Cheesecake: A Slice of Heaven, Joy, and Pure Delight

Cheesecake heaven ... delight ... joy ... dressed up or plain.  No matter. It's the best dessert on the planet!!  Happy for any excuse to enjoy a piece of cheesecake! 😊

• FUN FACT:  Cheesecake is truly the food of love, and we can thank the Greeks. DID YOU KNOW? The Greek physician Aegimus wrote a book on making cheesecakes in the 5th century AD, and the oldest written cheesecake recipe is attributed to Athenaeus and dates back to 230 AD…. ❤️

Gourmet Cheesecake is the ultimate dessert gift for the ultimate dessert lover. There are many wonderful sites where you can purchase these fabulous gourmet food gifts online.

• The Cheesecake Factory
• Cheesecakes by David's Cookies
• The Original Cakerie

From classic New York Style cheesecake to Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake. Tough decision, huh? I know!  It's hard to decide if you want to be generous and buy it as a gift OR get it for yourself and eat it all? 😊

Hark!  Is that the voice of a diva?

What's that?  You're a domestic diva, and you prefer to make your own cheesecake instead of buying a gourmet gift online?  OK!  The listing of recipes below is for the Martha Stewart look-alikes. 

• Lemon Swirl Cheesecake — a classic baked cheesecake with homemade lemon curd swirled through the top. -  Mindees Cooking Obsession
  
• The Ultimate Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe – dessertsblog.com
• Baked Matcha Cheesecake – The Unlikely Baker
  
• Lavender Honey Cheesecake – Taste Of Home
  
• Mint Chocolate Cheesecake – Taste Of Home
  
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake – Restless Chipotle
  
• Matcha Swirl Cheesecake – A Cozy Kitchen
  
• Rainbow Cheesecake _ A cheerful “pot of gold” dessert.  - Tablespoon

July 30th is the official date set aside for National Cheesecake Day.  But for me, it's an occasion to extend throughout the entire year. 

EES shares recipes, cooking tips and all things foodie!

Everyday Exotic Spices

Thinking of the winter holidays?
- Easy Eggnog Cheesecake Recipe

- White Christmas Cheesecake

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A Good Cookbook is Never Out of of Season

Newlywed and Newly Hired.

When I was a newlywed (over 40 years ago), I was also a newbie at my job, and my boss stopped by my desk one time just for general conversation.  That's what I thought.  I didn't realize that she was talking to me just to get an idea of what would make a really good Christmas gift for me.  She was also new at the job and wanted to make a good impression on her staff.  We were not allowed to give her gifts because she was our superior.  But she could get us gifts because we were her subordinates.  

Guess what she gave me for Christmas?  A cookbook!  It was the perfect gift for me.  I loved it and used it for years.  Based on that experience, I always say "a good cookbook is never out of season".  It's a practical gift idea for newlyweds, college students, aspiring chefs, etc., for the holiday season, any season, or any other reason. 

Here are some suggested cookbooks.

Cook without a Book: Meatless Meals: Recipes and Techniques for Part-Time and Full-Time Vegetarians ~ https://amzn.to/4pw3uJX

Skip the recipe, keep the flavor 🌱
Cook without a Book: #MeatlessMeals = your guide to effortless #vegetarian #cooking. 📖 https://t.co/tzNSxS2H28 #VeggieEats #Foodies #PlantPowered #HealthyEating #newbie in the #kitchen #MeatlessMonday#WellnessWednesday#FoodieFriday pic.twitter.com/I0oP13Jjwi

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food ~ https://amzn.to/44fDZEi

Ever wondered why bread rises or steak browns? 🔬
Cooking for Geeks mixes science + flavor for curious cooks. 👉 https://t.co/e1UmzwQYmO #FoodScience #CookingForGeeks #KitchenHacks #STEMFoodies#newbie in the #kitchen#MeatlessMonday#WellnessWednesday#FoodieFriday pic.twitter.com/MzSeA76ADj

