Elaine's Great Cheesecake

I miss Elaine, she is one of my favorite people! She was my good friend and neighbor when we lived in Houston area for 10 months (yes, that's all I could stand of Texas weather)! She is so inspiring, she painted bold fun colors on the walls in her house and she made great, yummy food! This is her recipe and I don't mess with it....usually!

She told us it came from Sundance resort so it has to be good right?? Well, it is! You should plan to make this sometime soon.

Crust:
In a food processor Add:

1 3/4 C Graham Cracker Crumbs

1/4 C Melted Butter

1/4 C. Granulated sugar

Mix together and pat into bottom of a large springform pan. Bake at 400 for 8-10 min.

Turn oven down to 325

Cheesecake

1 1/2 lbs. Cream Cheese

3 Eggs

3/4 C. Sugar (I have used as little as 1/3 C. and it's still a good cheesecake!)

1 T. lemon Juice (fresh is best)

1 t. vanilla

Beat Cream Cheese till smooth and fluffy. (this step is really important I find that if I get it very smooth now the cheese cake will utterly melt in your mouth!)

Add the eggs one at a time, then add the sugar gradually. (I do this while the mixer is running on low setting) Add the lemon juice and vanilla. At this point do not over mix, once it's all incorporated pour over the crust.

Bake at 325 for 45 Minutes

Remove from oven and set Temp back to 400

once the oven has reached temp add the Sour Cream Topping (believe me you DO want this!)

Whisk together and pour over hot cheesecake

Bake at 400 for 12 Minutes

Sour Cream Topping:

2 C. Sour Cream

1/2 C. Granulated Sugar

1 t. Vanilla

Cool Cake and refrigerate till ready to serve.

Mixed Berry Topping:

1/3 C. Seedless Raspberry preserves (I have also just used whatever jam I have on hand)

2 c. mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries, sliced strawberries, raspberries any combination)

In a sauce pan Stir Preserves till melted then add berries. Cook down until it is the consistency you want 5 min to 15 min. (if it is not sweet enough for you you can add 1/3 C. sugar or a couple of Tablespoons of honey ) Let cool ladle over cake before serving!