Tuesday's Good Dish...Share a Recipe: Cheesecake

Yes, I make cheesecake! And to your surprise, it is easier, cheaper, and tastier than you think. And forget about the store-bought cheesecake or the Cheesecake Factory. Why not make it yourself and enjoy the process? I have used the following recipe for my cheesecake. I made cheesecakes several times over the years and it has earned rave (!) reviews from friends and family. The recipe is originally from Tyler Florence's ultimate cheesecake recipe (see here http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/the-ultimate-cheesecake-recipe2/index.html), but I modify a little bit to suit my taste. Here it is the original recipe and my modifications (comments in parenthesis):

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

(To be honest, I tried the pre-made crust the last time and it was much more convenient. I just had to concentrate on the fillings.)

Filling:

• 1 pound cream cheese, 2 (8-ounce) blocks, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 pint sour cream
• 1 lemon, zested
• 1 dash vanilla extract
• Warm Lemon Blueberry Topping, recipe follows

(I used egg replacer [instead of real eggs] which can be bought at Whole Foods' baking section. Follow the instruction on the box to see how much you need to replace 3 eggs. I also used less sugar--about 1/2 - 3/4 cup. Besides, I find that a small/medium size lemon is enough to do the job, both the zest and juice; don't go overboard on that, or else it would turn out to be too sour.)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

For the Filling:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well mixed but not over-beaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 45 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of Warm Lemon Blueberry topping over the surface.

Slice the cheesecake with a thin, non-serrated knife that has been dipped in hot water. Wipe dry after each cut.

(I don't have much to add except that it is not necessary to place your cheesecake pan in the boiling water if you use the store-bought crust. I would also bake it a little bit longer for about an hour.)

Warm Lemon Blueberries:

• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons sugar

In a small saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Leave to cool before spreading on cheesecake.

Yield: 6 servings

Cook Time: 5 minutes