Say cheesecake!

My first experience with cheesecake was an unpleasant one. It was a sweltering day in July in the mountains of West Virginia, and I had just spent the afternoon weed-wacking the yard of the food pantry. The manager of the food pantry so kindly gave us lemonade and cheesecake when we finished. Unfortunately, it had been sitting in the sun a little too long. I had no idea what to expect other than I was supposed to like it, which I most certainly did not, as you can understand if you’ve ever had a warm piece of cheesecake.

I was hesitant for years after to try it again after my bad experience. However, my freshman year of college I was having a terrible day, and any good friend of mine knows the only way to cheer me up: chocolate. That night the girls brought me home a piece of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup chocolate cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.

The box weighed about five pounds. Inside was a wall of chocolate and peanut butter, the best combination ever invented. The first layer was a rich chocolate cake, followed by cheesecake with peanuts, another layer of cake, then creamy peanut butter and cheesecake. There was a dollop of peanut butter frosting on top and the edges are coated with chocolate shavings. This is probably the richest dessert I’ve ever tried, but it’s a must-have and a must-share!

I don’t know that I’ll ever be compelled to make my own cheesecake, but if you’re a fan then check out the dozens of other flavors at Cheesecake Factory like Kahlua coffee cocoa, cookie dough, Hershey’s chocolate, or chocolate raspberry. In Nashville’s midtown, Sunset Grill features a “cheesecake of the moment” and always has exciting concoctions. If you want to make your own, Pinterest is always a goldmine for classic or original cheesecake recipes.

What’s the best cheesecake you’ve ever tried?