Cheesecake: an easy, impressive dessert

Whenever I tell people that I cook, they want to know about my desserts. The difference between the verbs "bake" and "cook" is often forgotten or ignored in our society that relies so heavily on microwaves. So here is a really easy dessert that should be prepared a head of time. While it does require the oven, it isn't like baking a cake from scratch. Flour doesn't get everywhere and there is very little measuring. Even the graham cracker crust is easy if you want to try making it.

Ingredients:

2 (8oz) packages of Neufchatel cheese 

                    (aka lower fat cream cheese)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup plain yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs (beaten)

1 store bought graham cracker crust 

                    (or fresh one, it's very easy, see note)

preheat oven to 400 degrees

Mix room temperature cheese with yogurt, eggs, vanilla, and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Don't be afraid to use a motorized kitchen tool to do this. Pour into crust. Bake on 400 degrees until set (about 40 minutes). This should be thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator before eating. Try topping it with a compote such as my blueberry recipe that follows.

Blueberry Compote

This should be thicker than normal in order to fit with the cheesecake's texture. It just can't be watery or runny!

Ingredients

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

In a small saucepan, simmer blueberries, sugar, and water. Stir to dissolve sugar. Simmer until slightly thickened. Cool and serve over cheesecake (or other desserts, if serving with a non-dessert, reduce sugar at least to 1/4 cup sugar).

Graham Cracker Crust

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter (or substitute)

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

                  (about half a box of cookies)

In a large tightly closed ziplock-type bag crush graham crackers with a rolling pin. Measure crumb amount in a measuring cup and return to bag. Melt butter in a small saucepan (or a bowl in the microwave) and add it to the ziplock. Close the bag tightly and mush until the two ingredients are combined. Press into the bottom and sides of the pie plate for your cheesecake. Pour in filling. Bake. It's just that easy.