Easy & Cheesy

This collection needs another sweet-tooth entry, and I've got the perfect one for you. Not many women can resist coming up to your bachelor pad for homemade cheesecake and coffee. Most women LOVE cheesecake, and with any luck, will love you for being able to make it.

Ingredients: (aprox $15)
40 ounces of softened cream cheese (that's 5 packages, usually)
a cup and a half of sugar
2 large eggs
Pint of Sour Cream
tablespoon of lemon juice
teaspoon of vanilla
pinch of salt
stick of butter, firm

Preheat the oven to 375° and prep a large spring form pan as follows: Place a sheet of parchment paper over the inside bottom of the spring form pan, fit the rim and lock in place. Trim excess paper from the underside of the pan. Place a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil on counter. Place the locked pan in center and raise up the foil to top rim. Crinkle around the outer top of rim. Using some firm butter, fill in the inside lower rim of pan, using your finger to form a smooth lining. (like caulking a bathtub). Place in freezer while you make the batter.

Beat cream cheese and sugar till smooth. Add sour cream, then eggs (one at a time). Add remaining ingredients. Mix on medium speed until well incorporated (about three minutes), scraping down sides of bowl several times while mixing to prevent lumps).

Remove the spring form pan from freezer. Place pan onto a dishcloth onto counter and pour batter into pan. (So it's not 'loud' when you temp it). With your palms around the outside rim of the pan, GENTLY lift and drop down pan onto the towel. Rotate an inch or so and repeat a few times to raise and release air bubbles from batter. (this will help keep your cheesecake from cracking).

Set the spring form pan into a water bath. (A water bath is a baking pan or heat proof container larger than your cake pan with about an inch or two of water above the bottom of the cake pan). This is for even cooking and to preserve moisture). Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. WITHOUT opening oven door, reduce temperature to 250°F and continue to bake for an additional two hours or until center of cake registers 150F with a digital thermometer.


Remove from oven, water bath, and outer foil. DO NOT unlock the spring form pan! Place on cooling rack for 30-60 minutes. Loosen cake from sides by going between the cake and the pan with the edge of a knife. Refrigerate for at MINIMUM of four hours but overnight is best. (NOTE: If you are using a topping, you can place it onto the cake about 2 hours after refrigerating the cake). Unlock and remove the side of pan. For easier slicing, use dental floss. Taut between your hands, press down over cake, then let go of one end, and slide out from side.

I like to top it with fresh berries at serving, but you can add chocolate, fruit or anything you like.

Suggested drink: Irish coffee.