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

Cooking Without Borders ~ https://amzn.to/3KeQrxk

Food is the language we all share ❤️
Taste the world without leaving your kitchen 🌎✨
Cooking Without Borders brings international #recipes & stories to your table. 📖 https://t.co/QCBV0fi2xM #WorldCuisine #GlobalFlavors #FoodieReads #CookbookLove #newbie in the #kitchen… pic.twitter.com/ZiiVS2w5SX

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

Now Eat This! 100 Quick Calorie Cuts at Home / On-the-Go ~ https://amzn.to/4rfEkRk

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard 🌱
Discover 100 easy calorie cuts in Now Eat This!
📖 https://t.co/VOTn70MXJU#WellnessJourney #HealthyLiving #NutritionHacks #FoodieReads #newbie in the #kitchen#MeatlessMonday#WellnessWednesday#FoodieFriday pic.twitter.com/uFsjVO6sln

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

Special Diets for Special Kids, Volumes 1 and 2 Combined: Over 200 REVISED and NEW gluten-free casein-free recipes, plus research on the positive ... ADHD, allergies, celiac disease, and more! ~ https://amzn.to/4oRKplh

Managing ADHD, allergies, or celiac? 🌱
Special #Diets for Special Kids offers #recipes & guidance for everyday meals. 👉 https://t.co/DRf9mODeNZ #GlutenFreeCooking #CaseinFree #HealthyFamilies #NutritionTips #CaseinFreeRecipes #HealthyEating #newbie in the #kitchen… pic.twitter.com/aWMHy2O49L

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing – City ~ https://amzn.to/48gLUCE

Paris: glorious, perplexing, and oh-so-delicious 🇫🇷
Taste the city through The Sweet Life in Paris.
👉 https://t.co/qUWyUDR7sk #ParisLife #FoodieAdventures #BookTok #FrenchCuisine #FrenchLifestyle #newbie in the #kitchen#MeatlessMonday#WellnessWednesday#FoodieFriday pic.twitter.com/cZ6sO3etIq

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 22, 2025

Finally Bought My Christmas Gift: A Rice Cooker

This is my story. My alternate title for this post is: “Why I Finally Bought My Dream Rice Cooker (And What I’m Cooking First)” For almost five (5) years, a rice cooker has been on my Christmas wish list. Not sure why, but nobody wanted to gift me one. Every year, I received some other gift that I had asked for, or gift cards, which I always used to buy groceries. But never a rice cooker. One of my kids bought a rice cooker for his apartment, but broke it. (Long story. Broke the waffle maker too!) Another one of my kids bought a rice cooker, but it's too small. I'm trying to feed a group of 6 to 8 people. So I needed a bigger pot.

FINALLY!! I decided to buy a rice cooker for myself. It's my birthday/anniversary/mother's day/holiday… whatever reason I could think of gift. LOL.😄

I am very pleased with MYAroma Housewares 32-Cup (Cooked) (16-Cup UNCOOKED) Pot Style Rice Cooker (ARC-7216NG) , White. It's bigger than I thought it would be, and I don't just want to cook rice. As soon as I watched a cooking video and the person cooked a pot of chicken stew … I'm on a hunt for rice cooker recipes. DID YOU KNOW you can cook hard-boiled eggs in a rice cooker? Just add water and let the steam do the work. Some say you can make cheesecake in a rice cooker. But I haven't tried that yet.

If you visit my blog, then you know I love sharing links to recipes found on the web. Keep scrolling and you'll find the rice cooker links at the end of this post. IF you're just cooking rice, here are a few ideas on how to turn your rice cooker into a flavor powerhouse. You can infuse flavor into your rice while it cooks.

♦ Savory Infusions

• Broth instead of water: Use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth for a richer base.

• Bouillon cubes or granules: Dissolve in the cooking liquid for a punch of umami.

• Garlic butter: Sauté garlic in butter, then add rice and broth—this combo is heavenly.

• Herbs & spices: Toss in bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, or cumin seeds while cooking.

♦ Tropical & Sweet Twists

• Coconut milk: Swap part of the water for coconut milk for creamy, island-style rice.

