Cheesecake

History

Where does cheesecake come from? Italy, Greece, France, the US? The truth is all of these places have a baked or set custard or cake made with cheese. Italy actually has 2 categories of "cheesecake", tiramisu and a floured cake with ricotta in the batter. The French style of cheesecake is more akin to what we here in the states consider "Cheesecake", made from a soft, unripened cheese. This spreadable cheese is often sold in the US as "Fat Free" cream cheese.
In the US there is a big debate over who has the best cheesecake, New York or Chicago. I say that the best cheesecakes come from your own kitchen.
This recipe is an amalgam of one recipe and one word of wisdom. The recipe part is out of a "Brand Name" cook book or a box of biscuit mix box. I really don't remember right now. And the advice was from my culinary school baking chef, Chef Scott Myerson, who told me that the best cheesecakes had only 4 ingredients, cream cheese, sugar, eggs and flavor. Everything else was fluff.
This recipe is so easy, I taught a 19 year old Marine to make it with a fork and a microwave. It also plays a big role in my current "Low Carb" lifestyle, but more on that later.

What you need

A large bowl, this could be the bowl of a stand mixer, a food processor, a blender, whatever
Something to stir with, the stand mixer, the blender, the food processor, a spoon, a wish, a fork
Something to cook in, this could be a cake pan, muffin tin, plastic bowl (but only for the microwave)



Plain cheese cake
8 8 ounce blocks of any unflavored cream cheese
8 whole eggs
2 cups of sugar or sugar substitute
2 tablespoons vanilla extract (pure please, not imitation)

Topping
1 cup of sour cream
1 tablespoon of sugar or sugar substitute
1 teaspoon of vanilla

1) soften cream cheese to room temperature
2) cut into 1 inch cubes
3) add to bowl with eggs, sugar, and vanilla
4) mix until smooth
5) Cook; if you are using an oven, preheat to 400 degrees, bake in a greased cake pan for 45 -60 min. If you are using the microwave, cook on high for about 3 min checking every min after the second.
6)The cake is done when the edge is firm but the center is still a bit giggly
7) Mix the topping up and place on the HOT cheese cake
8) Cool at least 15 min
9) Enjoy

What does this have to do with Gaming?!?!?!

This basic cheesecake recipe is one that I take to new gaming groups. It's a bit of an "ice breaker" for me, since food makes me more comfortable in just about any surrounding. It was also published in the MMO Fan-zine that I write for as part of a review of a in-game restaurant. It was spruced up a bit with the additional flavors of pineapple and coconut to make a Pina Colada cheesecake.