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by Tom Lingle

Cheesecake is a timeless treat. This wonderful comfort food is steeped in tradition. While cheesecake has evolved through the centuries, it remains as one of the most popular desserts of all time. This luxurious dessert can be made light or rich and every imaginable way in between. Chefs through the ages have taken the finest ingredients and created some truly memorable offerings. Today, a home chef can take time-tested recipes and create an amazing dessert in the comfort of their own home.

Cheesecakes begin with the crust. A classic crust is made from crushed graham crackers, mixed with sugar and melted butter. More contemporary crusts can be made with crushed vanilla wafers, Oreos, or any other crushed cookie that matches or plays well with your filling. Gourmet crusts can be made from breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, cookie crumbs, or pastry dough.

Cream cheese is the main ingredient for American cheesecakes. Other cuisines use different cheeses. Sugar and chicken eggs are the two other ingredients that most recipes start with as a base. Its really about ratios of ingredients to the size of pan to achieve the creamy consistency you desire. There is a delicate balance, as the more cream cheese you use the denser the cheesecake will be, the more eggs you use, the more creamy and airy.

Fillings can be flavored with rich chocolate or candies, tangy citrus juices and fruit slices, nutty liqueurs, almost anything sweet and savory can be incorporated into a cheesecake filling. Consider your menu and choose a cheesecake to match. For the calorie conscious, light and airy cheesecake desserts that take advantage of less fat cheeses and smaller quantities of sugar are readily available.

Nothing is more beautiful than a piece of cheesecake carefully plated, garnished and presented to its anxious diner. Endless varieties exist, allowing the home chef to choose a recipe to prepare, that is a perfect ending to any gourmet meal. Serve your cheesecake plain, with a chocolate shaving or fruit garnish, or with a sweet sauce.

Bake amazing cheesecakes! Find dozens of delicious cheesecake recipes to choose from at GourmetCheesecakeRecipes.com, or find a cheesecake preparation cooking class at LocalCookingClass.com

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