| Whats your favorite birthday cake? For me, | | | | cousins. The French prefer Neufchatel cheese and |
| nothing beats cheesecake. In fact, I cant 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, youd 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 Ive 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 didnt I think of that? |
| caught on and spread the divine taste of | | | | Youd be hard pressed to find a culture that |
| cheesecake throughout Europe. From there it was | | | | doesnt or didnt 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. Youll find every imaginable flavor and |
| embraced cheesecake in one form or another, | | | | topping in todays 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 lets not forget savory cheesecakes featuring |
| we vary the recipe by region. New York | | | | blue cheese, garlic, seafood, chiles, and other |
| cheesecake is famous for its ultra-smooth | | | | tasty cheese-friendly flavors, or vegan versions |
| texture and decadently rich flavor achieved by | | | | of cheesecake-like desserts made with tofu. With |
| adding extra egg yolks and a hint of lemon and | | | | so many varieties, youd need a lot more than a |
| youll find other regional variations from | | | | Cheesecake of the Month club to sample them all! |
| Chicago-style to Pennsylvania Dutch. Many | | | | Clearly, cheesecake has lived long and continues |
| American bakers add sour cream for a creamy | | | | to prosper. Whether its a birthday cake, |
| cheesecake that can be frozen without | | | | anniversary treat, or just a |
| compromising taste or texture. | | | | Make-Everyday-Special indulgence, cheesecake is |
| Italian cheesecakes generally use ricotta cheese, | | | | an ancient delight that will never go out of style! |
| which makes them drier than their American | | | | |