So, this isn't some crazy important lesson I've learned, or some mind-blowing event that took place in my life. But this week, I made a homemade cheesecake for the first time ever. And it was amazing!
I absolutely love anything that has to do with cooking and baking. In fact, I volunteer to spend most of my afternoon in the kitchen cooking so that my mom didn't have to because I just wanted to spend my time in one of my most favorite rooms in the house. Now that I'm a momma of two, I don't get to spend near us much time cooking and baking as I would like to. But I started my first Thanksgiving food project a couple of days ago.
I go crazy over Olive Garden's Pumpkin Cheesecake. The awful thing is that they only serve it around fall every year, so I have to get my fill of it when it's actually available. I decided I wanted it with Thanksgiving dinner this year, so I set off on an internet search for the closest recipe possible. After finding what looked like the best candidate (http://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-pumpkin-cheesecake-458678) I started gathering my supplies, and the confidence in the kitchen to make one of the more difficult recipes I've done. Cheesecakes have always intimidated me. I've heard horror stories of cracked cheesecakes, ones that fall apart before you cut them, and cutting into seemingly-baked cheesecakes only to have raw goo pour out from the middle. So needless to say, I researched every single thing possible to make sure that those stories didn't happen to me!
I probably spent a ridiculous amount of time making sure that I had every detail perfect. I followed the recipe to a "t," reading and rereading it the couple days prior to baking. I searched for cheesecake baking tips and followed every one that seemed to be smart. I freaked out every step of the way. And I constantly wished that it wasn't against food etiquette to cut a slice of my cheesecake before Thanksgiving!
After all of that work, and a huge mess in my kitchen, I had a baked a cheesecake with no cracks, no jelly-like center, and no crumbling crust. And then I had to wait two days to cut into it! As I sliced the first piece tonight, I was seriously sweating. Then I spread my homemade whipped cream onto it (UH-MAZ-ING!,) garnished with gingersnaps and caramel sauce, and gave out the plates. And listened to the quiet of my family eating and the "mmmmmmmmmm" sound that soon followed.
I had done it! I conquered a (ridiculous) fear of mine and successfully baked my first free-standing flavored cheesecake. And it is probably one of the best things I have ever made.
Next challenge: Gingerbread Cheesecake at for Christmas dinner with the in-laws. I'm ready to take it on now!
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