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Le Cheesecake

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The April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey’s Infamous Cheesecake as the challenge.

What is it about cheesecake that is so enthralling? Is it the creamy texture? The fascinating base? The endless ways to top it?

I don’t know. I just know it’s good.

And yet, even though it’s one of my most favourite desserts, I hardly ever make it.

Perhaps that’s because I can very easily eat an entire cheesecake myself. Oh, yes.

Been there. Done that. Have the t-shirt. (Speaking of t-shirts … have you bought your DK t-shirts yet???)

But I’m always happy to try a new recipe for cheesecake so I was pleased to see that Jenny of Jenny Bakes, our lovely hostess for the April 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge, chose a cheesecake recipe as this month’s test.

While the recipe itself is straightforward, the challenge for Daring Bakers was to find new and interesting ways to interpret and flavour the cheesecake.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t have a lot of time to execute some of the more fanciful ideas that came to mind (let’s just say one involved silicone and cherry blossoms). Thankfully a lack of time and some timely prudence both conspired to prevent such plans.

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In the end, I made your standard nine-inch cheesecake but I challenged myself by trying some flavours in a cheesecake that I’d never tried before.

For starters, I flavoured both the crust and the cheesecake with a healthy dose of rose water, which I have come to love.

Secondly, I added the flavour of Meyer lemons. While I know what Meyer lemons are, I’d never actually tasted one before April of this year. I found them in a local supermarket and bought two sacs because I was so excited. So I used some of the Meyer lemon juice and zest in the cheesecake as well.

I then made candied lemon slices with more of the Meyer lemons and used that as a topping to the cheesecake, spooning the candied lemon juice over the top to add shine and some sweetness.

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While I did not taste the cheesecake myself (I brought it to a group of people that I work with who were particularly helpful to me during a big project earlier this year), from what I understand it was a creamy, luscious cheesecake that disappeared very quickly. And it was a pretty cheesecake too.

I can’t wait for Ontario strawberries to come in. I’m going to be making this again topped with a fresh strawberry sauce.

And I will call it, Le Cheesecake.

Ciao!

For the cheesecake recipe, please visit Jenny’s blog.

55 Comments


04/27/09 at 1:44 am

increible y espectacular cheesecake uhmmmmmmmmm


04/27/09 at 1:53 am

What a beauty! Your cheesecake looks really tempting, refreshing and colorful! Mmmhhhh….

Cheers,

Rosa


04/27/09 at 3:44 am

Beautifully done as usual! I like that you experimented with rose water and meyer lemons — I have to do more of that myself!


04/27/09 at 4:00 am

I can imagine how excited you were to see Meyer lemons; I’d be similarly excited too! You hear so much about them, but I know that I’ll never see them in the UK *sigh*

Your cheesecake looks fantastic, Ivonne! Maybe you’ll bake another one and let loose with your silicone and cherry blossom idea! (Can you tell that I’m dying of curiosity?)


04/27/09 at 4:15 am

Oh how lovely! Lemon and strawberries go together so well. I like you candied the lemon slices and used the juice for a glaze. Delicious!


04/27/09 at 5:24 am

Ivonne, the candied lemons look luscious on top of the cheesecake. I’m sure it was tasty!


04/27/09 at 5:30 am

This cheescake deserves to have a minim attention cause its so delicious!


04/27/09 at 5:58 am

As always a beautiful job! I’m sure the candied lemons tasted absolutely stunning.


04/27/09 at 6:03 am

MAAAAAAAGNIFICENT!!


04/27/09 at 6:07 am

Ivonne… Le Cheesecake is simply Le Beautiful!! :)


04/27/09 at 6:17 am

WOW! I’m floored… this is really beautiful!
Fresh, simple and to the point! Really nice!!!


04/27/09 at 6:55 am

That is absolutely gorgeous Ivonne! I long to try meyer lemons…

Susan

04/27/09 at 6:56 am

Would love to have the recipe for this wonderful cheesecake. Can you sent it to me please. Thanks.


04/27/09 at 7:43 am

Le Cheesecake that is excellent. Love those candied Meyer lemon wheels! Strawberries now those are beautiful on cheese cake.


04/27/09 at 7:51 am

Beautiful cheesecake! I have always wanted to try Meyer lemons. I love your blog!


04/27/09 at 8:08 am

That fruit looks divine and rose water sounds delightful


04/27/09 at 8:51 am

I tried one with Rose Water but I dont think I gave it a healthy enough dose. Yours looks delicious. I’ve always been curious about Meyer lemon have never ran across them. I’m to far north.


04/27/09 at 9:37 am

Looks delicious! I love your presentation of the cheesecake…gorgeous photos!


04/27/09 at 10:29 am

that is a beautiful way to showcase the cheesecake and the fruit! nice job :)

Nazca

04/27/09 at 11:06 am

Exactly why I had to stop baking with you people! ;-)


04/27/09 at 11:19 am

Lemons, strawberries and cheese cake - what a wonderful combination. Your cheesecake looks heavely delicious!


04/27/09 at 11:32 am

Just lovely!
Now, where did you find Meyer lemons?
I have always wanted to try them.


04/27/09 at 12:09 pm

lovely idea with the rose water. i love meyer lemons with cheesecake too. oh ivonne i will miss you when i go on my break. but glad i was able to take part in this one - it marks 2 years with this wild and lovely group. thanks!


04/27/09 at 12:54 pm

Your combination looks wonderful!


