• 07Mar

    When you decide to include a truly gourmet cheesecake as your dessert, be certain its look on the plate is as elegant as the dessert. A meal, especially at the end, should appeal to the visual sense as well. These are some suggestions, but, of course, you may add your own individual touches.

    New York Cheesecake: This is what most people would think of as the plain or “unflavored” cheesecake. Frankly, it is anything but! However, the taste is one that will adjust well to almost all additions. Well, maybe not broccoli! I recommend that you should consider complimenting the richness of this versatile cheesecake by putting a generous serving of hot fudge around the serving plate.

    Blueberry Cheesecake: Buy an exceptional quality blueberry preserve. Mix in a sufficient amount of fresh lemon juice to dilute the preserves so that the mixture will come off a spoon on its own. Drizzle the diluted preserves in a zigzag pattern across top of the cake. The tartness of the juice will provide a nice counterpoint to the sweet taste of the preserves and cheesecake.

    Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake: This cheesecake has a variety of flavors incorporated, so it’s a good idea not to try to introduce a new one. Instead, place a few flower petals around the plate to enhance the appearance. Orange petals especially compliment the color of the cheesecake.

    Pumpkin Cheesecake, a holiday season favorite, is even smoother than the more traditional pumpkin pie. Cut a festive hole in some paper–tree shaped or a five pointed star. Center the paper over the top of the slice. In the hole, gently shake cinnamon.

    Sugar Free Cheesecakes–no sugar added: No matter what the flavor of the dessert, a mint sprig atop the widest part of the cheesecake wedge, will dress it up delightfully without adding any additional sweetness.

    The appearance is affected not only by the contents of the dish but additionally by the nature of the platter, itself. Certainly, the small plates that are part of your china set will serve your purpose. But the additional storage areas in modern homes permit many of us to keep specialty plates. Many people have unique salsa and chip servers, instead of the old fashioned bowls. Why not get special serving pieces that you use for those spectacular dessert celebrations?

    A gourmet cheesecake is certainly worth the price, even though it may not be a frequent part of your diet. Those times when you are about to splurge, party with your eyes in addition to your mouth!

  • 26Jan

    Some old friends came by unexpectedly not long ago. We had a good visit with them, remembering old times, catching up on current events, and discussing politics. As the evening progressed, I realized I should serve them refreshments. This would be a difficult task, as I haven’t been to the market recently and my supply of food was down to almost nothing. I surveyed the cupboard, trying to find a good choicebut couldn’t find anything appropriate. I refused to serve these dear people stale crackers, slightly moldy cheese, or overripe fruit. I quickly scanned the contents of my refrigerator and freezer. How lucky could I be? Wedged between the fish sticks and popsicles in my freezer was a wonderful option…cheesecake.

    Cheesecake can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or frozen for months. It tastes as fresh as the day you purchase it. It thaws in just a few minutes, is easy to slice into serving portions and simple to serve. Its creamy texture makes it easy to swallow, as well.

    Cheesecake is such a delicious treat, I like to keep a few around for just these sorts of occasions. It is so versatile, it freezes well, is easy to serve, and can be used for just about any occasion. Whether it is a sweet snack, a handy dessert, or a covered-dish item for pot-luck dinners, cheesecake is an unforgettable rich and creamy choice. I’ve even been known to give cheesecake to others as gifts.

    Cheesecake boasts a flavorful originality all its own, with the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness. There are a number of varieties of cheesecake from which to choose, making each a exquisitively different dessert. Of these different varieties, fruit-topped cheesecake offers a healthy and colorful option. Consider juicy, red strawberries, firm blueberries, or sweet peaches ladled generously over a slice of New York Style cheesecake and feel your mouth delight in the complimentary flavors. For that extra-tart, exotic pleaser, try Key Lime cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake has that decadently rich taste that is truly scrumptious.

    The cheesecake in my freezer just happened to be New York Style. This turned out to be the perfect choice for these particular friends, who are non-pretentious and very down-to-earth. I quickly placed the container on the counter to start thawing, started a pot of coffee and by the time it was finished brewing, the cheesecake was ready to slice and serve. What a delightful visit we had, conversing between mouthfuls of this deliciously refreshing treat.

    Yes, cheesecake is a deliciously refreshing treat to serve in “spur of the moment” times like when friends unexpectedly stop by. In fact, all of our friends know I like to keep cheesecake on hand. I guess that it’s possible that our friends didn’t just “drop by”…maybe it was planned so they could enjoy some cheesecake…

  • 14Dec

    When you decide to include a truly gourmet cheesecake as your dessert, be certain its look on the plate is as elegant as the dessert. A meal, especially at the end, should appeal to the visual sense as well. These are some suggestions, but, of course, you may add your own individual touches.

    New York Style Cheesecake: This is what most people would think of as the basic, plain or “unflavored” cheesecake. Frankly, it is anything but unflavored! However, its flavor will adapt well to nearly all additions. Well, maybe not broccoli! I suggest that you should consider complimenting the rich flavor of this versatile cake by placing a healthy amount of hot caramel topping around the plate.

    Strawberry Cheesecake: Place a a bit of whipped cream atop the cake. In the center of the whipped cream, place the largest, reddest strawberry you can find. Be certain to let the leaves on the berry.

    Turtle Cheesecake: This cheesecake has a variety of flavors incorporated, so it’s a good idea not to try to add yet another one. Instead, place just a few flower petals around the platter to add to the appearance. Yellow petals particularly enhance the color of the cake.

