10 Cent Cheese Cake

Actually, the name of this cheesecake is Creamy, Dreamy Cheesecake. My husband's sister-in-law and I call it 10 Cent Cheesecake. Last summer she and I were at a garage sale, and I saw a really pretty pie plate. It had this recipe in the bottom of it as part of the decoration. The pie plate was only 10 cents! Thus the name. This is a wonderful recipe and not heavy like a lot of cheesecake recipes. Also, you don't have to have a spring form pan to make it. I made it last Christmas to go with the Elegant Lasagna.

Ingredients

1 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs (you can buy graham crackers crumbs or you could just buy a ready made graham cracker crust ... the 9 inch or bigger)
2 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp butter melted

19 oz. cream cheese
1 C. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla (I use a full teaspoon)
3 eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees. If you are not using ready made crust, mix crumbs and 2 T. sugar, stir in butter thoroughly. Press into bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

Reduce oven to 300 degrees. Beat cream cheese and sugar in large mixer bowl. Add vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time. Pour over cracker crust and bake one hour or until center is firm. Cool and top with sweet fruit if you like. Chill three hours.