The cheesecake began purely as an energy food that originated in the ancient country of Greece. In those days, cheesecake was invented for use as food for the Olympic athletes of the time. Although it began solely as an energy food, the version of cheesecakes we see today is a delicious dessert loved by all.
Ingredients of the first cheesecakes was basically cow or goat cheese; mashed into a pulp, honey for sweetness, wheat flour for the volume and texture and some water to make the resulting goop soft. All the ingredients were combined together then shaped into patties or cakes. They were then baked, cooled and served to the athletes. It wasn't long enough until these cakes were popular as they tasted good. Soon, cheesecakes became a notable feature in Greek cuisine. These cakes were then used in weddings as it became customary for a bride-to-be to make and serve mini cheesecakes to the groom's friends. This tradition gradually evolved into the modern wedding cake.
When the Roman Empire came and occupied the defeated Greeks, they lived amongst the Greeks adopting a lot of Greek food as well as traditions. When the Roman army swept into other parts of the world they brought along with them the cheesecake particularly in Europe and Britain. Therefore, many different local versions of the cheesecake were created as the cake was commonly loved by the occupied nations. The cheesecakes had since spread from the ancient world into the new world and soon USA too became the new center of the cheesecake.
Cheesecakes usually consist of a mixture of different cheese such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta. The reason for this is to add different taste to a cheesecake. Two of the most popular variety of cheesecake in the USA is the Jewish cheesecake or better known as the New York Style cheesecake. The cake is actually cream cheese on cracker crust. Different variation of this cake has evolved over time by adding different flavors and toppings. Some of the flavors you find today are Key Lime, tiramisu, chocolate or fruits like mango and strawberries.
The next popular cheesecake is the Italian cheesecake which is made from ricotta cheese and bits of candied fruit and has a pastry crust. Chefs who are experts in making this cheesecake has guarded their secret family recipe and passed it down to the next generations. Cheesecakes are naturally high in calories and fat due to the ingredients used. But today, with developments in artificial sweeteners and low fat ingredients, you can find healthier selection of cheesecakes such as no fat and sugar added cheesecakes or even sugar free cheesecakes and what's more intriguing is the fact that the healthier versions too managed to keep its natural flavor.
So if you are looking for a dessert that will leave a lasting and pleasant impression on your taste buds you can't go wrong with a cheesecake. So why not try a simple-to-make cheesecake recipe to surprise your friends and family. When preparing the cake the most difficult part in preparing a cheesecake is deciding when it's done as the cheesecake differs from a traditional cake as it is semi solid and therefore collapses easily. To make sure your cheesecake is properly cooked you should time the baking time to be just as the recipe. You can re-bake an undercooked cake but you can't undo an over baked cake. There are many cheesecake recipes for you to try that are easy to make, tastes great and are cheap.
There are many exotic and enticing gourmet recipes to try if you're looking for a more elaborate offering but these are more complex to make. There are many recipes of cheesecake that you can find online or in bookstores. But if you are short of time, why not just head down to the nearest bakery or cake house and order a portion of cheesecake in the flavor you desire? It is certainly an easier and faster way to enjoy a slice. So go on, treat yourself to a slice of your desired flavor now.
Frankly, the author would rather eat New York cheesecake than talk about its history. However, Greg Scott does enjoy writing about any flavor of cheesecake available at EliteCheesecakes.com
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