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Calorie-free Cheesecakes!

January 16, 2007 by Nicole 29 Comments

aois-cheesecakes-with-black-border-crop.jpg

I am one of those people whose refrigerator is completely covered with magnets, photos, etc. I’ve been this way for as long as I’ve had my own kitchen and I’ll probably never change. In fact, I had my first refrigerator magnet before I even moved into my first apartment. I moved to Oregon with my friend Stephanie when I was 19 years old. We packed up three vehicles and drove up to Portland from California. Stephanie drove her truck, I drove my Oldsmobile, and my parents drove my mom’s little Toyota pickup. On the way up, we stopped off in Corning, CA at a place called The Olive Pit for lunch. Actually, Steph and I ate at Burger King next door because at the time, the idea of an “olive burger” didn’t sound too appealing to us. By my mom and dad went to the Olive Pit and most likely had a much better lunch than we did! My mom also made a secret purchase in there and when we got to the new apartment in Portland later that night, I was given my first refrigerator magnet, a souvenir from Corning featuring a little mouse hugging a huge olive that said, “Olive you.”

olive-you.jpg

The magnet is old, stained, and chipped now but here it is 13 years later and it’s still on my fridge, and it’s still my favorite! Looking at this magnet instantly brings back all the memories of moving out on my own for the first time: the excitement, the fear and the sadness that goes along with moving so far away from everyone you love and everything you know.

Pretty much all of the magnets on my fridge come with some sort of story or memory. Many have been given to me as gifts. Some of them I’ve purchased for myself just because I think they’re funny, some of them were picked up as souvenirs of our travels through Europe, and some of them came from my mom’s refrigerator when she died. Someday maybe I’ll write more about them because in a way, they tell the story of the last 13 years of my life. But today, I am only going to talk about one more thing…my latest magnet purchase that has moved up into second place in my long list of favorites!

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Yes, I’m finally getting to those delicious-looking little cheesecakes that made you start reading this post in the first place! These beautiful, tiny, delectable cheesecake magnets were custom-made by a very talented artist who just so happens to sell all kinds of miniature, calorie-free food creations online at her etsy shop. I sent her a photo of my own mini cherry cheesecakes and a couple of days later she had handcrafted these beautiful little magnets for me. I ordered five of them but I can’t help giving them away to friends and family so I will have to order more soon. I can’t say enough about the quality of her work and the wonderful customer service! So, next time you need to buy a gift for your favorite foodie, head over to Aoi’s Art and pick out one of her original creations or let her create a custom piece just for you.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

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Comments

  1. Patricia Scarpin says

    January 16, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    Nicole Your magnets are so cute! I don't have as many as you do, but the ones I have are important: they're the ones holding the printed recipes while I cook!
    Reply
  2. Lisa (Homesick Texan) says

    January 16, 2007 at 4:11 pm

    That headline hooked me (I must admit), but your great story was much more fulfilling than any no-calorie cheesecake recipe!
    Reply
  3. FoodieBride says

    January 16, 2007 at 4:12 pm

    What a fun post!
    Reply
  4. Curt says

    January 16, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    Nicole, I see a humor theme starting! I'm not into magnets much, but it's cool to have some made from your own cheesecakes. I actually thought the David magnet with the briefs was quite funny. I wonder, though, if fridge magnets are one of those gender things... My wife has a few; I prefer none, especially when we get our new stainless fridge.
    Reply
  5. Brilynn says

    January 16, 2007 at 4:49 pm

    Those are awesome! I wish more people would appreciate them as much as I would... crazy non foodloving people...
    Reply
  6. Ruby Berry says

    January 16, 2007 at 6:41 pm

    I really enjoyed this blog Nicole, I recognize the David magnet on the one picture...very well! :)
    Reply
  7. Nic says

    January 16, 2007 at 7:59 pm

    Pretty magnets! And great story, thanks for sharing that!
    Reply
  8. aoi says

    January 16, 2007 at 8:22 pm

    Nicole, thank you for writing about the miniature cheescakes! Creating them have been easy because the subject was the cutest! :) I like that "olive you" magnet, surely it's very important to you and it has such a sweet story behind!
    Reply
  9. Coleen says

    January 16, 2007 at 8:51 pm

    You tricked me! I thought you really invented a calorie free cheesecake. The non edible magnet kind are so cute though and I loved reading this post.
    Reply
  10. sarah says

    January 16, 2007 at 9:05 pm

    those are awesome magnets! they look so real! when i saw the pic at the top, i thought, "how did she get the cherries to be perfectly centered on all of those little cheesecakes?" :) what a great gift idea, too! oh, i'm trying some Triple Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies this weekend. i'm pretty sure i got the recipe from someone on your "funky food blogs" list. they sound delish!
    Reply
  11. Nicole says

    January 16, 2007 at 9:32 pm

    Patricia: I don't have any room for recipes on my fridge...too many magnets and photos ;-) misslionheart: I know, they look so real! Lisa: Glad you weren't too disappointed ;-) FoodieBride: Thanks! Curt: Yeah, I suppose more women are into "fridge art" than men but there's gotta be some men out there who like magnets! Yeah, I like David in his briefs and bow tie too except sometimes my husband's friend takes the underwear magnet off David and puts it on a photo of me (on my head) and then I don't notice for a few days. Brilynn: Maybe you should order some ;-) Ruby: Yeah, I thought you might recognize some things in the photo (David, Let's Go Bowling). I'm waiting for Steph to see this post and then come leave a long, sappy comment! I should e-mail it to her. Nic: Thanks! aoi: Thank you again for the magnets! My aunt received hers and loves it! Coleen: Sorry :-) Glad you liked the story though! sarah: Hope the cookies turn out well! But with a name like that, I imagine they'll be pretty good!
    Reply
  12. Corinne says

    January 16, 2007 at 10:52 pm

    I love the magnets! So did my mom! It's so that you had one of your creations made into a magnet!
    Reply
  13. scott says

    January 16, 2007 at 11:24 pm

    very cool, those cheesecakes certainly look good enough to eat!
    Reply
  14. misslionheart says

    January 16, 2007 at 3:17 pm

    Those are so cute! They look edible....
    Reply
  15. Ren says

    January 17, 2007 at 12:35 am

    Just wanted to say congrats on the award and on the Grub Street mention (http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/01/food_blog_awards_give_us_joy_n_1.html) I'm new to your site, but really glad to have found it.
    Reply
  16. Anne says

    January 17, 2007 at 1:01 am

    The magnet-cheesecakes are adorable enough to eat. But I have to admit I like the magnet of David, too, even though I've seen it before. I think I'd like the outside of your fridge as much as the inside.
    Reply
  17. Kristen says

    January 17, 2007 at 1:24 am

    Too cute! Your title definitely got my attention...
    Reply
  18. Abby says

    January 17, 2007 at 2:57 am

    I LOVE magnets, too! I tried my hand at making some after reading directions on notmartha. I have one from every place my husband and I have traveled to!
    Reply
  19. madchilli says

    January 17, 2007 at 3:33 am

    They are so cute! Ummmm, interesting statue of David there... :)
    Reply
  20. Mary says

    January 17, 2007 at 4:14 am

    Those are fabulous magnets! Maybe I'll buy myself something pretty from Aoi's Art.
    Reply
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