Monday, January 27, 2020

Tiny House Cooking - Instant "Cheesecake"


Most dessert type foods I can easily pass on. Cakes? Most are dry and I don't enjoy them. Cookies? Eh, if they are really fresh and soft, but otherwise not my thing. Doughnuts? Unless it's within about 10 seconds of coming out of someone's skillet after being home made, don't even really like them. And so on. But I have a serious weakness for anything made with cream cheese. Anything. Like right down to eating a block of plain cream cheese. I really really like the stuff!

 If I'm ever out for dinner with a friend, I'll most likely pass on any dessert offered. Unless the waiter mentions cheesecake. Then I will almost always have a piece. And of course I can bake my own cheesecake. I've made a wide variety over the years and enjoyed every one. One of the best I ever had was a 8 inch high pistachio cheesecake made for me by a good friend as a birthday gift. Truly amazing! But... I don't do this much as my body doesn't seem to digest dairy well. As much as I enjoy the stuff, I avoid consuming it most of the time.

 Occasionally though, I just really crave the rich creamy taste. And if you ever feel the same, here's how I get that cheesecake like fix, in less then a minute, without having a whole cheesecake
in my fridge to consume over the next week. Not that any part of me has a hard time dealing with that problem! Other than that whole pesky digestive system thing. To keep myself in check, as at least my brain and tastebuds feel like I could eat this about three meals a day, every day, I have a rule. I make this only when my local grocery has fresh berries on sale... and at the same time, has cream cheese on sale. If that's not the case, I have to pass. But when that happens, here's what I do.

Instant "Cheesecake"

1 block of cream cheese (Only real genuine stuff. Not low fat as that's both tasteless and more importantly, most low fat dairy is fairly toxic and actually fattening. Look up how to fatten a hog on skim milk if you're in doubt.)
1 cup yogurt (same as above, only whole milk, cream on top)
Honey/Maple Syrup to taste, I use about a tablespoon

For a creamy texture, mix in a Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor, etc. Or just mix together with a fork. It'll be a little lumpier, but taste just as good. Then, since I never really liked crust anyway, just drop a couple spoonfuls in a bowl and add a bunch of berries. Blueberries are what I had today. But blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, strawberries, cherries, mangos, peaches, or just about any other fruit, fresh, canned, or frozen is delicious as well. Enjoy!

There you go! From a cheesecake fanatic, I enjoy this every bit as much as any cheesecake I've ever had. And you can make it in less than a minute. And you're getting at least a little bit of live and useful bacteria via the yogurt. And it really does taste amazing with pretty much any fruit, which is also giving you all the benefits of the nutrients, vitamins, etc. in fruit. Berries and cherries are my favorites.


So there you go! A very tiny house, small kitchen, few ingredient, no oven, limited time friendly, and pretty much no skill required and no way it can flop option to enjoy something very like a cheesecake. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!


39 comments:

  1. Cream cheese is really good on hot oatmeal. This reminds me that I should add that to my shopping list for next week. I usually only buy PHILADELPHIA brand cream cheese.

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  2. Good recipe, Ariel! I, however, am a glutton for a good flakey cruse on mine so it'd entail a wee bit more work to get mine up to snuff. I'd just bake me that crust, toss in your goodies, and chow down. Thanks for thinking of us Cream Cheese Addicts! From YP days, this sounds amazingly familiar. Must have been my chef and one of his treats to his line staff. . .

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    1. Yeah then you're stuck with a little more work. :) Thankfully I've never really liked crust so that saves me some effort.

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  3. Love that you share these personal things with us. You feel very much like family. I will definitely give this recipe a try. Give Burley a pat from me.

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    1. Enjoy! He get's lots and lots of cuddles. He's kind of an attention hog. :)

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  4. This looks like a nice treat! I, too, have weakness for cheesecake.. one of my favorite variations is a pina colada version. Granted, you must enjoy coconut and pineapple but if you do.. it is EPIC!! Missing your YouTube channel..😢

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    1. I don't think I've tried that combo with cheesecake, but I do love coconut and pineapple!

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  5. Hi Ariel ! I haven't forgotten you (even though I would love to see more Video's of you ! Miss YOU and Burley ! ) This recipe sounds good. I Love Cheesecake ! And, Like you, can pass on many goodies such as Cookies , Cakes and even some /most Pies.(with the exception of Ice Cream in the Summer months .) But Cheese Cake will be the Dessert of choice for me and your recipe sounds easy-peasy enough for a quick fix. Hugs and prayers 2 YOU.

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  6. Thanks Ariel for another great recipe, along with your advice and experience, it all makes your articles fascinating and useful.

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  7. Nest Lady, sounds and looks delicious!! I keep mine a bit more simple, using yogurt, blueberries (or blackberries) topped with home made granola and drizzled with maple syrup, (Parfait style) I am a "dunker" and enjoy cookies or any kind of dry pasteries dipped - dunked in my coffee! Yes I know for most people that seems nasty but for this bachelor bloke, it tastes just fine! South Carolina

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    1. Well not being a coffee fan that doesn't sound that great to me... But I know most of the world loves the stuff. :)

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  8. I'm a cream cheese/cheese cake fanatic too and can't wait to try this. Allowing the cream cheese to get to room temperature will make it easier to mix, especially by hand. For crust lovers, press crushed graham crackers in the bottom of the bowl. For NY style, add a few drops of lemon juice. A drop of vanilla is another variation I want to try. Or a dusting of cinnamon on top. Yum!

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  9. Thank you Ariel!! Xo New York City

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  10. Sounds so delicious and easy. How is your weather there Ariel. Wondering if you are feeling the effects of the west coast storms?

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    1. Well we have had snow the past few days. Now it's starting to clear up and get colder again.

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  11. Have you tried any of the cream cheeses made with Almond milk? Kite Hill is one brand that is VERY good!!!

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  12. Just wondering if you've decided to no longer post your videos? If your decision is final regarding You Tube please let us know. Thanks, just curious!

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    1. I don't have an update for now. I've not seen any update or clarification from the FTC on their very vague rule interpretation that tries to make everyone a criminal.

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  13. Here is something interesting.
    They have invented a solar panel
    That works at night.

    https://www.inverse.com/innovation/researchers-have-a-counterintuitive-concept-for-solar-panels-that-work-at-night

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    1. Sounds like a cool concept they're experimenting to try to make work.

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  14. Sounds delicious! I will try a cow milkfree version of that. Thank you for sharing, Ariel. Hope everything is well with you and Burley these days?!

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    1. We're great and enjoying winter! Thank you.

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  15. I wonder if you could update us on your decision regarding the future of your vlog? I miss your videos and I imagine I'm not alone. Do you foresee returning to your videos or is that no longer possible?

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    1. I don't have an update for now. I've not seen any update or clarification from the FTC on their very vague rule interpretation that tries to make everyone a criminal.

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  16. This sounds delicious. I’m not a big crust fan either, but for those who want something you could serve with graham crackers or some such.

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  17. Cheesecake is my favorite - thanks for the recipe. You've been missed, I'm glad I remembered you had a blog and found it!

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