Thursday 10 January 2013

Chocolate Cheesecake (Baked)

A new year, a new beginning and a new hope.  This is what I am going to do.  I needed more self-love starting from this year as advised by my counselor, Yvette.

As much as I wanted to do the first post on New Year day, somehow I got caught up with things that needed my attention first.

Many have written to me asking for my new blog but I am very lousy with design work as well as crazily puzzled over those html coding.  Seriously lost touch now since I hardly revamp my old one for the past 7 years. 

Though I still bake weekly and cook daily but I wasn't ready to post on the blog till now (pardon the ugly layout but I will get there with time)

This blog will be my journal on all the tried and tested recipes.  Recipes that interest me and I have tried it.  I will post the source of my attempts but will not post all the recipes that I tried online but if you are keen, drop me a note on the comment box.

Now back to what I have been up to.  Thanks to hubby who not only provided financially, he also planned, coordinated and acted as our driver for our one month long vacation in Nov/Dec.  Though our rented car was broken into but it was not dampened as we got to see the most amazing coastal line after the ordeal.  Another added bonus to this trip, was to be able to visit my brother and his family.  I really missed them so much and it was good to see my kids bonded with their little cousins.

I came home feeling recharged and positive.  Then I suffered another mishap on my back trying to prepare a simple Christmas Eve dinner.

Things haven't been looking good then as some days, I have difficulty getting out of the bed without stabilising myself for a few minutes.  Scary isn't it?  

Now, I am diligently exercising as instructed by my chiropractor and hoping to strengthen my muscle before my next visit.

I am trying to be positive as I have so many things that I wanted to accomplish in 2013.  I needed to be able to run like a bunny FAST!

Now with a waist brace pretty permanently scrapped round my back, I tried to function as normal as possible.  

I have been craving for a cheesecake since we came back.  Yes, I got addicted to Cheesecake Factory while we were holidaying.  My family just loves the food, cakes, and services here.  

Thus to solve my craving, I baked a Chocolate Cheesecake!  Yah, I hardly baked cheesecake for many reasons.  One is a leakage problem, hated to stain my oven.  Second, it takes ages!  But with strong craving, everything is possible.

I doubled lined my spring form pan with aluminum foil over the water bath pan (darn the bigger pan also leaked).  Luckily, I have another shallow tray at the lowest rack on my oven to catch the water dripping.


Tip: Don't over beat as the cheesecake will be cracked during baking.  





Our views: 

This definitely fixed the chocolate craving.  This time I used a house brand cream cheese by PH and it didn’t taste that bad.  Perhaps the premium chocolate masked the cheese?  

Like all baked cheesecake, it is compact and rich but it is not close to Cheesecake Factory's as my girl commented but still she polishes hers off without a problem.

So that ends my craving and now I am a happy girl.


Source: The Hummingbird Bakery (page 74)


What you need:

900g cream cheese
190g castor sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Base
200g digestive biscuits
2 tbsp cocoa powder
150g unsalted butter, melted

Method:

Put digestive biscuits in a plastic bag and break them up with a rolling pin.

Add in the melted butter and blend well.

Pour into a 9" springform baking pan.  Chill in the fridge for 1/2 hour.

Melt chocolate in a double boiler.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract on slow until it is smooth and velvety.  

Add in one egg at a time, mixing it well.   Turn the beater into high and beat till it is lighter and fluffier.  Careful not to over mix otherwise it might crack during baking.

On low speed, add half of the melted chocolate a little at a time (to prevent seizing), mixing it well.  Add the remaining chocolate in and mix well.

Foil-wrapped the baking pan.  

Pour in the cheese mixture.  

Bake in a bain-marie method @ 180 deg for 40 - 50 mins.    Don't overbake, it should be wobbly in the centre.

Remove and cool in the tin.  Cover and chill in the fridge overnight before serving.


Cheers

34 comments:

  1. Hi Edith,
    Welcome back! Sorry to hear about your back again. I sincerely wish that this year will definitely be a better year for you in terms of health, family and everything else.
    Your cheesecake looks delicious, I have not baked one for so long!
    Take care and Best Wishes For A Great 2013!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your warm wishes. I can't wait to be strong and healthy too!

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  2. Hi Edith, So glad that you're back to blogging.
    Take care and have a blessed year ahead.

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  3. It's difficult baking a cheesecaake w/o a brace, baking one with a brace is near impossible.Take care, girl!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. Not too difficult actually, just that you need to wrap tight to keep a clean oven and lots of patience.

      Delete
  4. Hi Edith,
    Welcome home.
    好喜欢您这新的网页。。。给人一种舒适+明亮+简约的美,真的很棒了哦!
    也祝福您与家人:幸福美满,福寿安康!!^o^

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  5. Thank you and welcome to my blog.

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  6. 谢谢。 网页还在设制中。 希望会好看。

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  7. A very beautiful chocolate cake..I really enjoy looking at its smooth and fine texture. Well done!
    Hope you feel better soon.
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Angie. I am still wobbly and have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. Am going to the chiropractor today and let's pray he can fix me up as I am busy looking after my sick sister.

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  8. Hi Edith,

    Nice to hear from you! Welcome to blogging. Hope that your new blog launch a good start for 2013!

    Zoe

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  9. hello edith, very nice to see you coming back to blog again! wishing you the best of 2013 ..yeah we shld all stay positive tho believe me, sometimes i know those negative thoughts keep haunting us, we shld chase them away! hope your back recovers asap and yo! will run faster than a bunny!

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  10. glad to have you back!!! :)

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  11. hi Edith, so happy to see you back :)
    take care and keep exercising, my mum's friend had scoliosis and she recovered after following religiously the exercise routine given by her chiropractor :)
    oh, u remind me it's been a while since i eat cheesecake, now it's my turn to crave for it LOL
    all the best in this year 2013 :)

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    Replies
    1. thanks Alice. hahah go for it. Cheesecake sometime can be really comforting. hehehe

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  12. Welcome back Edith! Great to see your new blog and hope all the very best to your coming year in blog posting. :)) do take care and rest well fora speedy recovery on your slip disc.... Praying for you. ;) love that loucious looking cheesecake! And it's in chocolate... My ultimate favorite!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think I need to go for the second round before I can be fully recovered.

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  13. Hi Edith, hope your back will be stronger soon and you will no longer suffer the pain. You sure have baked a gorgeous looking cheese cake.

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  14. Great to have you back! But do take things easy and just do what you can do.
    Yummy cheesecake especially chocolate flavour! Admire your strong spirit!

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  15. Welcome! So glad to see you blogging again. :)

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  16. Ohh, wow. This looks fantastic! I just stumbled upon your blog, and am your newest follower :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathleen. Hope you enjoy your "stay" here. :)

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  17. Congrats on the new blog Edith! Lovely catching up with you recently. Do take care of that back and hopefully we can meet up again soon :-) Looking forward in the meantime to seeing all your new creations and recipes!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Daphne. This back issue is never ending. Getting restless and yet helpless.

      Yes, hopefully we can have another round of tea again. The last time was just so awesome.

      Delete
  18. Hi Edith, this looks so tempting! Your new blog is lovely.

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  19. Hey Edith ! Glad you're back :D Love the new blog . That cheesecake certainly looks delicious . Hope your back is healing well , take care , okay ?

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Thanks for dropping by. Thanks.