CHEESECAKE Madness!

Here is one of my favorite recipes: Cheesecake! It is cheap, easy and SO flexible. You can basically just take the base and add to it, for example, I made a Slightly Cinnamon Cheesecake, and a Baby Ruth Cheesecake, using basically the same recipe! Here we go!

Graham Cracker Crust

Ingredients:

-20 square graham crackers rolled fine (1-2/3 c. crumbs)

-1/4 c. sugar

-1/3 c. melted margarine or butter

1. Throughly blend together crumbs and sugar.

2. Add margarine and mix well.

3. Press firmly into an even layer against bottom and sides of 9" pie plate.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool.

Tip #1: When making the Slightly Cinnamon variation, add about 1 tsp of cinnamon at step #1.

Tip #2: It is also okay to buy a premade graham cracker crust.

Cheesecake Base

Ingredients:

-2 pkgs (8 oz each) Cream Cheese, softened

-1/2 c. sugar

-1/2 tsp. vanilla

-2 eggs

1. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed, until well blended. Add eggs, mix until blended.

2. Pour into graham cracker crust.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set.

4. Cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

Tip #1: For Slightly Cinnamon Cheesecake, add 1-2 tsps of cinnamon at step #1. Serve with cherry pie filling or fresh fruit if desired. (it is good plain, and good with fruit!)

Tip#2: Baby Ruth Cheesecake (or any other candybar...) cut fun-size or miniature bars into small pieces. Stir into cheesecake base. Top the cheesecake before putting in oven with shaved pieces of candybar.

Enjoy!! I know I did! :D