Kitchen Adventures; Alyssa's Favorite Cheesecake

 When I was in elementary school, my big sister and I contributed to the Chaparral Elementary School cookbook to fundraiser. We compiled this book of recipes and sold copies to raise money.

Big sis chose her all time favorite brownie recipe, and I, well, I was a bit of a cheesecake fiend, so my mom put this recipe in on my behalf.

Which I decided to contribute to Easter at the inlaws this year.


First you get the oven crazy hot, and make your crust. Pat it all into your greased pie pan (or springform, whatever you want)
and while it's in the oven you make your filling...

and the stuff in the food processor and then...  BAM

The crust only needs to bake for a few minutes before you can pour the filling in and bake it all together.

You may want to cover your pie with some foil - make a tent though, this filling rises, and if you're not careful you'll end up with the pie top getting stuck to the foil.

While it cools, you can also make a lovely berry glaze for this yummy cheese pie and go nuts pouring that stuff all over a slice for yourself.

Cheesecake, easy and not terrible for you, adapted from my life.

CRUST
3/4 c. flour
3 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp butter, cold, but not rock solid
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp vanilla

FILLING
2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 c sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 400. Grease a pie or spring form pan.
Combine all crust ingredients in food processor. Let it go until it forms a ball. Pat into your greased pan.
Bake for 7 minutes or until lightly golden.

For the filling, combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Let it go until the filling is smooth. Pour into your partially baked crust. Bake for 10 minutes at 450, then reduce heat to 300 and bake for 30 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

GLAZE
3 c. fresh or frozen and thawed berries
5 Tbsp sugar
1/4 c water
2 tsp lemon juice

In a saucepan, combine ingredients and bring to a simmer, Cook until the sugar is dissolved and the berries are heated through.
Then remove from heat, transfer to your food processor OR get out a handy dandy immersion blender, and blend until smooth.
Set aside and allow to cool.

Drizzle the glaze onto the whole pie or one slice at a time, and enjoy!