Croatian cheesecake is dense, slightly sweet, lemonee and full of some great ingredients to elevate healthiness. A family 100+ year treasure!
Home and Family Hallmark
Croatian cheesecake is dense, slightly sweet and full of some great ingredients to elevate healthiness. Try my 100 year+ family recipe for cheesecake. And, you might like reading more about my amazing search for my roots in Croatia. Honestly, it's like a Hallmark movie that really happened. And, it was just Ben and me and some worn dusty documents that Mom had saved of her parents' coming to America.
There's so much history behind this 'hallmark Croatian cheesecake'. And, Home and Family TV with the Hallmark Channel has a lot to do with it.
Cheesecake with Cottage Cheese
From the journey my Grandmother made at the turn of the twentieth century to America from the old country, which was then the Austro Hungarian Empire, to now today and sharing this recipe with the world on Hallmark Channel's Home & Family TV, this recipe has brought me and so many others, immeasurable love and happiness.
Recipes with Cottage Cheese
When I first decided to enter the Dream Jobbing contest for the 'Best Home Cook', I knew I wanted to share this recipe. But, I wanted to simplify it even more so others wouldn't be intimidated by the word 'cheesecake'.
Sometimes the idea of making a cheesecake makes home cooks think, hummmmmm, that's something that I just can't do because of its complexity. But, that's not the case with this cheesecake.
How to Make a Cheesecake
You cannot mess up. It will be tasty and delicious regardless.
While it might not have the 'glamour' and perfection of a French cheesecake, it will be heartwarming because you know that it's supposed to be rustic and earthy.
All those imperfections make for immense beauty!
Home and Family Recipes
Home and Family TV on the Hallmark Channel is super popular because of the variety of offerings on the show. From DIY and health information, Home and Family also has a big presence on daytime TV with home and family recipes.
These recipes are all over the board, and they're usually very family friendly. Nothing complicated and fancy because they know that the audience want's simple easy home and family recipes.
Easy Cheesecake Recipes
So when I saw that Home and Family Hallmark was searching for the Best Home Cooks, I knew I had to enter! After sending in my audition tape, which was just about 90 seconds demonstrating this Croatian cheesecake, I actually forgot about it. Then I saw myself on TV named as a finalist!
Just click this pix and watch my cooking on the Hallmark Channel!Croatian Cheesecake Recipe
When I learned that I was one of the six finalists for the title of 'Best Home Cook', I had no idea that the day that my show would air would be the 95th birthday of my Mom who'd learned this recipe from my her mother, my Grandmother.
Mom used to make this cheesecake mostly on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter, when we were growing up in the hollers of West Virginia. That's because the ingredients were relatively speaking kind of 'expensive'. This cheesecake was somewhat of a decadence for us kids. And, it was kind of healthy, so Mom used to let us eat it in the mornings for breakfast!
The Best Cheesecake Recipe
Times were tough. Money was tight. And, we would just feel like we were having the most heavenly treat when this cheesecake was made. Unlike typical cheesecakes, this cheesecake uses more cottage cheese than cream cheese. Cottage cheese is frequently used in Eastern European dishes and sweets.
I always say that dreams have no expiration date and here's why. When you stop dreaming, you've stopped living in my humble opinion.
Croatian Desserts
Croatian desserts, well, you just have to experience them. When Ben and I traveled to Croatia to find my long-lost relatives, and you have too read those posts because they're like a Hallmark movie, we ate our share of Croatian desserts.
Croatian desserts can be addictive and dangerous because you can't stop eating them. Whether it's a buttery crumbly pie, dainty velvety cookies or creamy and decadent rich cakes, they're full of immense happiness. And, because of Croatia's rich history over hundreds and hundreds of years, you'll see the influence of other cuisines and cultures, French, Middle Eastern, Italian and more. Croatian cooking and cuisine and Croatian desserts have benefited from this patchwork of influence over the years.
You might want to try some of my adapted Croatian desserts that my family most loves. They're slight adaptations of the recipes from Mom. I've made these much easier knowing that so many of us don't have the time to devote to complicated pastry cooking.
Baked Cottage Cheese Strukji Lemon Cottage Cheesecake živjeli kata croatian cheesecake Holiday Walnut Bread PoviticaRecipes for Cheesecake
Now some may be a little intimidated by the idea of making a cheesecake. Yes, there are thousands of recipes for cheesecake on the internet. But, this cheesecake recipe is one of the easiest you'll ever make. Now it's not fancy and perfect looking like a French or New York cheesecake. It's more rustic and earthy. Maybe this recipe for cheesecake is the one if you're visiting a village in Croatia or you want one that's heavy on an ingredient you wouldn't expect in recipes for cheesecake. Cottage cheese!
One of my new favorite cheesecakes, Lemon Coconut Cheesecake.
Cheesecake at Home
Making cheesecake at home is so simple! Here're some of my favorite recipes for you to try!
Cherry Limeade Cheesecake Chocolate Banana Cheesecake Bites Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake BarsHomemade Cheesecake No Bake
King Pineapple No Bake CheesecakeHomemade Cheesecake Recipe Easy
Cherry Ricotta Cheesecake Jars Lemon Cottage CheesecakeCottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a good source of some vitamins and minerals, but it only contains small amounts of others.
Healthline touts the value of cottage cheese, "Cottage cheese is a curd cheese with a mild flavor and smooth texture. It's high in many nutrients, including protein, B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, selenium, and phosphorus. If you're looking to lose weight or build muscle, cottage cheese is among the most beneficial foods you can eat."
Eastern Europeans and Russians love their cottage cheese and use it in many recipes, like pancakes. One of my grandson's favorite recipes to make when he comes to visit is 'Syrniki' which are pancakes with cottage cheese.
I sure hope you'll find that you love this Hallmark Croatian Cheesecake recipe as much as I do. I've made the crust a tad bit 'healthier' with the addition of wheatgerm and sliced almonds. Be playful in experimenting with toppings. If you want to do dollops of whipped cream and other kinds of fruit, do it. The base of this cheesecake the lemoneeee filling with the 'littl' cottage cheese lumps' is the star and will never be outshone by the topping! Here's to keeping the history of our families alive through their recipes. It's a priceless heritage and legacy to pass on to our children.
~peace & namaste~ xoxox ally