    Pumpkin Cheesecake, a holiday time favorite, is even creamier than the more traditional pumpkin pie. Cut a festive hole in some paper–holiday tree shaped or a star. Center the paper over the top of the slice. In the hole you’ve cut in the paper, gently sprinkle cinnamon.

    Sugar Free Cheesecakes–no sugar added: No matter what the flavor of the dessert, a mint sprig atop the widest part of the cheesecake wedge, will dress it up delightfully without adding any additional sweetness.

    The presentation is impacted not just by what’s on the plate but also the character of the plate, itself. Of course, your everyday dishes will serve your purpose. But the added storage space in modern kitchens permit many of us to have more creative alternatives. People have unique salsa and chip servers, instead of the old fashioned bowls. Why not choose plates that you use only for the special dessert celebrations?The appearance is affected not only by the contents of the dish but additionally by the nature of the platter, itself. Certainly, the small plates that are part of your china set will serve your purpose. But the additional storage areas in modern homes permit many of us to keep specialty plates. Many people have unique salsa and chip servers, instead of the old fashioned bowls. Why not get special serving pieces that you use for those spectacular dessert celebrations?

    A gourmet cheesecake is certainly worth the price, even though it may not be a frequent part of your diet. Those times when you are about to splurge, party with your eyes in addition to your mouth!

  • 19Jul

    If you’re serving a gourmet cheesecakewith the meal, I endorse taking the extra step of considering the presentation of the cake. We get enjoyment from our food with our eyes, in addition to our taste buds. Always experiment, but here are a handful of ideas to get you started.

    New York Style Cheesecake: This is what most people would think of as the basic, plain or “unflavored” cheesecake. Frankly, it is anything but unflavored! However, its flavor will adapt well to nearly all additions. Well, maybe not broccoli! I suggest that you should consider complimenting the rich flavor of this versatile cake by placing a healthy amount of hot caramel topping around the plate.

    Blueberry Cheesecake: Purchase a high quality blueberry preserve. Stir in enough lemon juice to dilute the preserves so that it will come off a teaspoon on its own. Drizzle the diluted preserves in a zigzag pattern across the cake. The tartness of the lemon juice will provide a nice counterpoint to the sweet taste of the preserves and cake.

    Gourmet Turtle Cheesecake: This cheesecake has a variety of flavors incorporated, so it’s best not to try to introduce a new one. Instead, place a few petals from small blooms around the platter to add to the presentation. Yellow petals particularly enhance the color of the dessert.

    Pumpkin Cheesecake, a holiday time favorite, is even creamier than the more traditional pumpkin pie. Cut a festive hole in some paper–holiday tree shaped or a star. Center the paper over the top of the slice. In the hole you’ve cut in the paper, gently sprinkle cinnamon.

    Sugar Free Cheesecakes–no sugar added: No matter what the flavor of the cheesecake, a mint sprig on top of the widest part of the dessert, will dress it up wonderfully without additional sugar.

    The presentation is impacted not just by what’s on the plate but also the character of the plate, itself. Of course, your everyday dishes will serve your purpose. But the added storage space in modern kitchens permit many of us to have more creative alternatives. People have unique salsa and chip servers, instead of the old fashioned bowls. Why not choose plates that you use only for the special dessert celebrations?

    Cheesecakes are a terrific–and somewhat expensive–addition to an exquisite meal or a casual barbeque. Dedicate a bit of time to accentuate the smooth texture of this marvelous dessert with your signature additions.

  • 18Jun

    Some old friends stopped by without calling first not long ago. We had a good talk with them, reminiscing old times, catching up on current events, and discussing politics. As the night progressed, I realized I needed to serve refreshments. This would be a difficult task, as I haven’t been to the store lately and my supply of food was dwindling. I surveyed the cupboard, trying to find a suitable choicebut couldn’t find anything appropriate. I refused to serve these people stale crackers, moldy cheese, or overripe fruit. I quickly scanned the contents of my refrigerator and freezer. How lucky could I be? Wedged between the fish sticks and popsicles in my freezer was a wonderful option…cheesecake.

    Cheesecake is a truly delightful treat, I like to keep a few around for just these sorts of occasions. It is so versatile, it freezes well, is easy to serve, and can be used for just about any occasion. Whether it is a sweet snack, a handy dessert, or a covered-dish item for pot-luck dinners, cheesecake is an unforgettable and appropriate choice. I’ve even been known to give cheesecake to others as gifts.

    Cheesecake can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or frozen for months. It tastes as fresh as the day you purchase it. It thaws in just a few minutes, is easy to slice into serving portions and simple to serve. Its creamy texture makes it easy to swallow, as well.

    Cheesecake has a flavorful originality all its own, with the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness. There are a number of types of cheesecake from which to choose, making each a completely different dessert. Of these different choices, fruit-topped cheesecake offers a healthy and colorful option. Consider juicy, red strawberries, firm blueberries, or sweet peaches ladled generously over a slice of New York Style cheesecake and feel your mouth celebrate the complimentary flavors. For that extra-tart, exotic pleaser, try Key Lime cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake has that decadently rich taste that is simply scrumptious.

    The cheesecake flavor I found in my freezer to serve my guests was chocolate cheesecake. I brewed coffee as the chocolate cheesecake easily thawed to a slightly thicker than ice-cream texture. As we enjoyed each flavorful bite, we continued to visit and converse and joke, as my friend exclaimed: “Chocolate cheesecake makes my clothes shrink!” What delightfully clever friends we have.

    Cheesecake is a handy and impressive treat to keep on hand for those surprise visitors who you know are going to be arriving sometime. A well stocked freezer with those emergency supplies turns what could have been a stressful time into a celebration. Sometimes I think my friends come whenever they get hungry for this sweet treat!