Laxie through the Looking Glass

[Laxie]

Dear God,

My prayer for 2011 is for a fat bank account & a thin body.
Please don't mix these up like you did last year.

Amen

[Laxie]

Today I'm making a cheesecake.   

Brian loves when I make cheesecake and had been asking for months.  It'd been years since the last one was made.  After living in New York for a goodly bit, cheesecake had become serious business.  We're not talking yer standard light hearted affair.  Oh no.  This is proper stick to yer ribs (and book an appointment with a cardio doc) cheesecake.

When we first moved to Ireland things like Philly cream cheese were hard to find.  Creme fraiche was next to impossible to get and I had to special order it.  I refused to make it 'wrong' using alternative ingredients so basically got out of the habit altogether. 

Early days I got away with it by telling him we just couldn't get the ingredients.  Which was true.  But as he got older his yearning for cheesecake never faltered...and Ireland managed to get the ingredients in. 

Finally got round to making one last week and he was over the moon.  Except that now he's a bit older he's a fecking food critic!  He's all sorts of new ideas to tweak it and wants me to give them a go.  I shall mostly be breaking all my rules by breaking away from the recipe I've carried for years and will be adding a twist to the old faithful. 

This has caused a small bit of concern.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  I'll do it because he's asked, but still....

Even had a dream during me few hours kip last night.  Mrs. Red was in it!  I'd to make the old recipe first.  The next day I went about making the 'new' version and she wasn't at all impressed. 

Really do need to get out more.

[boldie]

Ah, proper cheesecake is lovely....what they try to pass off as cheesecake over here is just not right.

[Laxie]

Ah, proper cheesecake is lovely....what they try to pass off as cheesecake over here is just not right.

'What they try to pass off' here isn't even cheesecake imo.  Not sure what ya'd call it...other than rubbish.

Right.  I've posted in Red's diary asking for Mrs. Red's regarding this new breed of cheesecake and Red's gone missing. 

Imma hafta wing it.  Not going to be easy.  Can't get Mrs. Red's disappointed look outta me head.  Plan is to blame Tom if it goes tits up.

[boldie]

Ah, proper cheesecake is lovely....what they try to pass off as cheesecake over here is just not right.

'What they try to pass off' here isn't even cheesecake imo.  Not sure what ya'd call it...other than rubbish.

Right.  I've posted in Red's diary asking for Mrs. Red's regarding this new breed of cheesecake and Red's gone missing. 

Imma hafta wing it.  Not going to be easy.  Can't get Mrs. Red's disappointed look outta me head.  Plan is to blame Tom if it goes tits up.

you have my address...send me some when you've made it..or just make 2 or 3 I would gladly throw away the good eating habits to scoff a proper Yankie cheesecake (why does that sound soo dodgy?)

[Bongo]

Recipe for original cheesecake please?

[boldie]

Recipe for original cheesecake please? Send me some as well because, like Boldie, I also can't be bothered making it

FYP, it's the easy way mate. If she chooses to include the recipe with the cheesecake that'd be grand. If not, then she can just make us another one

[Laxie]

This is the recipe handed down to me by relations years ago:

BASE CRUST

1 1/2 cup digestive biscuit crumbs
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter

Combine all ingredients, dump into 11" spring-form pan.  Spread around loosely until evenly distributed then pack it down with your flat bare hand.  Spray sides of pan with no stick junk.


FILLING

4 pkgs Philadelphia cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
4 jumbo eggs
500ml sour cream or creme fraiche  *see note below
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 tablespoons melted butter

Let all ingredients sit out and come to room temperature.  If you have a mixer or processor use it.  If not it's ok just use a rubber spatula and a big bowl.

Mash up the cream cheese to get it pliable-squishie then add the sugar and mix some more.

Add the eggs one at a time but crack them into a bowl first.  Remind yourself how you just spent silly money on cream cheese and how your in-laws would like to mention it's to be expected you would have egg shells in the food.

Next add sour cream, vanilla and finally melted butter.

If you're using a mixer make sure you mix it a wee bit by hand to make sure the major coating of cream cheese on the bowl has been incorporated.

Pour this whole thing into the spring-form pan on top of your crust.  Bake in the lower half of a 160 degree fan oven (170 regular) for 50 minutes.

Let it sit out until it cools off then refrigerate overnight.  While it's still in the pan make topping of your choice and add to the cake.