• Fruit juices: Pineapple or orange juice adds a sweet tang—great with Caribbean dishes.

• Cinnamon & cloves: Perfect for sweet rice or as a base for Moroccan-style meals.  (Also add in raisins or dried dates.)

♦ Fresh & Zesty Additions

• Citrus zest: Lemon or lime zest brightens up the flavor.

• Fresh herbs: Add cilantro, parsley, or basil right before serving for a pop of green.

• Infused oils: Drizzle with chili oil, sesame oil, or garlic oil after cooking.

♦ Global Inspirations

• Tomato paste or salsa: Stir into the water for Spanish-style rice.

• Soy sauce or miso: Adds depth and saltiness—great for Asian-inspired dishes.

• Pesto or tapenade: Mix in after cooking for Mediterranean flair.

***

REFERENCES:

14Ways To Add More Flavor To White Rice | Tasting Table

Garlic Butter Rice | Spend With Pennies

Tasty Ways to Infuse Rice and Inspired Infusion Ideas | Minute® Rice

Elevate Your Dish: How to Add Flavor to Cooked Rice | Easy CleanCook

@aargh42g5. “Rice Cooker Japanese Chicken Stew Recipe.” YouTube, Video, 25 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuFEwgGCW3w.

***

RECIPE SHARING:

The Joy of Homemaking. “Cooking Veggies for the First Time in My Rice Cooker! #homemaker #momlife #familyof5 #cooking.” YouTube, Video, 10 July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s1F8Sc-K-Zg.

@Karebearstare. “Simple Rice Cooker Recipes That Are Awesome.” YouTube, Video, 15 Feb. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YieIRSCHndM.

ONE-POT Rice Recipes for rice lovers | Marion's Kitchen
Dishes like Hainanese chicken rice, lamb biryani, and honey soy chicken—YUM!

10 Easy Rice Cooker Recipes | Food Network
Mac & cheese, salmon bowls, and even pancakes—all rice cooker-friendly.

24 Best Rice Cooker Recipes (Quick and Delicious One-Pot Meals)
A treasure trove of recipes for fried rice, teriyaki shrimp, chili, and desserts like rice pudding and chocolate cake.

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/792547595995267072/24-best-rice-cooker-recipes-quick-and-delicious

37 Rice Cooker Recipes - The Picky Eater
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options galore—this blog shows how to make everything from burrito bowls to Korean sweet rice.

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/792548433042997249/37-rice-cooker-recipes-the-picky-eater

*

Aroma Rice Cooker Cookbook: 

Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion: 

Mastering the Art of One-Pot Cooking

Perfect Gift for the High School Graduate Who is Off to College - A Cookbook!

A Cookbook? For a college student? Am I nuts?

No. No, I am not. During my freshman year or first year at university, I was fortunate because I had a meal plan. As long as I got to the cafeteria before closing time, I didn't starve! However, for my remaining three years at the university, I lived in an on-campus apartment, and my roommates (friends I made as a freshman who also lived in the apartments) loved to cook. The Chinese-Jamaican guy who lived in the apartment above ours always had a good smell coming out of his kitchen! His specialty was curry chicken. 

But before I get too far down memory lane and forget why I am writing this post, let me get back on track. The purpose of this post is to recommend a cookbook for a student you know who is heading off to college, already in college, or getting ready to graduate from college. In fact, these cookbooks are great for anybody!!!

***

FIVE (5) Practical Reasons to Gift an Easy Recipe Cookbook to a College Student

1. Learning to cook empowers them to take care of themselves, reducing reliance on takeout or dining halls.
2. Cooking at home can be Budget-Friendly and friends might enjoy your culinary creations. (OK! They'll be your “test subjects”. It's a free meal. They probably won't complain too much.)  [P.S. Could also be figure-friendly.  I ate a lot of pizza at the university.  My weight went up and down.  LOL.😁]
3. Depending on what you cook and how you cook, home-cooked meals tend to be healthier, because you control the ingredients and portion sizes.
4. Learning simple and easy recipes is a valuable life skill during and after college. First, you learn to balance college-life; then you balance work-life, and then probably work-and-family-life. Cooking is a lifelong skill that will serve you well beyond college—into adulthood and family life. AMEN?
5. Customizable Diets – Learn to tailor meals to your dietary needs or preferences (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)

🎁 🎁 🎁 🎁 🎁

The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond by Ellgen, Pamela  

The Easy Three-Ingredient College Cookbook: 100 Quick, Low-Cost Recipes That Fit Your Budget AND Schedule!

