| What's your favorite birthday cake? For me, | | | | cousins. The French prefer Neufchatel cheese and |
| nothing beats cheesecake. In fact, I can't imagine | | | | often add gelatin for a light and airy consistency. |
| what the world was like before cheesecake was | | | | The Greeks might use ricotta, mizithra, farmers, |
| created! | | | | feta, Swiss, or a combination of cheeses, while |
| Turns out, you'd have to search back pretty far | | | | the Germans typically rely on cottage cheese or |
| to find a time when the Earth was cheesecake | | | | quark. The Japanese incorporate cornstarch and |
| free. In fact, way back in 776 BC, long before the | | | | whipped egg whites into their cheesecakes for a |
| first Cheesecake Factory opened, the Greeks are | | | | more custard-like effect, and I've even heard you |
| said to have served cheesecake to the athletes | | | | can find cheesecake in vending machines in Japan. |
| at the first Olympic games. The Romans soon | | | | Now why didn't I think of that? |
| caught on and spread the divine taste of | | | | You'd be hard pressed to find a culture that |
| cheesecake throughout Europe. From there it was | | | | doesn't - or didn't - enjoy a good cheesecake. |
| only a matter of time before European | | | | Culinary historians cite cheesecake recipes dating |
| immigrants brought their cherished cheesecake | | | | back to the first century AD, with additional |
| recipes to America. | | | | recipes floating around from the centuries that |
| It seems that every region of the globe has | | | | followed. You'll find every imaginable flavor and |
| embraced cheesecake in one form or another, | | | | topping in today's cheesecake recipes, but the |
| adapting the recipe to local tastes and adding local | | | | basic premise, baking creamy cheese with wheat |
| flavors. In America, cheesecakes are typically | | | | and sweetener, has stood the test of time. |
| made with a cream cheese base, but even here | | | | And let's not forget savory cheesecakes |
| we vary the recipe by region. New York | | | | featuring blue cheese, garlic, seafood, chiles, and |
| cheesecake is famous for its ultra-smooth | | | | other tasty cheese-friendly flavors, or vegan |
| texture and decadently rich flavor- achieved by | | | | versions of cheesecake-like desserts made with |
| adding extra egg yolks and a hint of lemon - and | | | | tofu. With so many varieties, you'd need a lot |
| you'll find other regional variations from | | | | more than a "Cheesecake of the Month" club to |
| Chicago-style to Pennsylvania Dutch. Many | | | | sample them all! |
| American bakers add sour cream for a creamy | | | | Clearly, cheesecake has lived long and continues |
| cheesecake that can be frozen without | | | | to prosper. Whether it's a birthday cake, |
| compromising taste or texture. | | | | anniversary treat, or just a |
| Italian cheesecakes generally use ricotta cheese, | | | | "Make-Everyday-Special" indulgence, cheesecake is |
| which makes them drier than their American | | | | an ancient delight that will never go out of style! |