| My Aunt Wendy was one of the greatest cooks | | | | can take to avoid cracks. First, place a |
| I've ever known. Any time we went to her | | | | water pan in the oven with the cheesecake |
| house, even just for a quick visit, there was | | | | while it bakes. The added moisture in the air |
| something great to eat happening in the | | | | will keep the surface moist and keep it from |
| kitchen. She made chicken and dumplings with | | | | cracking, in much the same way that |
| dumplings that were like little clouds, never | | | | moisturizing cream will help your hands. You |
| gooey or floury like so many are. She made | | | | can also mix a teaspoon of cornstarch into |
| cakes, pies and cookies that were the winners | | | | the batter before putting it in the pan. This |
| of blue ribbons at every contest in town. And | | | | natural thickening agent will guard against |
| her holiday dinners were the most | | | | the separation that leads to cracking.The |
| sought-after invite in the entire | | | | other major hurdle most cooks encounter from |
| family.However, Aunt Wendy until the day she | | | | time to time is the lumpy cheesecake. Unlike |
| died could not make a cheesecake that didn't | | | | cracks, which don't affect the overall |
| come out of the oven with a top that didn't | | | | flavor, lumps indicate poor or incomplete |
| look like a topographical map of California. | | | | mixing, which will affect flavor. To guard |
| Cracks, big and little, narrow and wide, | | | | against this, bring the cheese and the eggs |
| shallow and deep would crawl all over the top | | | | to room temperature, to make the fats in the |
| of the cheesecake, often endangering the | | | | two mix more readily and completely.Remember |
| structural integrity of the whole.Cracks in | | | | those tips and you're on the way to baked |
| the top of the cheesecake are one of the two | | | | cheesecake recipe success!Andrew Krause is a |
| major problems home cooks encounter, and they | | | | Chef and Pastry Chef for over 30 years, at |
| can make your beautiful labor of love into | | | | present I am retired, I owned a Gourmet |
| the ugly duckling of the dessert | | | | Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner. |
| tray.However, there are two simple steps you | | | | |