Cheesecake-Greece-#43

Cheesecake- Greece #43

Cheesecake consist of a thick layer of soft, cream cheese, or ricotta, eggs, vanilla and sugar. If there is a bottom layer it often is a crust made from crushed graham crackers. It may be baked or unbaked. There are many flavors and versions of cheesecakes. I chose to make a traditional cheesecake using a recipe from Fanny Farmer's Cook Book. Honk if you remember Fanny Farmer. lol

Crust:

1 c. graham cracker crumbs,  ground fine. (It's easier to buy the Keebler Graham Cracker Crumbs)
4 T. butter- melted
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 c. sugar

Cake:

1 c. sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 c. sour cream
2 T. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. cream cheese, at room temperature

1. Combine the crumbs, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/4c. sugar in a bowl, mix well.
2. Butter 9" springform pan and pat crumb mixture over the bottom and 1" up the sides.  Chill.
3. Preheat oven 325F.
4. Beat egg yolks until thick and pale. (This takes about 10mins.)
5. Add sour cream, flour, salt, 3/4 c. sugar, vanilla and beat until well blended.
6. Add the cream cheese. Beat until smooth.
7. Beat egg whites until foamy, gradually beat in 1/4c. sugar, and beat until stiff and shiny.
8. Fold into cream cheese mixture.
9. Spoon into crumb crust.
10. Bake 1 hour or until center does not tremble when cake is gently shaken.
11. Cool, then chill in refrigerator.

Results: I debated whether to make a baked cheesecake or no-bake cheesecake. I went with the baked. Some people who tried it preferred to have it straight from the oven and warm. I prefer chilled. I thought it tasted better the 2nd day. I melted raspberry preserves and spooned some on top. Totally unnecessary. In fact, it made it too sweet. Fanny Farmer's cheesecake recipe is good and basic. Next time I would like to make a New York style cheesecake that has cream, which makes it more dense and creamy (go figure). It also has a crumbled shortbread crust. There are so many different types of cheesecakes. That could be my next challenge!

Bottom Line: I'll be experimenting with other cheesecake recipes. at some point. However, this is a good basic one.

Please share this blog with all your cheesy friends and those you like too. Thanks.