference in the cheese used in a particular cheesecake recipe lends the dessert its distinctive flavor and texture. Many recipes include other ingredients, such as sugar or fruit, with some popular fruit flavor options being strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. In Asia, a favorite fruit swirled into the cream cheese filling is mangos.

The type or cheese added to make the cheesecake filling generally depends on the culinary traditions of the region. Cream cheese is typically added when preparing the filling, however, ricotta, havarti, quark, and twarog cheese are also used in cheesecake. Philadelphia cream cheese is usually the choice of cheese used in American cheesecake recipes. New York Style cheesecake flavors, as it came to be known, is richly prepared with lots of cream and eggs, and sometimes lemon and cottage cheese are also used to enhance the flavor and texture.

Two main cheesecake recipes reign in Italy. An older Roman version calls for honey and ricotta cheese, and it is then shaped into loaves and baked. The modern day recipe generally calls for ricotta cheese, but many use mascarpone. Additions of vanilla extract and candied fruit are common. In Greece, mascarpone cheese or mizithra is used in the cheesecake filling. French recipes use what is known as Neufchatel cheese, producing a light texture. German varieties of cheesecake more often utilize quark cheese, which is a soft, white curd cheese, also commonly used in Baltic countries and Poland. Melted chocolate is frequently added in Dutch and Belgian cheesecake for a delicious, rich flavor.
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Valentine's Day Cheesecake

This Valentine’s Day give your sweetheart a sweet treat of their own!
Since hearts and Valentine's Day go together this Valentine's Day heart-shaped cheesecake will be elegant treat for your sweetheart. Regardless whether that sweetheart is your mother, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend husband or dad! What a perfect why to say “I Love You” ..imagine the look on their face when this delicious Valentine's Day Cheesecake shows up at their front door. Flowers and chocolates are always nice but just think what a pleasant surprise this would be and something they can share with others (if they so desire).

2 pounds 6" of delight cheesecake that will serve 6-8 or you and your sweetheart can keep all to yourself!
Made with a chocolate cookie crust, plus rich semi sweet chocolate flavor, and topped with chocolate ganache, then garnished with (of course) a red marzipan rose.
Available in chocolate fudge, new york style(Graham cracker crust) or raspberry swirl.
Happy Valentine’s Day! From MooMoo Cheesecakes!
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Pumpkin Cheesecake

This holiday season consider a gift of cheesecakes! Cheesecakes are an elegant and special gift idea that's especially nice to present at a party or dinner as a hostess gift. Imagine having a creamy pumpkin cheesecake laced with pumpkin pie spices and baked on a tasty gingerbread crust delivered to the front door of a loved one! Topped with a festive design, these pumpkin cheesecakes have become a holiday tradition for so many! Or take a holiday cheesecake to any of the many holiday parties that you may be invited to, and you are sure to please!
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Cheesecakes For Dessert

Cheesecakes are delicious desserts tailor made to suit any type of occasion. Cheesecakes were a major player during what is referred to as the culinary evolution. Cheesecakes were brought into the United States by immigrants from Europe that may explain the New York cheesecake popularity. Then in 1872 a resourceful dairyman invented cream cheese well the rest is history.
Traditional cheese cakes are created by beating cream cheese, adding sugar, vanilla essence, lemon juice, and sour cream. The cream used may be cedar or stilton. This is added to cracker crust, baked, and then chilled before serving. During this process it is extremely important that it is not over beaten, and then it is followed by low temperature baking to avoid the crust from becoming dry and brittle.
Of course since there is the healthy conscious at work these days so it should be noted that there are now sugar free, low fat and low carb cheesecakes in the market place.
Or you can give a cheesecake sampler a try and leave the rest up to the Stairmaster at your local gym.
Regardless we have a host of choices in terms of size and flavors, from fruit to Mango Chai and everything in-between.
So grab a fork and dessert plate sink your teeth into this decadent treat and let the creamy flavor roll over your palate, oh by the way a freshly made pot of gourmet coffee goes rather well with this dessert, so enjoy it is not everyday that we can treat ourselves to such delicious luxury….or can we?
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Cheesecakes

Cheesecake is the ultimate, delectable, mouth watering dessert that suits any occasion. Whenever your family and friends gather for a special meal, holiday party, birthday, anniversary, engagement party, or a wedding party, cheesecake is a great choice to top off any food consuming, festive occasion. It is also an excellent choice for a quiet and romantic evening for any couple, whether dining in or out. Cheesecake is at the top of many gift giving lists worldwide. It just seems to be a universal gourmet treat that consumers crave and indulge.

The history of what is called the culinary evolution involved cheesecakes. Cheesecakes are extremely popular in the United States, but they are of European origin, brought by immigrants into the United States. Early cheesecake creations were sour in taste, since numerous spices were added to flavor them. The year 1872 brought about a fabulous change in the main ingredient for most cheesecake recipes today, and that was the invention of cream cheese by a dairyman.

Traditional style cheesecakes are made by beating cream cheese, then adding sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, eggs, and sour cream, and mixing to a nice smooth consistency. Some recipes use cedar or stilton cream. The cream cheese mixture or batter is then spread into a graham cracker, cookie, or nut crust, then baked and chilled before serving. In the cheesecake batter preparation of beating the cream cheese and adding the other ingredients, over beating should be avoided. The temperature for baking cheesecake is usually lower than for most cake type desserts, since the crust may become dry or break when over heated. Once baked and cooled to room temperature, a freshly baked cheesecake should generally be refrigerated for 8 hours to enable more easy removal from the pan.

There have been delicious variations of cheesecakes produced with different ingredients and preparation processes since cream cheese was invented. Simply by adding or excluding certain base ingredients, and using a few different baking techniques, many successful cheesecake desserts have been derived from one main recipe. We now have the wonderful choice of cheesecake with fruit swirled in, chocolate chunks, nuts, caramel, pumpkin, and even peanut butter!

Cheesecakes come in varying sizes, too, and the cost of a cheesecake depends on the size and flavor one desires. Sizes can range from bite size servings, mini size individual servings, 2 pound and 3 pound, up to 4 pound cheesecakes. To the good fortune of every cheesecake lover, cheesecakes can now also be purchased (or attempted at home) in unique and satisfying flavors like peach, mango chai, key lime, cappuccino, turtle, white chocolate pistachio, Neapolitan, pumpkin fudge, orange cranberry, amaretto, pecan truffle, super fudge chunk, and the list goes on, with more sensational flavors being tested and introduced regularly. It seems cheesecake flavors are nearly as plentiful as ice cream flavors. Cream cheese as the base in cheesecakes seems to have that ability to allow adding a wide variety of ingredients, which may totally change the flavor or texture, while maintaining the irresistible, rich and creamy smoothness that is irresistible to the cheesecake loving population.

With health issues many people face, low fat and sugar free cheesecakes entered the cheesecake market, and are quite in demand. Low calorie sugars and sugar substitutes, along with low fat cream and cream cheese, have allowed diet conscious consumers to truly enjoy a satisfying guilt-free slice of cheesecake, too. We live in a nice, fair world.
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