Below is an excerpt from the novel that I am working on. It's a contemporary romance about a culinary student who becomes a personal chef to a local millionaire. Well, you can imagine all the things that get "cooked up" in the kitchen. At the bottom, I have put my recipe for the cheesecake mention in the dialogue.
Derek looked over the list of food ideas and immediately made a comment. "I don't need the pies. I bought them today, remember?"
"Okay, I'll mark off the pies." Jenny wrote that down on a pad of paper.
He continued to study the menu. She liked the way he concentrated on it, taking an interest in what would be served.
"I like the rest of it. It's a traditional Thanksgiving dinner."
"May I make one suggestion?" she asked.
"Of course."
"I think you need another dessert in addition to the pumpkin pies."
"Why do you think that?"
"It gives your guests an option, especially if they don't like pie."
"And, I suppose you have something else in mind?" he asked.
"I make a wonderful Toffee Cheesecake and have never had any complaints on it."
She saw his eyes light up. "That does sound good. Okay, add that to the menu."
"Great. Now, how many guests will be coming?"
"It will be my executive staff and their wives or girlfriends. Nineteen will be coming?"
"Nineteen? Is someone not bringing date?"
After a brief hesitation, Derek answered her question. "That would be me."
"Oh." She felt her face flush with embarrassment and changed the subject. "Did your cook purchase the turkeys before she left?"
Crust
1 3/4 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 C. melted butter
1/4 C. sugar
Mix together and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
Filling
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, soften to room temperature
1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, soften to room temperature
1 1/4 C. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
6 eggs
3 Heath Candy Bars, chopped into small pieces
Beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix well and pour over crust. Drop the candy bar pieces over the top of the mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes.
"Okay, I'll mark off the pies." Jenny wrote that down on a pad of paper.
He continued to study the menu. She liked the way he concentrated on it, taking an interest in what would be served.
"I like the rest of it. It's a traditional Thanksgiving dinner."
"May I make one suggestion?" she asked.
"Of course."
"I think you need another dessert in addition to the pumpkin pies."
"Why do you think that?"
"It gives your guests an option, especially if they don't like pie."
"And, I suppose you have something else in mind?" he asked.
"I make a wonderful Toffee Cheesecake and have never had any complaints on it."
She saw his eyes light up. "That does sound good. Okay, add that to the menu."
"Great. Now, how many guests will be coming?"
"It will be my executive staff and their wives or girlfriends. Nineteen will be coming?"
"Nineteen? Is someone not bringing date?"
After a brief hesitation, Derek answered her question. "That would be me."
"Oh." She felt her face flush with embarrassment and changed the subject. "Did your cook purchase the turkeys before she left?"
Toffee Cheesecake
Crust
1 3/4 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 C. melted butter
1/4 C. sugar
Mix together and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
Filling
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, soften to room temperature
1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, soften to room temperature
1 1/4 C. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
6 eggs
3 Heath Candy Bars, chopped into small pieces
Beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix well and pour over crust. Drop the candy bar pieces over the top of the mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes.
