Yesterday was to be Lemon Cheesecake Day! Why? Well who needs an excuse but if you do, getting nominated for the Blog Awards Ireland 2013 is mine and that needs celebrating my dears!
I remember when I was expecting Son No. 1 {when my hyperemesis had finally left me}, I devoured lemon cheesecake and strawberry cornetto by the truckload. Son No. 1 loves strawberry cornetto but not lemon cheesecake which doesn’t bother me as that means all the more for me! I just love lemon cheesecake but have NEVER made it. Isn’t that ridiculous! But yesterday, my dears that was all about to change…
Now, there’s one thing about cheesecake that I prefer and that’s the chilled, no cook variety. I’ve got books full of cheesecakes but the recipe I decided to use comes from Philadelphia Cheese. It’s got a 5 star rating so I was happy to test that too.
I started off with the biscuit base. Biscuits were put into a plastic bag and bashed with a meat tenderiser leaving the biscuits in a nice crumb. Job 1 – done. Next on to melting the butter. All was grand until the butter exploded in the microwave. Silly me had forgotten somehow that butter is a fat and microwaving on full strength is not a good idea… Adding a little more butter to the crumb mix made up for what was now covering the inside of the microwave. Job No 2 – done.
Next was making the lemon jelly. The recipe called for the addition of lemon juice and zest to the jelly. Juice no problem, zest a nightmare as I still haven’t worked out how to use the zester {it seems blunt to me – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it}. The grater wasn’t much better. Ah well…
Next job was to leave the jelly until the setting point was reached. I’d left the jelly to cool on the countertop and hopefully to reach its setting point but that didn’t look like it was going to happen. Now, at this stage, I’d to go to the shops to get Son No. 2 his school shoes as well as the cream for the next stage of the recipe. So, I stuck the jelly in the fridge and off I went with the intention of being back in 40 mins. A hour and 15 minutes later after an interesting conversation with the sales assistant about children’s IQ levels and comparative comedic tendencies, I returned to find the jelly had set!!!!
Not being one to throw in the towel {after all at this stage, I’d committed enough time and energy to the blasted cake}, I took out the jelly and proceeded to {blitz} mix it with the cheese. Then I whipped the cream, mixed that with the cheese-jelly mix and poured it onto the biscuit base. I smoothed the top as best I could {at this stage, I couldn’t have cared less}, threw it back in the fridge and sort of hoped for the best.
At this stage, it was 8.30pm so today has now become Lemon Cheesecake Day instead. For elevenses this morning, I tentatively took the cheesecake from the fridge. I cautiously took it from the tin fully expecting it to fall down like an active volcano releases its lava but no, it was OK!! Could this be true? Have I actually made my first cheesecake? Well, yes I had. But the true test is in the taste and I have to say that the 5 star rating is justified. It was delicious! Hubbie likes it too so I’ll be making it again for sure.
I highly recommend Philadelphia’s recipe. It’s texture is light, the taste fresh and well, lemony! Another string to my culinary bow, I urge you to give it a try as well. Let me know how you get on!
Enjoy!
Xx Paula
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Congratulations on getting nominated for the Blog Awards Ireland 2013! 🙂
Thanks Iris! So excited!!
Congratulations on your nomination. I would celebrate with a big glass of champagne! Have a lovely day!
Ah Liz! Now you’re talking! Think I’ll send Hubbie off to get some – it’s raining so best he goes ;). Many thanks! Xx
Congratulation for you award…the cheesecake looks really yummy!
Thanks! Only at nomination stage. Short list is next…fingers crossed. The cheesecake is certainly yum!!! Xx P
Well done Paula! Cheesecake looks delicious 🙂 xx
Thank you so much! Fingers crossed for the shortlist! Hope you are keeping well! Xx P
This looks So good. I love anything lemon and will have to try this recipe. Congrats on the nomination!
Love, love, LOVE lemon too! I’ve made this again {and didn’t go shopping this time! } so it worked out much, much better! Do give it a go! Xx P
Congrats Paula! That cheesecake looks awesome! I love the yellow color. It’s so pretty. 🙂
Thanks Crystal! Xx P
Congratulations for your nomination, very well done!
Thanks Anna! Waiting patiently now for the short list due to be announced tomorrow. Fingers crossed ;). Xx Paula