TOPPING  **more notes below
3/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar

Mix up with spoon and dump into the middle of the cheesecake.  With a big serving spoon work from the middle and go round with the spoon squishing the topping out to the lip of the cake.  If the cake cracks while it's baking this should cover it up.

The cake will travel well like this.  When you are ready to serve open the spring-form and cut with a wet knife.  Cut in half, then the half into quarters and those quarters into four.  This sounds kind of chintzy but it's not.  Rinse the knife every few cuts to get very pretty pieces.



DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVE THIS ON THE SAME DAY YOU MAKE IT!

* Today I did a bit of a 'half and half'.  Half creme fraiche and half mixed forest berries that I smoothied in a blender first.  Will get back to you on success or failure.

** This is part of the original recipe but I prefer fruit of some sort as a topping - doesn't feel as guilty to eat it then.  lol  My topping is berries of your choice with a couple of tablespoons of sugar (to your taste) - simmered.  Sieve out the seeds if required then add a teaspoon or two of corn flour while on low heat to thicken.  Top cheesecake with this mixture while it's still in the spring form pan and before it's put in the fridge to chill.

[tikay]

That looks too complicated Dawn.

This is a lot easier = better.

Jell-o No Bake Cheesecake Mix allows you to make a velvety smooth cheesecake with a golden Honey Maid graham crust.

The mix takes about 15 minutes to prepare, then refrigerate for an hour before it's ready to eat!

To complete the recipe, as well as a pack of Jell-o No Bake Cheesecake Mix, you'll also need:

2 tablespoons of sugar
5 tablespoons of butter
1 1/2 cups of cold milk

[Laxie]

Add the eggs one at a time but crack them into a bowl first.  Remind yourself how you just spent silly money on cream cheese and how your in-laws would like to mention it's to be expected you would have egg shells in the food.

That bit always makes me giggle  

My older sister Laura (she's technically 'step-sister' but we've always considered each other sisters) sent me the recipe as you see it above not long after I was married.  Before that time I used to just call to Laura's where it had already been made for me.

[Laxie]

Don't listen to Tikay people!!!  He might (just maybe) have some clue about poker, but he knows sweet feck all about cheesecake. 

Firstly his 'cheesecake' is abso RUBBISH!!! 

And secondly, mine isn't difficult at all.  Can be knocked out and in the oven in no time.

[boldie]

Don't listen to Tikay people!!!  He might (just maybe) have some clue about poker, but he knows sweet feck all about cheesecake. 

Firstly his 'cheesecake' is abso RUBBISH!!! 

And secondly, mine isn't difficult at all.  Can be knocked out and in the oven in no time.

How long does it take to put in a box and send to bongo and myself?

[tikay]

Don't listen to Tikay people!!!  He might (just maybe) have some clue about poker, but he knows sweet feck all about cheesecake. 

Firstly his 'cheesecake' is abso RUBBISH!!! 

And secondly, mine isn't difficult at all.  Can be knocked out and in the oven in no time.

How long does it take to put in a box and send to bongo and myself?

Exactly. I rest my case.

[Laxie]

Don't listen to Tikay people!!!  He might (just maybe) have some clue about poker, but he knows sweet feck all about cheesecake. 

Firstly his 'cheesecake' is abso RUBBISH!!! 

And secondly, mine isn't difficult at all.  Can be knocked out and in the oven in no time.

How long does it take to put in a box and send to bongo and myself?

Exactly. I rest my case.

Stick to what ya know Bugs Bunny and get back to yer salads.

As for the Lads.  If ye ever get over here I'll happily make one for ya.  Alternatively, I can make on over there if ye have the stuff and an oven handy. 

[boldie]

Don't listen to Tikay people!!!  He might (just maybe) have some clue about poker, but he knows sweet feck all about cheesecake. 

Firstly his 'cheesecake' is abso RUBBISH!!! 

And secondly, mine isn't difficult at all.  Can be knocked out and in the oven in no time.

How long does it take to put in a box and send to bongo and myself?

Exactly. I rest my case.

Stick to what ya know Bugs Bunny and get back to yer salads.

As for the Lads.  If ye ever get over here I'll happily make one for ya.  Alternatively, I can make on over there if ye have the stuff and an oven handy. 

this sounds like much less effort. Anytime you want to come over for a few hours to make me a cheese cake you're more than welcome.