Auntie Loulla (Loulla Astin) is my mother’s sister and the award winning restaurateur of the famous Kosmos Greek Taverna in Manchester.
Her career has seen her cook on TV many times, including presenting her own cookery series on SKY and she was even invited to meet The Queen at Buckingham Palace too.
Here she shares her amazing New York Cheesecake recipe which happens to be my husband’s all-time favourite dessert.
Over to Auntie Lou:
Everybody thinks cheesecake is American or French, but the truth is it was invented by the Ancient Greeks for the first Olympics. The Americans have definitely perfected it though!
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
Crust
- 175g (6oz) digestive biscuits
- 75g (3oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 50g (3oz) caster sugar
Filling
- 600g soft cheese
- 170g (6oz) caster sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbs cornflour
- Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 275g (1/2pint) double cream
Topping
- 250g (8oz) blueberries or blackberries (we used blackberries)
- 3tbs caster sugar
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1tbs water
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350f, Gas mark 4.Grease and line 1x23cm (9inch) spring cake tin. Place biscuits with the sugar in a food processor and process for a few seconds. Add the butter and process again until mixed. Tip into the tin and press lightly and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
Place all the filling ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth and pour onto base.
Bake for 50 minutes until set and golden all over, but not brown. Turn the oven off, leave the cheesecake to cool in the oven with the door open. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
Heat topping ingredients until blueberries/blackberries burst and pour over cheesecake, decorate and chill until set, or spoon over just before serving.
Always remove the cheesecake from the fridge at least ½ hour before serving as it tastes nicer that way!
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Aww … They look delicious. Do you have your own bakery?
Dammit! Again with the damned eggs! I shall have to get Mr. TBaM to do that bit for me as I can’t miss out on this recipe.
TheBoyandMe recently posted…Elmer The Elephant Maths Activities (Free Downloadable)
Oh no, sorry, yes get him on it, it’s a yummy cheesecake!
Oh my goodness that looks totally divine. I want some! I am so going to be checking out your families restaurant when I’m in Manchester next.
Thanks Anthea you should x
oh my i have just fallen in lust with this cheesecake! it looks stunning x
jenny paulin recently posted…Ginger, Lemon & Chocolate Biscuits (#Greatbloggersbakeoff2014 #week2 Biscuits)
Thanks Jenny! x
What an amazing family you have, you are so super lucky.
This cheesecake looks the bomb! I am watering at the mouth just looking at your wonderful photos.
🙂
Sonia Constant recently posted…Canon PIXMA #Challenge 1
An amazing looking cheesecake, one of my favourite desserts.
Julie’s Family Kitchen recently posted…Tomato and Basil Salad
So pleased Julie x
Ooh I love baked cheesecake. Will HAVE to try this recipe.x
Munchies and Munchkins recently posted…Simply Sweet Cookies
You must lovely!
My husband adores baked cheesecake. It’s one of his favourite desserts ever. He’s coming home for 3 weeks next Wednesday, so I’ve pinned this to make for him when he’s home. It looks amazing!!
BakedPotato Mummy recently posted…Rocky Road Banana Bread
Oh wow that will be a fab treat for him then xx
ooh la la… this is talking to me! I am not a huge dessert person but give me baked NY cheesecake and I will do whatever you want. Saving this to make this weekend – looks DIVINE!
Haha! Gosh I love a NY cheesecake too, hits all the right spots, we need a girly meet up to devour one together, we can take on a whole cake right, Nomita? x
Love the look of this. x
Susan Mann recently posted…The Gallery – At Home With The ….
Thanks darling x
I love cheesecake and never have it often enough, your photos in the post are amazing, making me hungry!
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes recently posted…Stewed blackberries with vanilla
Thanks Jen, so glad you enjoyed the post x
I hope you realise this has been one of my biggest preggo-cravings to date! lol 😉 That is making me salivate! haha x I demand you bring it to me 😉 I’m too fat to move now. (could be down to previous cheese-cake consumption but let’s juts say it’s all baby) xx
Oh wow really, chick! Hope you get some and you are not fat lady x
What a gorgeous looking cheesecake!
Elizabeth recently posted…Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Thanks Elizabeth!
Mmm, this looks absolutely amazing!
Stacey Guilliatt recently posted…Weight loss – week 1
Thanks so much Stacey x
That looks extremely tasty! Although I did pretty much single-handedly eat your orange cake last week! Do you use extra lighting in your food styling shots?
Jane recently posted…Confessions of a Middle-aged ‘Model’
Thanks Jane that’s hilarious, so glad you like it. We do sometimes set up lights but not very often and not for these shots, shooting in daylight always best and my husband is an incredible photographer x
Looks divine, as you can see from my recipe this week – we love blackberries here!! Gorgeous pictures xx
PottyMouthedMummy recently posted…Blackberry and Apple Loaf
Good taste (literally)-thanks for your lovely comment x
I bloody love cheesecake and this looks amazing!!! <3
Aimee recently posted…Quick and Easy: Pasta with salmon in arrabbiata sauce
Thanks chick!
This looks absolutely stunning and SOOO delicious. I love cheesecake of any kind. I will definitely have to try out your aunt’s amazing recipe. One to pin for sure! Thanks for hosting and sharing this lovely. #tastytuesdays
Jenny recently posted…Living Arrows 32/52 ~ him, her, them
Thanks darling, you will love it x
Wow, meal times in your family must be delicious all the time! This looks so divine x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins recently posted…Bake of the Week – Elderflower Cake
Ha they are Kirsty, thanks so much for your lovely comment x
honestmum recently posted…New York Cheesecake
This looks AMAZING!! My Nan just bought us some freshly picked blackberries perfect use for them! 🙂 X
becky recently posted…#minutemonday. #3
Oh fab timing x
I love cheese cake and this one looks exceptional!
Thanks very much!
I love that this is such a clean and simple recipe and sounds very nice. That first pic almost made me drool!
Thanks so much, really quick, simple and delicious!
Thanks for this recipe and also the information! I always thought they are America dessert.
Eileen Teo recently posted…Tuesday Tutorials Week 28
Originally Greek! I learnt that when I received my Aunt’s recipe too!
Who would have thought cheesecake originated in Greece? You learn everyday! Perfect way to use those blackberries w find everywhere at the moment. x
I know couldn’t believe it when my Aunt emailed me the recipe and I discovered that too! The Greek rock huh! Ha! x
Great tip about taking the cheesecake out of the fridge first too! It makes a huge difference and it’s so easy to forget!! …Then it just tastes fantastic for those diving in for a second serving 🙂
Steph @MisplacedBrit recently posted…3 Layered Cream Cake in 25 minutes
Your family is unbelievable!! You must eat SO WELL at your family gatherings 🙂
…& Can you believe how quick I was linking up this morning!!
Ha thanks Steph, we really do! x
Oh my goodness, this looks delicious. I want some now!
Thanks Alison, wish I had some left for breakfast!
Cheesecake is one of my all time favourite desserts – pinned this one to make it later!
Oh thanks Rosie, enjoy x