[Pro-Bush]

Hi gang, wife needs an awesome traditional Cheesecake recipe. Only the best please!

[carlo3b]

Strawberry Cheesecake w/ Fresh Strawberry Sauce

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons melted margarine or butter
• 1 carton (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 cup sugar, divided 3/4 and 1/4
• 2/3 cup flour
• 4 eggs, separated
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup nonfat light sour cream substitute
• 3 pint baskets California strawberries, stemmed
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup strawberry or red currant jelly, melted


Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
1) In medium bowl mix crumbs and margarine. Press onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of lightly greased 9-inch cheesecake pan; set aside.
2) To make filling, in mixer bowl beat ricotta cheese until smooth.
3) Add 3/4 cup of the sugar, the flour, egg yolks, lemon peel and vanilla; mix well. Stir in sour cream substitute to blend thoroughly.
4) In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry; fold into cheese mixture. Pour into prepared crust; smooth top.
Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven; cool in oven 1 hour with door ajar. Remove from oven; chill thoroughly.
5) Meanwhile, to make sauce, in blender or food processor puree 2 baskets of the strawberries with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the lemon juice; strain sauce to remove seeds. Cover and chill.
To complete cake, halve remaining strawberries; arrange on top of cake.
Brush strawberries with jelly. Cut cake into wedges; serve with sauce.
 

[calcowgirl]

Tried and true family recipe for over 50 years now. Only had rave reviews:

Cheese Cake

This is a large recipe. I make this in a large inch spring-form pan (10 inch round x 2 1/2 inch deep). You can easily cut the recipe back to 2/3 using 3 large eggs and use an 8 x 11 inch pan. I usually serve it plain, but sometimes will serve it with glazed strawberries, cherries, or other concoction on the side.

Crumb Crust:
2 cups Graham Cracker crumbs
1/2 cube melted butter
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine crumbs, butter and cinnamon and pat into bottom of pan, gently patting up the sides of pan as far as you are able (at least 1 inch)

Cheese Mixture:
In separate bowl, beat until smooth:
5 medium eggs
1 cup sugar
24 oz. cream cheese
Grating of lemon rind (about 2-3 tsps.)

Pour cheese mixture into crumb pan. Bake 25 minutes @ 350° until center almost firm
(If it still jiggles, return to oven for a few more minutes).
Cool 5 minutes.

Top Layer:
Mix together: 24 oz. sour cream and 5 tbsp. granulated sugar
Spread sour cream mixture over top of cake.

Return to 350° oven for 10 minutes.
Cool and refrigerate.
The consistency improves the longer it is refrigerated. Overnight is best.