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Housewarming….the non-virtual one

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So back towards the end of January I held my housewarming party.

It was only females, most of who belonged to either a Newlywed group I hang out with or the Book Club Girls.

I chose to go this route because my husband and I’s friends are most definitely eclectic and probably wouldn’t mesh all that well.

Plus, I’m not paying for alcohol for hockey players(we throw back..a lot).

I, of course, made more food than what the girls could eat, but my mother raised me to cook for 50…even when only 5 were coming.

We had a couple vegetarians and so I kept that in mind when making the menu.

The menu looked like this (keep in mind this was a 1:00pm party):

Cheese Platter with Grapes and Apples: Cabernet Soaked Cheddar, Balrina Hard Goat Cheese, Double Cream Brie, and Mango-Ginger Stilton
Cheddar Ale Spread
Hummus and Veggies
Pear, Pecan and Gorgonzola Salad
Puff Pastry Bites filled with Chicken Salad
Puff Pastry Bites filled with Goat Cheese and Roasted Peppers
Bacon wrapped Water Chestnuts in Blackberry BBQ Sauce
Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Brownie Cake Bites with Caramel Peanut Sauce
Ricotta Cheesecake with Strawberries

Beverages:

White wine (La Crema Chardonnay, A to Z Pinot Gris)

Izze Sodas in Blackberry, Apple and Clementine.

I really wanted the Pear but couldn’t find it anywhere.

Strawberry Lemonade Smoothies.

I forgot to take pictures before we started to eat and some of the food was in the kitchen, but you get the idea.

I realized when I started writing this post that you all have not seen a picture of my completed kitchen.

Now onto the food.

One of the desserts that was served was a Ricotta Cheesecake with Strawberries.

If you have never had one, they are different from that of a New York Style cheesecake…much lighter and of course the texture is different due to the ricotta.

I like to serve it at parties since it a little lighter.

You can use whatever berries or fruit you would like on top.

I chose strawberries for the sheer fact that they were the best looking produce(fruit) that day.

P.S. It’ss a great day to order my cookbook.

Want More Cheesecake Recipes?

Cinnamon Roll Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Caramel Corn Cheesecake

Vanilla Chai Latte Cheesecake

Pumpkin Salted Caramel Swirl Cheesecake

Caramel Apple Toffee Cheesecake

Ricotta Cheesecake with Strawberries

Ricotta Cheesecake with Strawberries

Ingredients

  • For the Crust:
  • 2 cups crushed vanilla Oreos or vanilla wafers
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • For the Cheesecake:
  • 1 pound cream cheese
  • 1 pound Ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 TBSP vanilla extract
  • For the Strawberries:
  • 3 cups diced strawberries
  • juice of one lime
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. For the Crust:

    2. Preheat oven to 350F.

    Combine ingredients in a food processor.

    This makes for a thick crust. If you want less crust, half the recipe.

    Press mixture down flat into a greased 10-inch springform pan. I made three 4-inch cheesecakes since I wanted bites size for the party.

    Bake crust for 12 minutes.

    Set aside.

    For the Cheesecake:

    Reduce oven heat to 325F.

    Cream the cheeses on medium speed until soft and blended.

    Add the sugar and mix well, about 3 minutes.

    Add the sour cream and mix for another minute.

    Reduce speed to low and add flour.

    Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.

    Add lemon zest and vanilla extract.

    Pour batter into prepared pan.

    Bake in a water bath for 1 hour and 15 minutes. If making the minis they take about an hour. Check at the 45 minute mark to see if there is no more wiggle.

    Check cheesecake after one hour for the full size.

    When cake is removed from oven, remove it from water bath.

    Let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

    Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, overnight works best.

    For the Strawberries:

    Mix together and let macerate overnight.

    Place on to of cheesecake when ready to serve.

© Peabody

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Comments

  2. I’ll trade you kitchens Peabody! 🙂 Though I don’t think you’d really want any part in that bargain as your kitchen is lovely. Mine is… small.

    Reply

  3. Nice kitchen! Love the fridge. That’s the kind I want in the next house. As for the cheesecake, ricotta cheesecake is probably my very favorite dessert, but I’ve never found a recipe I like. I just might have to try yours.

    Reply

  5. Peabody, between the incredible fare served at the housewarming, and the sight of your impeccable new kitchen, I am completely speechless – and that ricotta cheesecake is quite stunning as well!!

    Reply

  6. That sounds like a lovely menu. The cheesecake looks delicious. I love your kitchen- the wood and the stainless steel appliances look beautiful together!

    Reply

  8. I’m jealous of your fridge. We remodeled an older house, and the spot for the fridge is made to fit a fridge from the 50s, so my fridge is pretty small!

    Can I get you to cater my next get-together? I guess Utah would be a little far away, though…

    Reply

  9. First of all you set and decorate a gorgeous table.

    I absolutely hate you (love you) for that kitchen. I would sell my husband for that.

