Simple and Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake.

helenscooking — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:37:41 +0000

This cheesecake is creamy and moist and is very easy to cook. It doesn’t require a lot of cooking time and efforts.

I invented it many years ago and it’s my favorite, although I do love New York Juniors cheesecake as well.

For this recipe you don’t necessary need a spring form.

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Preparation time 30 minutes (not taking into the account the time in the freezer 2h optional, but not a must)

Serves 8 people

Ingredients:

Dough:

1.5 cup of self rising flour (sifted)

1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 stick of butter

1/2 cup of cooking oil

1 tablespoon of vanilla sugar or vanilla extract (3-4 drops)

1 tablespoon of baking powder

3 egg yolks

1 tablespoon of water

1 tablespoon of mayo

Filling

1.5 packages of cream cheese

3 egg whites

1/2 cup of sugar

1 cup of pumpkin (preferably boiled for 3 -5 minutes, then peeled and shredded, not pumpkin filling)

Preparation:

Take the cream cheese packets out of the fridge and set aside.

In a bowl, pour the sugar, 1 cup of flour and cut 1/2 stick of butter. Mix everything with fork, trying to rub the butter with sugar and flour. Add vanilla sugar, baking powder and the rest of the flour (0.5 cup). Mix everything again very well. Add the cooking oil (I use the vegetable oil)

Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites . In a separate cup mix: the egg yolks with water and 1 tablespoon of mayo. Pour into the dough mixture and mix all the ingredients with a fork, then with a hand, shaping a ball.

Put the dough ball in a freezer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare the filling:

Mix the egg whites with sugar and pulse it with mixer for 1 minute.

Cut the cream cheese and put it in a bowl with egg whites and sugar.

Mix everything very well with mixer for 3 minutes.

Add the shredded pumpkin that was precooked for 3 minutes, peeled and shredded.

Mix everything with mixer very well.

Baking

Take the dough out of the freezer.

Roll it out slightly, (not to the full shape), put the layer into the baking dish or spring form. (The form should be very well greased before putting the dough in it). Spread the dough with your hands around the form and extend the dough to the wall, thus forming the dough bowl for the cheese mixture.

Pour your cream cheese mixture inside and bake for 35 to 40 minutes at 350 F.

After the cheesecake is cooked, turn the heat off and leave it in the oven for additional 5-10 minutes so that it would cool off with the oven and not fall (because it should raise pretty well)

TAke the cheese cake out of the oven let it rest for some time and then take it out of the form.

I let the cake rest for another 10 minutes and then just turn the dish over an put it on the plate with cheese facing down. Then I take another plate and cover the bottom of the cake and turn it around on another plate. (but you can use the spring form it’s simpler)

Decorating.

You may use whipping cream to decorate. or I used 3 egg yolks and 1/2 cup of sugar to make a cream and just pour it on the cake when serving.

Egg whites and sugar cream.

Take 3 egg whites add 1/2/ cup of sugar beat it up with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes.

Freezing, freeze your cake or 2-3 hours (optional, but not necessary). it tastes good even without freezing.Keep it in a fridge or freezer!

Enjoy.

Pumpkin crème-soup with shrimp, cream cheese and basil.

helenscooking — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:32:58 +0000

It’s autumn and it means that it’s time for a great pumpkin soup with shrimp that I just LOVE cooking.

It doesn’t require a lot of effort but it comes out perfectly smooth, bringing in the autumn flavors and colors into your kitchen.

I tasted this soup long time ago in Europe, brought it into my kitchen and my family just loves it. Hope, you will too.

For this recipe you will need:

2 pound of pumpkin;

1 cup of cream cheese;

1 carrot;

½ cup of shrimp;

1 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper;

1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning mix;

½ mid-sized onion;

2 teaspoons of salt;

½ cup of fresh basil;

1 red bell pepper;

Boil in a saucepan (4 qtr.) ½ onion, 1 carrot (peeled), 1 red bell pepper, sliced pumpkin until soft. When the veggies are ready, take them out, don’t drain the stock, let them cool a little and blend them together with cream cheese. ***Note from Helen*** I peeled the pumpkin after I boiled it, because it was too hard to peel. All the other veggies should be peeled (and washed) before boiling.’’’’ Add the blended mix to your stock (you should have 3-4 cups of stock). Season the soup with salt, pepper. Simmer at the minimum heat for 10 minutes and then add shrimp. (***Note from Helen*** the shrimp should be washed, peeled and boiled in salt water separately. It takes only 3-5 minutes to cook your shrimp if it’s raw.***) When you added the shrimp, boil your crème-soup for additional 3-5 minutes. Serve warm and add basil just before serving!

Enjoy.

» Helen’s Cooking. Easy cooking in 1-2-3! | Blog about healthy and easy to cook food

Simple and Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Serves 8 people

Pumpkin crème-soup with shrimp, cream cheese and basil.