It’s cold. No question about that. When it’s cold you try to find anyway to stay warm.

Curl up in bed under the electric blanket. Sit in the sauna. Work out. Go south.

Or you can try cheesecake. yes, cheesecake. But not just any cheesecake. Ghost pepper cheesecake.

My brother made Ghost Pepper cheesecake the other day. Now that is something that could warm you up. A little spicy food to get the metabolism going. This sounds like it could work.

But ghost peppers are like serious hot, way out of my heat tolerance range.

“It’s not that bad,” my brother says. “All the cream keeps it cool.”

OK, I can do this. Get a little warmth in me, like drinking a peppermint schnapps.  It’s just a thin slice. I grab a fork and take a small bite. Not too bad. I can handle this.

Mmm.  Sweet. Creamy. ACK! What the hell is that? Tastes like burning. AHHH! My throat!

Not that bad. Who’s he kidding? I’m gagging and choking.

Fortunately there is a bowl of whipped cream out for the pumpkin pie. Spoon in a few scoops. Spoon in a few more scoops. Couple more. OK, now I’m better.

Who could’ve thought this was a good idea? It was evil. To begin with cool, creamy refreshing delight that turns to pain. That’s just a cruel prank.

Well, that went horribly awry. And now I have cheesecake phobia. My brother made another cheese cake a few days later. He assured me it wasn’t a ghost pepper cheese cake. I didn’t trust him. I took the smallest of bites. Whew. It was OK. But the seeds of doubt have now taken root.

Maybe I should stick with hot soup to warm the soul.

Stay warm. And beware the cheesecake bearing gifts of heat.