Tuesday, October 22, 2013

How A Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe Can Turn The Holidays From Hell Into Heaven

By Chasity Sheppard


The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration and for families to get together, but for some people the idea of having to spend an entire day with all their relatives sounds like hell. Maybe Aunt Mildred will refuse to speak to Dad because he broke her favorite teapot twenty years ago, or maybe Grandpa will drink too much and insult your sister's new boyfriend. If this is the kind of family get-together that you have to look forward to, it may be time to find a good pumpkin cheesecake recipe so that, even for only a few minutes, everyone will be quiet as they savor a slice of heaven.

Pumpkins are synonymous with North America in the fall. This is the time when these native vegetables are abundant and a staple for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They're brimming with Vitamin A, beta-carotene and other nutrients and because you can serve them as part of the main course or as dessert, they're a versatile way of getting the kids to eat their veggies.

Cheesecake is a dessert staple that has been around in some form or another for many centuries. It's made mainly of cream cheese or cottage cheese, sometimes with eggs added for an extra rich taste and firmer texture. Sugar provides sweetness while fruit or fruit juice, chocolate, caramel or rose water adds flavor.

When you combine two of the most versatile dessert foods, you get pumpkin cheesecake. It has a gloriously rich golden color because of the squash, pureed and mixed in with the cheese. Cinnamon and other spices are reminiscent of pumpkin pie but the cheese gives it a more tart, sophisticated taste.

While the filling is important, the crust can completely transform the cake into something special. Most recipes call for graham crackers which are roughly crushed and mixed with butter. However, it's easy to substitute graham crackers with something else, like ginger cookies or even chopped nuts. If making the crust sounds like too much work, you may use a ready-made pie crust or even opt for a crustless version.

Normally the cake is baked at a low temperature but some versions don't require any time in the oven. The most important part is the time the cake needs to spend in the refrigerator so that it can properly set. You'll have to resist the urge to dig in before it's set or you'll end up with a sunken cake.

The best way to find recipes is to ask friends and relatives who love baking. Cookery books and websites are a good option too. You'll find a huge variety of recipes online, even for vegan versions using tofu instead of cheese.

Your pumpkin cheesecake recipe will make it so much easier to prepare Thanksgiving dinner because it's easy, fuss-free and can be made in advance. It's a great way to keep the peace between feuding relatives too because nobody can argue when their mouth is full. Best of all, you'll be happy to eat Thanksgiving leftovers for the next week.




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