Cheesecake Challenge #1: Cheesecake in a Mug

Since I came up with this challenge in the evening, well after I could possible make a cheesecake, I decided to start off simple... the Cheesecake in a Mug. I've previously tried the Brownie in a Mug, with varying degrees of success, but what a great idea--relatively instant cheesecake!

From recipe source, 2 Stews

Now, I started this one last night, and I'd already reached my calorie limit for the day and finished exercising, so I decided I could make this in the evening and let it refrigerate overnight, so I'd have a delightful treat for lunch. Therefore, I whipped this together in about 10 minutes last night, let it cool, and popped it into the fridge.

The verdict? It was pretty good, but I'm on the fence about including it in my recipe book, so I'm giving it a 4.5 stars.

It was pretty good--especially the parts I didn't over cook. Some of the edges were a little overdone, but the center was smooth and creamy. It definitely had a very sour-creamy flavor to it, though. Although that's not bad, it's just not traditional cheesecake to me, more like a sour-cream cheesecake. It was good.

In my not-so-elegant picture above, you can see how my edges were a little over-done (it was a learning process, okay!?). But the center was smooth and good.

I found this recipe on 2 Stews. Here it is:

Microwave Mug Cheesecake

2 ounces softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 T. sugar
2 T. egg white
1/2 tsp. lemon juice (I skipped this)
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1 T. mini chocolate chips to mix in

In a mug, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, sugar, egg, lemon juice, and cornstarch and whisk until light, about 2 minutes. Add mix in (chocolate chips).

Microwave. This depends on your microwave, but I did mine for about 1.5 minutes, watching it. You're supposed to do it until the center starts to bubble. Mine was rising a lot, so I really had to keep an eye on it.

Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate 1.5-2 hours (for me, overnight and until lunch). If any liquid has pooled, pour it out before eating.

The Cheesecake Challenge

Time to lay out the challenge. Below I've provided a picture (and link to recipe/source) of each cheesecake I plan on making, in no particular order. These are the challenges:

1. Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake

2. Grandma's Pecan Tasties

3. Praline Crumb Caramel Cheesecake Bars

4. Japanese Cheesecake

5. Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake

6. Mini Chocolate Mousse Cheesecakes

7. Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip

8. Turtle Cheesecake

9. Raspberry Cheesecake

10. Zebra Cheesecake

11. Cheesecake in a Mug

12. Deep Fried Cheesecake

13. Oreo Cheesecake

14. No Bake Cheesecake

15. Chocolate Cheesecake

16. Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Cookies

17. Vanilla and Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

18. White Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake

19. Cafe de Leche Cheesecake

20. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

21. Thin Mint Cheesecake Parfait

22. Pumpkin Cognac Cheesecake

23. Mocha and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

24. Carrot Cake Cheesecake (my own recipe)

25. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (my own recipe)

As for the order, it will depend entirely on my mood and the availability of ingredients in my kitchen. There will be a standard rating system for the cheesecakes as well:

5 Stars: So good I'm putting it in my permanent cookbook. I'm inhaling it.
4 Stars: Really good, but not making the permanent cookbook. Still, I'll be keeping this one in house.
3 Stars: Good. Maybe a piece or two, but the rest aren't worth the calories. Better take it into work.
2 Stars: Not great. One piece was enough and I was kind of disappointed.
1 Star: Terrible--either tastes bad or is some sort of disaster in the kitchen.

Let the games begin...

The Inspiration, The Challenge

I don't know why I'm starting a new blog, because I'm already terrible with the one (and a half) I already have. But here's how and why it's happened:

I have become newly obsessed with both Pinterest and a variety of baking/cooking blogs I've found on the internet. Therefore, I've been filling my recipes/sweets/cheesecakes/cupcakes boards up on Pinterest with all sorts of fantastic treats. While working on this yesterday, I had the inspiration to make a new cheesecake every week, in an attempt to try out many of the recipes I've pinned. Kind of sounds like Julie and Julia, right? Yeah, kind of does.

Except, here's the thing... I'd also like to drop about 15 pounds. Ha! Cheesecake and weight loss!

So, I've decided to amend my challenge a little bit. I still want to bake my cheesecakes, but between trying to eat better, working two jobs, settling into our home, and raising a two year old, there just isn't the opportunity to make a cheesecake a week. I'm just being realistic here. Therefore, I've decided, instead, to start "The Cheesecake Challenge," which works like this:

-I'm going to select 25 cheesecake recipes from my Pinterest. I will make these 25 recipes this year (hopefully, although I'm not holding myself to any hard and fast deadline--25 just seemed like a reasonable number).

-I will blog on the results of my 25 Cheesecake Challenge. I don't actually expect anyone to read or care about my cheesecaking experiences, but I'd like to keep track for myself--which is why I've made myself a separate blog for the baking fun.

-I may also make things other than cheesecake and catalog them in my blog, here, because I just love baking and sometimes I want something other than cheesecake.

-There are no promises on regularity. Life happens.

So we begin the challenge! In fact, I've already started, last night, after the inspiration. I picked the easiest one to start. More on that later, though.