    Fantastic cheesecake. I have always loved the ricotta ones.

    Reply

  13. Your kitchen looks great (and so sparkly clean)! You must have been reading my mind, posting this ricotta cheesecake recipe….my husband and I were just discussing the merits of cheesecake. He (of course) dislikes cream-cheesy cheesecake, so this will suit him perfectly. Can’t wait to try it out. Congrats on the new kitchen!

    Reply

  14. Your kitchen looks fantastic! I am so jealous. I wish mine was half as nice as yours. If I could bake and cook in that ktichen all day long, I’d be one happy camper… I love the idea of lighter cheesecakes, ones that don’t weigh you down so much. I want to try this one; I like ricotta so much more than cream cheese. I think maybe using amaretti cookies for the crust would turn out nice too.

    Reply

  17. Looks a beautiful party Miss P.
    Gorge-ee-oh-so cheesecakes.
    Your kitchen domain is lovely! I think we must have the same fridges.
    Many Blessings for your new home- may it be filled with light love and laughter!
    x x x

    Reply

  19. i love ricotta cheesecakes…have yet to try making one myself though. this looks fabulous! i’m glad you had a happy housewarming 🙂 i’m envious of your enormous kitchen!

    Reply

  20. What an incredible spread- I think you should win an award for being such a thoughtful hostess!

    Lovely, bright kitchen you have, too. It looks like the perfect place to unleash your creativity.

    Reply

  21. What a gorgeous new kitchen! I love your counters. I’m not a big fan of New York-style cheesecake, but I happen to think that ricotta cheesecake is where it’s at. Looks like it was a lovely party!

    Reply

  23. Oh my goodness. I am so coveting your kitchen right now. All that counter space! (I have like 15 inches of counter in this kitchen. Ugh.)

    And the food looks fab, too, of course. 😉

    Reply

  24. Is that a Maytag refrigerator I see??? I chose between that one and the Samsung French door when we bought one last month. Samsung won!

    Reply

  34. Ahhh that kitchen! The space! All those cabinets! The isle..sniff.. yes I’m jealous!

    The table you laid out to welcome your guests looks so inviting, did they ever want to leave again?

    Reply

  35. I’m in love with your kitchen… its utterly gorgeous! We’re in the process of remodeling ours, and I can only hope mine will be as lovely as yours!

    Also, fabulous girly girl spead! The big burly hockey players would not have appreciated that!

    Reply

  36. I enjoyed your virtual houswarming party, but the real one looks like it was awesome! beautifully laid out table, and your kitchen…. drool! A really wonderful kitchen for someone who likes to cook:) Congrats, hope you have years of happy baking in that kitchen!

    Reply

  38. Oh Peabody you have the dream girls kitchen for sure. You are blessed. When hubby & I buy our house in 2 years the first thing I will look for is a new kitchen and then a BIG master bathroom for me 🙂
    Wonderful job on the cheesecake.

    Reply

  40. I’ve never had ricotta cheesecake, but yours looks very delicious. I really like your kitchen and your spread for the party sounds fabulous!

    Reply

  41. Hahahahah — my mom raised me to cook for 50 no matter how many were coming, too! Love the menu, the table is gorgeous and LOVE the kitchen. I couldn’t get an island because of code issues in CA. Whatever. The cheesecake sounds and looks scrumptious! Ricotta does make it lovely.

    Reply

  44. Beautiful array of food and fantastic kitchen…especially all those cabinets and counters…lots of counter space…wheeeee. Your friends probably thought they hit the jackpot when they saw (and tasted) such wonderful food. Happy cooking in your new home, Peabody.

    Reply

  46. Wow. What a fabulous kitchen! I don’t think one can ever have enough storage space. Great menu and lovely food. I make an orange-flavored ricotta cheesecake with a biscotti crust that’s really delicious. I can’t decide which kind of cheesecake I prefer — I guess both kinds.

    Reply

  47. I could be very creative in that kitchen Peabody 😀 I love your piggy 😀 I have never tried a ricotta cheesecake, but you make it sound so intriguing I will have to give it a try 😀

    Reply

  50. I’m soooo jealous….you have such a beautiful big kitchen!
    There’s nothing like a good cheesecake!(except maybe a beautifull kitchen 🙂 )

    Reply

  51. Beautiful kitchen, lovely spread, and delicious cheesecake! You must be so happy having such a wonderful kitchen in which to create your treats.

    Reply

  57. hey.. i love your kitchen!! although mine like yours is opened concept… but it’s not so spacious, blame it on the singapore land… i always love a big kitchen to work with… =)

    Reply

  59. How cool!! Everything looks delicious (I’m constantly hungry now and I am having trouble with solid foods). And I *love* your kitchen. Now I can imagine Peabody working her magic in the right environment 🙂

    Reply

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