Julianna Margulies Says Ina Garten's Raspberry Cheesecake Is 'Divine'
"You don't need a holiday to bake this Raspberry Cheesecake," assured Ina Garten, prolific cookbook author and Food Network star, in an Instagram post last week. "but I guarantee that you'll make your Valentine feel really special if you make it on Monday!" The caption accompanies a photo of the cheesecake in question, which is perfectly golden around the edges and piled high with raspberries with a syrupy coating that reflects the light in dazzling fruity refractions. If you were one of the 64,639 "Barefoot Contessa" fans to double-tap the post, you were in good company. Primetime star Julianna Margulies (of "ER" and "The Good Wife" fame) commented, "Omg! That looks divine," followed by a red heart emoji.
It wasn't the first time the Emmy-nominated actor had shown some love for Ina on Instagram. When Garten posted an adorable series of photos of her husband — the distinguished Jeffrey — on his most recent birthday, Margulies was one of several IG-verified celebs to leave a sweet message. In turn, Garten wished Margulies a happy Valentine's Day on a photo the actor posted on Monday, which shows a plate of oatmeal and fruit arranged to resemble a cute little face.
But back to the cheesecake.
Store-bought is fine, but not always
The cheesecake recipe — which first appeared in Garten's 2002 cookbook "Barefoot Contessa Family Style" — keeps it simple and classic with a buttery graham cracker crust, a sweet and lemony batter with cream cheese and sour cream, and a generous helping of red jelly and fresh raspberries on top.
The word of Julianna Margulies notwithstanding, those who need even more convincing to make the cake can scroll through the comments beneath the Food Network recipe. One reviewer writes, "I love everything Ina makes and this cheesecake is no exception! It is light and fluffy and delicious." Several other comments praise the dessert for its immunity to surface cracks, which often plague cheesecakes that are dry and over-baked. Another commenter writes, "I made this for my husband's birthday last night and had it this morning. It was fantastic! It was the first time I made a cheesecake. NO water bath and NO cracks."
The cake is undeniably festive and earned a spot on Ina's Valentine's Day Dinner menu alongside a cosmopolitan, an arugula and parmesan salad, a rack of lamb, and orzo with roasted veggies (if only we could all be Jeffrey). But — as Garten said — there's no reason not to whip up this gorgeous dessert on an average weekday.