October 21, 2014 – NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY – NATIONAL REPTILE AWARENESS DAY

                              NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY

Adding pumpkin to one of America’s favorite dessert’s gives it it’s own special day.  October 21 annually celebrates National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day and fall is the perfect season to enjoy this delightful and delicious dessert.
 

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert that is a mixture of soft fresh cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs and sugar on a crust made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry or sponge cake.  Pumpkin may be added to cheesecake recipes in various ways, for example it may be: swirled throughout,  mixed completely with all ingredients or layered.  Cheesecakes can be prepared baked or unbaked, can be flavored and are often served topped with fruit, fruit sauce, chocolate or whipped cream.
It is possible that an ancient form of cheesecake may have been a popular dish in ancient Greece.  It has been found that the earliest attested mention of a cheesecake is by Greek physician Aegimus, who wrote a book on the art of making cheesecakes.
*James Kraft developed a form of pasteurized cream cheese in 1912.  In 1928, Kraft acquired the Philadelphia trademark and marketed pasteurized Philadelphia Cream Cheese which is now the most commonly used cheese for cheesecake.*
North America has several different styles of cheesecakes:

• New York-style cheesecake
• Pennsylvania Dutch-style cheesecake
• Philadelphia-style
• Farmer cheese cheesecake
• Country-style cheesecake
• Lactose-free cheesecake
• Cheesecake Kludys
• Chicago Style cheesecake
• Savory cheesecake

Enjoy one of the following  “tried and true” recipe today:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/double-layer-pumpkin-cheesecake-2/
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pumpkin-cheesecake-bars
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-pumpkin-cheesecake-bars
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/caramel-pecan-pumpkin-cheesecake-bites/
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pumpkin_cheesecake/