Recipe Essay

                                        Cheesecake Recipe

Crust:

·         2 cups of Graham cracker crumbs

·         2 tbsp of sugar

·         Pinch salt

·         5 tbsp of unsalted butter

Preparation:

                In an acceptable sized pie pan, pour the graham cracker crumbs into the pan and flatten it down to a crust like form. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure it is evenly layered and place into oven for ten minutes. Remove it from the oven and let it cool. Then reduce oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

                This recipe has been in my mother’s side of the family for awhile. It was started when my mother was just a kid. She would always ask for a cheesecake every Christmas, Thanksgiving, and for her birthday. It sort of became an automatic question for her… “Mom, can you make me a cheesecake?” She would scream loudly from the top of her lungs, waking up every living soul on the streets of Helena. My grandmother kept it going all the way up until my mother was grown. Now she still makes them for us, but we also make them ourselves through the help of my mother. The first time we made one, was when I was eight years old. I guess that’s the age in which I was supposed to be able to understand things a lot better.

Filling:

·         2 pounds cream cheese (900g)(Room temperature)

·         1 1/3 cup granulated sugar (27g)

·         Pinch of salt

·         2 teaspoons vanilla

·         4 large eggs

·         2/3 cup sour cream (160mL)

·         2/3 cup heavy whipping cream (160mL)

“Ashton, you mind helping me with the filling for a minute?” called my mother.

                Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in mixer bowl, preferably electrical mixer for faster and easier work. Mix on medium speed for four to five minutes. Afterwards, add sugar, salt, and vanilla and mix for four more minutes. Next, add eggs (one at a time) and mix for a minute per egg.  Then add sour cream and heavy cream and mix until smooth, creamy, and unchunked.

      Angry, that the cheese cake takes so long to make and waiting, I scanned the room for some type of alternative to keep us busy until it was time for the next step. I looked over near the pantry where all of our delicious goods and snacks were kept and came across a dusty pile of classic Uno cards stacked neatly on the floor. "You wanna play a quick game momma?" She looked at me with an almost unsure look upon her face. "Sure, call the boys down here, and we'll get the game started." She replied swiftly. She shuffled the card so smooth and quick, I was beginning to think that it was almost impossible for me to catch on and learn how to do it, with just a few blinks of an eye. Two rounds had went by and the game still wasn't over. Today, I was edging for a win. I only needed for her or someone else to smack down either a red card or a card with a certain number on it. And, I would soon be declared winner of this game. My brother slapped a red card down so fast and heavily, a slight wind, strong enough, could have blown the cards off the counter top. As I saw the card laying there... My eyes got so big they nearly jumped from my head. The fate of my winning dream all depended on my mother's next move. Right when I had finished day dreaming, my mother put down a card and changed the color... causing me to lose my hopes of winning, not to play on my turn, and my brother winning the game on his play after me. "Man! I almost had it!" I shouted loudly. "Too bad you didn't. Better luck next time champ." Replied my mother.

     DING! The timer sounded off. It was time for us to take the last step. The topping.

Topping: 

• Whipped Cream

     Open the container of whipped cream, and apply evenly on top of cake. Wrap cake up, and place in refrigerator for an hour or two... Let cool.

    

 This Cheesecake recipe will always remain a big part of my life. From the time I'm grown till the time I finally pass. I know, I won't be around long enough to continue spreading the recipe throughout my family, but I'll be sure to pass it on as far as I can. I'll remember the times I spent with my Grandmother and my mother in the kitchen, during the times of year like this. And, most definitely the times of happiness and joy that the Cheesecake brought to our family.