For the Oscars on Sunday I made a cheesecake. This was on the TWD list from December, and I was all set to make it then. I had the main ingredients that I normally don't have (4 blocks of cream cheese, and chocolate graham crackers since I wanted to make the Layered Chocolate version). But then I was busy at work. And then I caught a cold. Then I was busy at work again. Then I caught another cold. The cream cheese in the fridge and the graham crackers in the cupboard mocked me everytime I opened them. They had just one question - when?
So what better occasion to make an elegant black and white dessert for than an Oscar party. The pressure was on, and as typical for me, I did a dopey thing -- I didn't read the recipe all the way through before I started to see if I had all the ingredients. What -- you mean I need something other than cream cheese and graham crackers??? To say I made this by the skin of my teeth would be an understatement (picture, if you will, opening about 20 sugar packets so that I could have enough sugar - need I say more?).
Since I never made a cheesecake before, and because this was going to a party with actual people (rather than my non-fussy co-workers) I was very nervous and thought I'd pass out from anticipation (or was that passing out feeling a Hugh Jackman closeup?). Happily, it was a success. Very tasty, very tall, very creamy (the cheesecake, not Hugh Jackman.....hmmmm.....let me rethink that last statement......).
I was surprised how easy this cheesecake is to make. It needs time, sure, so it's not a "throw it together" kind of dessert. But a show stopper for those special occassions.
