All About Good Coffee

Some old friends stopped by without calling first not long ago. We had a good talk with them, reminiscing old times, catching up on current events, and discussing politics. As the night progressed, I realized I needed to serve refreshments. This would be a difficult task, as I haven’t been to the store lately and my supply of food was dwindling. I surveyed the cupboard, trying to find a suitable choicebut couldn’t find anything appropriate. I refused to serve these people stale crackers, moldy cheese, or overripe fruit. I quickly scanned the contents of my refrigerator and freezer. How lucky could I be? Wedged between the fish sticks and popsicles in my freezer was a wonderful option…cheesecake.

Cheesecake can be stored for several days in the refrigerator or frozen for months. It tastes as fresh as the day you purchase it. It thaws in just a few minutes, is easy to slice into serving portions and simple to serve. Its creamy texture makes it easy to swallow, as well.

Cheesecake is such a delicious treat, I like to keep a few around for just these sorts of occasions. It is so versatile, it freezes well, is easy to serve, and can be used for just about any occasion. Whether it is a sweet snack, a handy dessert, or a covered-dish item for pot-luck dinners, cheesecake is an unforgettable rich and creamy choice. I’ve even been known to give cheesecake to others as gifts.

Cheesecake has a flavorful originality all its own, with the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness. There are a number of types of cheesecake from which to choose, making each a completely different dessert. Of these different choices, fruit-topped cheesecake offers a healthy and colorful option. Consider juicy, red strawberries, firm blueberries, or sweet peaches ladled generously over a slice of New York Style cheesecake and feel your mouth celebrate the complimentary flavors. For that extra-tart, exotic pleaser, try Key Lime cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake has that decadently rich taste that is simply scrumptious.

The cheesecake flavor I found in my freezer to serve my guests was chocolate cheesecake. I brewed coffee as the chocolate cheesecake easily thawed to a slightly thicker than ice-cream texture. As we enjoyed each flavorful bite, we continued to visit and converse and joke, as my friend exclaimed: “Chocolate cheesecake makes my clothes shrink!” What delightfully clever friends we have.

Yes, cheesecake is a deliciously refreshing treat to serve in “spur of the moment” times like when friends unexpectedly stop by. In fact, all of our friends know I like to keep cheesecake on hand. I guess that it’s possible that our friends didn’t just “drop by”…maybe it was planned so they could enjoy some cheesecake…