04/27/09 at 12:55 pm

Looks delcious!
Used rosewater in mine too :)


04/27/09 at 1:33 pm

Wow, that’s beautiful! I too am looking forward to strawberry season here. Yum.


04/27/09 at 1:43 pm

I know it has been said already but it is absolutely stunning!


04/27/09 at 3:29 pm

That looks delicious Ivonne, great job!


04/27/09 at 3:33 pm

I keep hearing about those meyer lemons, so I think it is about time I am going to get me some! Your cheesecake looks absolutely delicious… I just wonder why my crust got so brown and yours looks nice and yummy…. Hmm, I do think I have to go back and try again! (but I better have some group to eat the cheesecake too…:))


04/27/09 at 4:11 pm

i too just got my hands on meyer lemons the first time this year thanks to whole foods and they were intersting!

your cheesecake looks beautiful! i need to plan a time to my challenge each month and try to take my time so it looks decent in the future.


04/27/09 at 4:13 pm

So pretty! Thanks for the inspiration!


04/27/09 at 4:57 pm

Mmm, your cheesecake looks amazing!! I love the idea of rosewater added in =D.


04/27/09 at 5:01 pm

it is a stunner! i’d love to get that as a thank-you gift!


04/27/09 at 5:05 pm

And you didn’t taste it????????????????????????????? I adore cheesecake (might be my favorite dessert - but don’t play favorites) and love the lemons and berries. Wow!


04/27/09 at 5:23 pm

Ooh, that looks so great! I have been giving much love to the Meyer lemons this year, and have also recently discovered rose water. Anything that even sort of tastes like a flower and I’m there!


04/27/09 at 6:51 pm

I’ve never used rosewater - it sounds intriguing. Beautiful cheesecake!


04/27/09 at 8:56 pm

Oh, those Meyer lemons are to-die-for…and I only recently discovered them, too!

Your cheesecake is lovely, but then so are you for offering up the wonderful world of all things, daring …and the lovely group that finds itself known as, The Daring Bakers.

:)


04/27/09 at 9:33 pm

Rose water, meyer lemons and strawberries - what a creative combination. I would’ve loved to try a slice.


04/27/09 at 9:45 pm

simply beautiful…. and cheers to you for making candied citrus without cutting off half of your thumb as I did.


04/27/09 at 9:45 pm

Beautiful!!! I love the way you decorated your cake with the candied lemon slices- this looks like a work of art!! I thought this was a great recipe!


04/27/09 at 10:19 pm

wow! looks delicious!


04/27/09 at 11:07 pm

oh its just magnificent! nice way of decorating it :)


04/28/09 at 4:40 am

Lovely presentation! I have yet to get my hands on Meyer lemons, I’m so curious about their taste!


04/28/09 at 4:58 am

Wow, what a beautiful variation! I love the addition of rosewater - that’s one I never thought of and will absolutely have to try now. (BTW, this is “the” Abbey, humble creator of the recipe.) I know exactly what you mean about never making cheesecake because you’ll eat the entire thing yourself - my longstanding rule when it comes to making my cheesecakes is that I never make one or bring one to a party unless I can guarantee that it will all be eaten, lest the leftovers taunt me from the fridge. At the most, I’ll allow myself one slice of leftovers. But frankly, there usually isn’t anything left to bring home, it’s that popular! :-)

Thanks again for your lovely variation, and I’m SUPER CURIOUS to know your cherry blossom idea!


04/28/09 at 12:47 pm

Love Meyer lemons. Your cheesecake is very “photogenic,” and, I’m sure, delicious.


04/28/09 at 2:41 pm

Mmm lemon, strawberry, and rosewater… I would gobble this up! :D


04/28/09 at 10:48 pm

This is absolutely beautiful, Ivonne. I like this wonderful combination of lemon with strawberry on the top. A cheesecake is my favourite cake too. What is your favourite recipe for the cheesecake or do you like different variations?
It is time too make my cheesecake!


04/29/09 at 4:02 am

Gorgeous…I love Le Cheesecake. never used rose water, but love the ideas of lemons & strawberries. I’ve got to check the candied lemon bit too; that I like a lot! This has been a very successful challenge with almost everyone having adopted the recipe, over previous ones!


04/29/09 at 8:27 am

I guess I made the cherry blossom chz-cake you did not get to..hmmm can I trade for some of your Meyer lemon one?
Gorgeous as always!


04/29/09 at 9:36 am

Beautiful job, Ivonne! I’ve just been catching up on blogs since getting back into town last night, and I’ve seen so many amazing cheesecakes as a result of this Daring Bakers challenge!


04/29/09 at 7:07 pm

Yum! I wouldn’t have thought to try lemon and rose together, but it is making my mouth water. We already have strawberry season happening right now, and I keep wanting to shout, “It’s too soon! I’m not ready!” Guess I’d better get ready.

Thanks for taking part in this month’s challenge. I always look forward to your take on things. :)


04/30/09 at 1:57 pm

Its too bad you found lemons in April, now you won’t see them again until December and have to wait for them!
Your cake does look pretty, and I understand why you had to give it away.


04/30/09 at 5:55 pm

I think you made the most beautiful cheesecake of all time! My mouth is watering….the lemons were a very special addition,something i would certainly enjoy eating! Cheers!


05/2/09 at 3:31 pm

Oh, it is rosewater all around :) Love the presentation. Sounds amazing :)


05/19/09 at 6:40 pm

[…] is Abbey’s Infamous Cheesecake, which was the April 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge. I made the cheesecake but didn’t get to try it because I gifted it to some coworkers that helped me through a […]

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