Lookee....Lookee ....What I got!

[The empressof all]

My husband was back East for a few days and look what he brought me!





Now mind you this isn't a New York Cheesecake....It's a New Jersey Cheesecake from the North Arlington Diner. This is the finest, most amazingly creamy and luscious cheesecake you will ever eat. It's rather "wet" inside and slides off your spoon and into your drooling mouth. Yes...You eat this cake with a spoon....to scoop up every last morsel.


He also brought back



I sliced it and served it with eggs baked in Rotel with Chedder cheese on top....Yummers!

The kid also got her supply of

[elleng]

1. What is that thing between the deserts????

Jersey, eh? Daughter marrying a Jersey-er!!!!

[The empressof all]

6. It's a Taylor Ham

Better brush up...now that you'll be a Jersey girl once removed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Ham

[elleng]

14. You are correct, empress!

Future in laws are there, and hope to visit them often! In fact, expecting a call ANY TIME!

[The empressof all]

15. Before you go let us know the general area you'll be visiting

If you're in North Jersey there are quite a few joints you'll need to visit. Like for the the Rippers at Rutts Hut

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutt%27s_Hut

and the Sliders at White Manna

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2005/06/white_manna_a_n.html.

The Best NY Pizza is also in New Jersey as well as the best Subs. And the Bakeries....OMG :wow: Don't get me started.

[elleng]

16. I really have to STUDY a Jersey map!

My geog knowledge is generally pretty good, but haven't done Jersey! and I really should!

Dad's clients were many NJ bus companies, and he knows the state cold! AND daughter attended St. Joseph's Univ in phlly, made MANY jersey friends, met her now-fiance her freshman year, and here we are! SO, getting my map out!

PS, sil (I call him Sonny!) family is generally Italian-related, re: food, and my daughter sure is!

[AwakeAtLast]

2. Tatsykakes are steadily making their way West

and my east-coast-born husband is very happy about it!

Edit to add: :9

:D

[grasswire]

3. Freakily enough, I saw one of those pork roll things yesterday..

..in the deli meat case of a local Kroger chain store. Never saw one before. What the hell is this stuff? It looks kinda gross.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Taylor Ham-- the precursor to Spam, but a little more like scrapple...

Made from pork, much pork fat, and parts of the pig not normally considered food when recognized for what they are.

Taylor Ham isn't really any sort of ham, but one brand of pork roll. And pork roll is a north Jersey breakfast specialty-- the egg and pork roll sammich is stAndArd diner fare.

[The empressof all]

5. To me it reminds me of a cross between ham and bacon

You slice the Taylor Ham thin and pan fry it until it crisps up. It doesn't have the chunks o fat like scrapple which I won't eat. Taylor Ham is a North Jersey thing and is delightful on a hard buttered roll with a fried egg and a slice of cheese. I grew up eating it and it's a rare treat for me now.

[grasswire]

7. you have a Kroger-owned grocery nearby?

I saw that pork roll at one yesterday, in the premium stuff by the deli counter. Never saw one before. I held it up to show to my companion. What's this? Heh.

[The empressof all]

11. Which one is Kroger?

I have all of them by me in the Seattle area. Has Taylor Ham gone National? Heart be still! It won't be part of my regular food rotation but every once in a while there's nothing like it.

[grasswire]

12. Fred Meyer

One stop shopping. :-)

[The empressof all]

13. I have a strong dislike for Fred Meyer

I have no idea why...but I very rarely shop there. They have a great "natural" food area and a good selection of "natural and organic" frozen. I think it's because I don't get their weekly flyer in the mail like I do with the other grocery stores. I'll make a point of stopping by one in the next few weeks and take a look for the Taylor Ham. Thanks :)

[Tesha]

8. Ya just gotta love...

a guy who brings great food gifts, lucky you!

[Vinca]

9. I used to tell my husband that if I die before him and he wants to remarry

to get himself a cute little dog and walk around town. They're chick magnets. I'm revising my advice. Get one of those cheesecakes and walk around town! Wow! (I gained 5 lbs. ogling the picture.)

[The empressof all]

10. The picture doesn't do it justice

It must have weighed 20 pounds. How something so heavy could be so light and lucious I just can't figure it out. There is not even a hint of egg in it and the cream cheese is light...The best way I can describe it is as a dense whipped cream. My theory is that they whip the cream cheese with whippihg cream and then add the eggs and whip some more. It's light but not airy. It's really moist and slumps a bit in slicing. This particular diner in New Jersey is the only place I've had cheesecake like this. If I could figure it out and bring it west....I'd make a fortune. Alas I can't afford the poundage that it would cost to make a 100 or so test cheesecakes to perfect the recipe. :evilgrin: