Recipe: My Mother's Cheesecake

Holiday gatherings at my home growing up always included lots of desserts. It was not unusual to have more desserts than food served during the main course. Here is the recipe for my mother's cheesecake, which she adapted from Lindy's in New York.

For the bottom (crust)

• 20 crushed graham crackers (no sugar)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 6 tbsp melted butter

Combine and press into the bottom of a springform pan.

For the filling:

Beat 4 eggs, 1 cup sugar for 5 minutes. Add three 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and 7 tbsp half and half. Beat until smooth, pour in pan. Bake 45 minutes @ 350 degrees. Cool for 30 minutes with oven door cracked. Remove and cool for 30 more minutes.

For the topping:

• 1 1/2 pints sour cream
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine, pour on top of cool cake. Bake 12-15 minutes at 450 degrees. Cool for 30 minutes, refrigerate.