Royalty Visits Bremer Farms and Aprons Optional

Daughter Sara's TV show, Aprons Optional had a special guest at last weeks filming. Princess Kay of the Milky Way (Minnesota's official goodwill ambassador for the dairy community), Emily Annexstad stopped by to share her recipe for Creamy Cheesecake. 

The show will air on Hastings Community TV as well as Youtube for June Dairy Month, but I couldn't wait until June to let you try this yummy cheesecake recipe.

Creamy Cheesecake

Crumb Crust:

• 11 whole graham crackers (22 squares)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Filling:

• 5 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping:

• 2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/2 cup raspberries

Directions:

1. Crush the cracker crumbs. Add butter and sugar and mix. Press onto the base of a 9-inch springform pan. Chill. Beat cream cheese on medium-high for 2 minutes. Blend in sugar. 

2. Add the flour and beat until combined. ON low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until blended, scraping the sides of bowl often. Add the sour cream, lemon peel, and vailla and beat just until blended. Pour over crust in pan.

3. Bake at 325F for 1 1/4 hours. Turn the oven off and place a wooden spoon in oven door to keep it open. Let cheesecake sit one hour. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Run a knife around sides. Cover; chill for 6 hours or overnight.

4. Remove the pan sides. Slide the cheesecake onto a serving plate. For the topping, overlap the strawberries in circles on the cheesecake. Fill the center with raspberries.

Secrets of success:

• Let the cream cheese soften on the counter for 2 hours or unwrap and microwave each package 15 seconds.
• Don't over bake. The cheesecake will firm as it cools.
• A sudden change in temperature can cause a cheesecake to crack. Let it sit in a turned-off oven to cool gradually.
• Cheesecakes are ideal make-ahead desserts. Wrap the undecorated cake in foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days, or double wrap in plastic and foil and freeze for up to 2 months.

Source: Great American Home Cooking Made Easy

Sara and Emily tried out some other dairy good recipes too. You can find them at Midwest Dairy