Cheesecake

I don’t have to explain to you what a cheesecake is, as we all know what a lovely sweet end it is. My preference is the unbaked with a nice buttery base. In Germany they bake it usually withut a base. The cheesecake was probably invented by the ancient Greeks. They seem to invent loads of good stuff, can’t get decent hotels figured out yet though! Greek physician Aegimus, who wrote a book on the art of making cheesecakes (πλακουντοποιικόν σύγγραμμα—plakountopoiikon suggramma) yeah right! Cato the Elder’s De Agri Cultura includes recipes for two cakes made for for religious purposes: libum and placenta (I wonder what’s in that?). Of the two, placenta is most like most modern cheesecakes, having a crust that is separately prepared and baked. It is important to note that though these early forms are called “cheesecakes”, they differed greatly in taste and consistency from the cheesecake that we know today.

In 1912, James Kraft developed a form of pasteurized cream cheese. Kraft then acquired the Philadelphia trademark in 1928, and marketed pasteurized Philadelphia Cream Cheese which is now the most commonly used cheese for cheesecake and the Americans of course took the cheesecake up another 20 notches!

Anyway, here you will find some great cheesecake recipes and if you want to contribute send a recipe and picture.