Recipes To Share

Posts Tagged ‘new york cheesecake’

It doesn’t matter what sort of couple you’re part of–whether it is a long term marriage, you have three kids or no kids, boyfriend and girlfriend or a gay relationship–that you are~you are probably} both too busy to just commit sufficient time for each other.  Most of us have more tasks to do than we have available time.  You may well wonder whether the world has always been this way or whether it is only in these times.

Unfortunately, one of the first things to get postponed “until there is enough time” is quality time with our significant others.  We think we’ll suddenly find more time once this big deadline at work is completed.  Or we hope that we won’t be as busy once little Jimmy’s soccer season is finally done.  We then find ourselves pondering whether our relationship has grown stale.  Maybe, we think, this happens to all couples after they have been paired for some period of time.Perhaps it does, but even that is no excuse.  No person, no project at the office, no “honey do” list at your home should become more important than your partner–at least not every time that a priority must be established.

Here are a few tips for a perfect, non-traditional, intimate evening at your own home.

Choose a night to send the children and pets off to Grandma’s (or a neighbor’s house)
Disconnect the television
Choose some CDs that you both enjoy
Throw away (or hide) all telephones, computers and any other contraptions that disrupt your life every day
Send for a chef prepared, gourmet meal from an Internet boutique–one that needs virtually no effort on your part but stills tastes as if it’s from a four star restaurant
Buy a bottle of fine wine oran invigorating mixture of fresh fruit juices
Park the cars in the closed garage
Close all curtains
Switch off the lights
Pretend you’re not home
Light some drip less candles
Eat at a very slow pace
Take plenty of time to talk about each other
Listen attentively
Finish the meal with a slice of creamy New York cheesecake and a glass of a complimentary dessert wine or cup of coffee
Worry about the diet some other day
Don’t do the dishes, at least not until morning
Blow out some of the candles
Go to a fantasy room other than your bedroom
Try to think of something that relaxes you–in some stimulating manner
Oh, yeah.  Talk some more

Go through the whole process after a month.  You will find {that you are still too busy to suit you}, but you won’t mind as much if you follow these easy directions.

Whenever you decide to add a luscious cheesecake as your dessert, make sure its appearance on the plate is as elegant as the as the sweet morsel, itself. A meal, particularly at the finish, should stimulate the visual sense too. These are some thought, although you may add your own personal creativity.

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 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 additionally by the nature of the platter, itself. Certainly, the small plates that are part of your china set will do the job. But the expanded storage space in modern pantries allow many hosts and hostesses to keep specialty plates. People have individual salt servers and soup crocks, as opposed to the typical bowls. Why not get special serving pieces 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!

We all have a friend who is completely helpless in the kitchen.  Actually, if you don’t have a friend like that, read on, because I have enough friends who meet that description to share at least one of mine with you.

The gift recommendation that I’m about to offer for him is rather expensive, so be prepared.  I promise you, though, that you will discover it’s a very good investment on your part.  Perhaps that nameless man is your roommate, your cousin or even your own son who you can seem to get to move out of your house.

Give the gift of a romantic dinner with the person of his own choice–right there in his home.  When you get right down to it, nothing impresses an unsuspecting date more than an intimate dinner that the host has prepared himself (with your encouragement, of course.  I really do have a particular friend in mind as I write this, and he needs all the help that I can give him, and I’m sure your similar friend does, too.  You may need to be very specific when you give him your gift and the instructions to go with it.  Remind him to light candles, choose the music for him and suggest he pick up his dirty socks.

Start with a gift of a selection of gourmet cheeses for the beginning course  If he is capable of slicing a couple pears or apples, suggest that as well.  He can serve this course as a finger food or at the dining table as the formal beginning of the meal.

For the entree, present him with a certificate for a delicious gourmet dinner of lobster a different seafood dinner or perhaps a combination of steak and lobster, sometimes known as surf and turf.  As noted, this guy needs plenty of help, so the fresher the lobster the better.

Tell him to cap off the evening with a magnificent, turtle cheesecake.  Or, if he does not like chocolate, then select the more traditional New York cheesecake, decorated with a sprig of fresh mint.

You might also recommend a fine wine, if he consumes alcoholic beverages.  Lobster is sufficiently robust that it is perfectly safe to offer a bold wine.  He might consider a Burgundy or Merlot, although if he is not very adventurous, then perhaps a Chardonnay would be better for him.

Once you’ve done your part in the affair, relax until you receive the engagement announcement.  If it doesn’t arrive within six months, just find another friend.  That will be much easier.

We’ve all had this happen to us. Good friends come by unexpectedly. Of course, you’re happy to see them and are really glad they came, but, being the “good hostess”, you wonder what kind of food to serve them while they’re visiting. You mentally click through the available choices. You haven’t been to the super market in days and the kitchen cupboards are nearly bare. Cheese? How embarrassing to slice the white moldy material away. Chips? Oops…the bag was left open and they are stale. Fruit? Not unless the guests enjoy the brown-spotted overripe bananas. On impulse, I quickly scan the freezer contents. YES…I can’t believe my luck…Cheesecake!

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 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 boasts a delicious uniqueness all its own, with the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness. There are a number of kinds of cheesecake from which to make your choice, making each seem like a exquisitively different dessert. Of these different choices, fruit-topped cheesecake offers a healthy and colorful option. Picture juicy, red strawberries, firm blueberries, or sweet peaches ladled generously over a slice of New York Style cheesecake and feel your mouth water. For that extra-tart, exotic pleaser, try Key Lime cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake has that decadently rich taste sensation that is truly delicious.

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.

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!

If you’re serving a special cheesecake, consider taking the extra step of considering the appearance of the cheesecake. We enjoy food with our eyes, in addition to our mouths. Always play around with your own thoughts, 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 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.

Low Carb Cheesecakes: A mint sprig positioned on one side of the cheesecake will make this diet dessert seem even more wonderful without adding any unnecessary carbs.

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?The presentation is impacted not just by what’s on the plate but additionally by the nature of the platter, itself. Certainly, the small plates that are part of your china set will do the job. But the expanded storage space in modern pantries allow many hosts and hostesses to keep specialty plates. People have individual salt servers and soup crocks, as opposed to the typical bowls. Why not get special serving pieces that you use only for the special dessert celebrations?

Cheesecakes are a wonderful–and slightly expensive–ending to a fine meal or a casual picnic. Dedicate just a little your planning time to highlight the elegance of this remarkable delicacy with your signature touches.