Since living in Perth, I have been learning how to cook from scratch. Thanks to a recipe booklet given by my mum, I have transformed from a "Maggi-mee student" into a home cook capable of dishing up some pretty decent dishes on the dining table.

However, baking was really foreign to me. It's like you've learned how to swim (cook), and now you try to learn how to dive (bake) instead. It's a different ball game altogether but since it was a mundane weekend, Vian and Percy decided to join me to bake a cheesecake.

We decided on the Baked Blueberry Cheesecake but chose to leave out the blueberry as we are not a big fan of blueberry. What we wanted was only the CHEESEcake!



So we went shopping for the ingredients in the afternoon - digestive biscuits, unsalted butter, cream cheese, whipping cream and a baking tray.


We already have the kitchen scale and spatula at home, so it's all system go!


First of all, melting and whipping the solid cream cheese into cream-like texture.

In order to melt the cream cheese, we have to 'water-bath' it (placing a tray of hot water under the mixing bowl). Unbestknown to me, whipping can be such an arduous task as it really sucks a lot of energy from all that crushing, whipping and balancing the bowl. Percy and me have to take turns to do the whipping. No easy task, I tell you.

At the same time, Vian was crushing the digestive biscuits into fine crumbles......



to be used as the cake base...


After about 20 minutes of whipping the cheese cream and folding it with sugar, eggs, and butter, it's done. A smooth creamy texture that was ready to be made into delicious cheesecake.

Pouring the cake mixture on top the base.

After that, the mixture was put into the oven and let it sit on 'water-bath' for 30 minutes or so at 180 degrees.

It was a nervy moment waiting for the cake as we were wondering whether it will come out perfect or it might be disastrous, or worse burnt! It was like waiting for your first newborn and you are wondering whether it will be a boy or girl, and will he be perfectly healthy. :P

But LO and BEHOLD....

TA-DAAAA!!

Our first cheesecake - SUCCESS! (The tiny holes in the middle were the result of poking the cake halfway during baking to test the inside texture).


Apart from the uneven shape (due to my inept skill at lining the baking sheet), it was considered a success.

Not to mention the sinfully delicious taste of the rich, creamy cheese and butter.


It was a fun experience actually as all three of us were having fun multitasking in preparing the cake mixture. Obviously, this isn't going to be the last attempt at baking - because no cake tastes better than your own handmade!

Now I can proudly add baking to my cooking repertoire! =)