To give you a brief about Howrah (Pron: ˈhaʊrə) (Bengali: হাওড়া) is a city located on the banks of the Hoogli River, which is a twin city to Kolkata.So is my blog write-up about a bakery in Howrah ?? ….well no..its about a bakery in my small town which for only God known reason is named as “Howrah Bakery“.You can say it has nothing to do with Howrah or maybe its owners are from Howrah or maybe its bakers are from Howrah well there could be as many assumptions.But for now I will concentrate on the delights this place has added in my childhood.This is a very very old bakery I really don’t know when it got started but here as I write my blog from my apartment in London I am still able to Google it up…that means it still exists!
Any girl in my town will agree to this and even you,if you chance upon this quaint bakery that has been around for years and continues to whip up delicacies such as bespoke cakes for birthdays,chicken/mutton patties,shortbreads,biscuits and breads . Its appearance is minimalist but it is the alluring fragrance of freshly baked bread and other confectionery that pulls you towards it.
My mother had a tough time controlling us as we were the famous notorious sisters in our neighborhood.We have been extremely lucky cause we got a chance to play all the traditional games such as hide-and seek,hopscotch,seven up,cops and robbers and even marbles.You name it and I have played it. (It’s sad that maybe today’s kids might not even know what these games are cause their world is now revolving around mobile games like angry birds,talking Tom and temple run etc).We had to be literally dragged by the ear into the house for our dinner and homework.But there were those few magical evenings when we would be busy playing and we would hear the sound of our dad’s bike (a very distinct roar of a Yezdi which resembles the modern-day Enfield) and there would be a small white bag suspended from his handle.We definitely knew what it was and within the wink of an eye we were home.This bag would have some or the other goodies from our dear old Howrah bakery and trust me it tasted heaven.
As I stir up my daughter’s birthday cake I so fondly remember those innumerable cakes from Howrah bakery which were cut on our birthdays.This cake is my tribute to those unspoiled moments.
Ingredients for strawberry and cream cheesecake:
BASE:
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup castor sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup ground cookies
- 2 cups strawberry
- 1 cup clotted cream (Crème fraîche if not available)
- 2 cups cream cheese (any soft, mild-tasting cheese with a high fat content)
- 1/2 cup double cream
- 1/2 cup castor sugar
- 4 medium eggs
- Use a Round spring form cake pan which has been greased and lined
TOPPINGS:
1 cup double cream whipped to peaks- 2 cups strawberry halved
Preparation method
- Preheat the oven to 180 degree centigrade (350 degree Fahrenheit).
- For the base cream together the butter and sugar then slowly add the egg and grounded cookies.Pour this into mixture into the cake pan and bake it for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and allow it to cool down.
- For the filling , blend the strawberry,clotted cream,cream cheese,double cream,sugar and eggs until smooth in a mixture.
- Now for the tricky part,wrap the outside of the above cooled cake pan with a cling film and place it in a roasting pan half full with water.
- Pour the filling into the cake pan (in its water bath) and bake at 170 degree centigrade (350 degree Fahrenheit) for 60-80 minutes until the cheesecake is set with a slight wobble in the center.
- Remove the cheesecake and slide the knife around the edge of the pan to release the cheesecake and prevent it from cracking and then leave it to cool and then chill in the refrigerator for minimum 5 hours before serving.
- Before serving spread the whipped cream over the top and arrange strawberries over the cream.
P.S=>For tips please refer to my blueberry cheesecake recipe.
Hi Kristopher,
Did u just make my day…I am so glad….And thanks a lot for the great tip…Laranitas on my download list now! If you want any other improvements please let me know…
Lov,
Roy