Related articles

• 15 things college kids should do now to be successful in the future(businessinsider.com)

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• 4 FOOD BLOGS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR STUDENTS(studybreaks.com)

Food Gift Baskets Are Perfect for Holiday Gift-Giving

The holiday season is upon us and I for one am very content to share a few precious moments with family and friends. It is not necessary to give me a gift. However … if you want to make me happy for the holidays, you can give me a cheese gift basket. Several years ago my brother gave my husband and me a basket for Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the tasty cheeses. 

Image credit

You can buy gift baskets that are ready-made or make a basket yourself. If you want to make a gift basket and you are not sure which cheese to pick, you can follow the advice published by Serious Eats or Taste Atlas.

REFERENCES:

• Thorpe, Liz. “Cheese Expert's Picks: 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love.” Serious Eats, SERIOUS EATS INC., BY DOTDASH, 31 Oct. 2019.

• “100 Best Rated Cheeses in The World.” Taste Atlas, AtlasMedia Ltd. (EU), 5 Dec. 2020, www.tasteatlas.com/100-best-rated-cheeses-in-the-world.

* * *

Me personally, I like gouda, gruyere, extra sharp cheddar, Greek feta, and Camembert. But I would be more than happy to try any of those other cheeses recommended on these lists.

Of course, I know a cheese gift basket is kind of expensive. But it's just a suggestion to get you thinking about all the various types of gift baskets you can put together and give to family and friends.

For example, do you have a friend who is a cocoa or coffee or tea lover? Or a friend who likes various sorts of jellies and jams? You can choose a theme like … chili fixings or ingredients for Italian or Mexican food. Making gift baskets is fun. They don't have to be edible gifts either. (I just like receiving gourmet food baskets!) The items don't even have to be in a straw basket. Gift baskets can be very personalized and unique. You can give one to an individual, a couple, or a family. And of course … they come from the heart.

How to Make Easy Fancy Gift Basket



Original content source

Gifts for Tea Lovers : Do you Like Pretty Teapots?

Do you often find yourself reflecting back on many fond childhood memories? Many children, especially little girls, can probably remember having a tea party. My big sister had a blue and white tea set and she enjoyed pretending we were having a tea party. I wasn’t allowed to play with the toy dishes by myself since they were breakable. So when I wasn’t playing with my sister, my other memory is of playing with clay. What was an easy thing to make with clay? A teapot with teacups and saucers (which my sister taught me how to make). My clay creations did not look as pretty as her teapot, cups, and saucers. But creating those clay teapots encouraged my appreciation for pretty teapots.

Yixing is an area in China referred to as the Pottery Capital of China. The name (義兴) translated into English means “righteousness and prosperity”. The Yixing clay teapots date back to 1500 (or possibly 1300). A Chinese potter is to be credited for this invention; however, historical records do not provide a name. Originally made for individual use, they were molded from a single sheet of purple clay. Rather than use a separate drinking vessel, i.e. a cup, people often drank directly from the teapot. At first, the design was simple but later evolved into artistic creations. That was the beginning. In the late 1600s to early 1700s, teapots were exported to Europe. Eventually, the Europeans began to make their own. The earliest example of fine British tea-ware “may have been Josiah Wedgwood’s improved cream-coloured earthenware, which was introduced in the 1760s”. (Quote Source)


* More reading on the history and design of the teapot.


Nowadays teapots are commonplace and can be found in most homes all around the world. In fact, I think that the perfect gift for anyone is a lovely teapot or a tea set.


What about you? Do you fancy pretty teaware?

Click here.