Strawberry Cheesecake

Cheesecakes are usually prepared with a special pan called springform pan. But if you dont have one, you can make them with a normal cake pan. Just line the pan with aluminium foil or parchment paper, with ends of foil extending over the sides so its easier to lift the cheesecake.

My son turned 3 last week. He loves cheesecakes so I made this for his birthday. It is a very rich, moist decadent cake with strawberry jam on top.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup honey graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp butter
3 pkg(8 oz each)cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1/4 cup seedless strawberry jam

Method:

HEAT oven to 325°F. Cover the outside of a springform pan with foil. Mix cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp sugar and butter, press onto the bottom of pan. Bake for 10 min.

BEAT cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, flour and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream, mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over the crust. Heat 2 tbsp of jam in the microwave for about 30 seconds and stir well. Gently drop small spoonfuls of jam over batter, swirl with a knife.


BAKE 45-60 mins or until center is almost set. Its done when the center is still a bit wobbly when you tap the pan. It will set once cooled. Cool completely. Refrigerate for atleast 8 hours.



To remove the springform pan ring, take a knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry and run it around the edges of the pan once and slowly unlock the pan. Serve as is, or spread the rest of the strawberry jam on top with a spatula. Cut into slices and serve!





Serves 6-8

NOTE: Before removing the cheesecake from the pan, it has to be CHILLED for atleast 8 hours. If using a normal cake pan, line the pan first with parchment paper/aluminium foil and then grease the bottom and sides of the pan well. By using low fat ingredients(low fat cream cheese and sour cream), you can cut the calories by half!

White Chocolate Strawberry Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup white chocolate morsels, divided
1 egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract/1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup seedless strawberry jam
toasted almonds
pinch of salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 325 deg F. Grease and sugar a square baking pan. Melt butter in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Stire and add 1/4 cup morsels, do not stir.

Beat eggs until foamy. Add sugar, beat until light colored. Stir in morsel-butter mixture. Add flour, salt and extract. Mix at low speed until combined well. Spread 1/2 of the batter onto the pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Heat jam in the microwave for 30 seconds. Spread jam over warm crust. Stir the rest of the morsels into the remaining batter. Drop the batter over the jam. Swirl with a knife. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars.


Makes around 8 bars

Brownie Sundae

Brownies are one of my favorite desserts! They taste good just as is or make a sundae out of it, which is what I did! A warm brownie topped with ice cream and nuts, is just heavenly!

Brownies:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter(1/2 stick)softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz chocolate syrup(I used Hersheys)
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
pinch of salt
1/4 cup chopped walnuts(optional)

Method:

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and beat well. Add the vanilla and chocolate syrup and mix well. Fold in half of the chocolate chips with a spatula until mixed. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F. Pour into a baking pan, top with the rest of the chocolate chips and walnuts.



Bake for 25-30 minutes. Its done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool and cut into pieces.


Serves 8

To assemble the sundae:

Place a piece of brownie on a plate. Add one scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzle caramel syrup, chocolate syrup and top with chopped walnuts.

NOTE: If you prefer a dense fudge like brownie, reduce the amount of butter and chocolate syrup in the recipe. The sundae tastes better with a warm brownie. Can use any combination of syrup/sauce/nuts.