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