Classic Cheesecake

In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs melted butter and 2 tablespoons of sugar. After mixing well, press into the bottom of a cheesecake pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine room temperature cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, whipping cream and 1 cup sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Pour batter into the cheesecake pan and cook for 35 to 40 minutes at 350F.

If you like your cheesecake with a sour cream topping, remove from the oven after cooking, then combine 1 pint of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Spoon on top of the cheesecake and cook for 10 additional minutes at 420 degrees.

If I am adding fruit to the top of the cheesecake, I do not add the sour cream topping.

For chocolate cheesecake, add a bag of melted chocolate chips to the mixture and use chocolate cookie crumbs for the crust. The vanilla can be substituted with any flavoring extract. It is a very flexible basic recipe that can be changed to incorporate any favorite flavor.