Basic Baked Cheesecake with Variations

***GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST***
11 whole graham crackers -- (22 squares)

1/4 cup butter or margarine -- melted
2 tablespoons sugar

***GINGERSNAP CRUST***
28 gingersnap cookies
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons sugar

***COOKIES 'N CREAM CRUST***

l6 creme-filled chocolate sandwich -- cookies
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon sugar

***PRALINE CRUST***
12 pecan shortbread cookies
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar

***FILLING***
40 ounces cream cheese -- softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

***BERRY TOPPING***
2 pints strawberries -- hulled and sliced

1/2 cup raspberries

***GLISTENING GRAPE***
1 cup mixed red and green grapes

***PERFECT PLUM***
3 large plums -- sliced

TROPICAL DELIGHT
3 large navel oranges
2 kiwi -- peeled & sliced

***STARS AND STRIPES***

1/2 pint strawberries -- hulled & halved
1 cup blueberries or Blackberries

Use a food processor to crush the crackers/cookies into crumbs (or crush by hand). Add the butter and sugar; process to mix. Press onto the base of a 9-inch springform pan. Chill. Beat cream cheese on medium-high for 2 minutes. Blend in sugar.

Add the flour and beat until combined. On low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until blended, scraping sides of bowl often. Add the sour cream, lemon peel and vanilla and heat just until blended. Pour over crust in pan.

Bake at 325'F for 1 1/4 hours. Turn the oven off and place a wooden spoon in oven door to keep it open. Let cheesecake sit 1 hour. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Run a knife around sides. Cover; chill for 6 hours or overnight.

Remove the pan sides. Slide the cheesecake onto a serving plate. Add Topping of your choice.

BERRY TOPPING: overlap the strawberries in circles on the cheesecake. Fill the center with the raspberries.

GLISTENING GRAPE TOPPING: Arrange about 1 cup mixed halved seedless red and green grapes in alternate circles on top of cheesecake.

PERFECT PLUM: Arrange 3 large sliced plums in overlapping circles on top of the cheesecake, starting at outside edge. Decorate with a sprig of fresh mint.

TROPICAL DELIGHT: Peel and section 3 large navel oranges. Arrange in a circle around edge of cheesecake. Fill the center with 2 peeled and sliced kiwis.

STARS AND STRIPES: Arrange 1/2 pint hulled strawberries, cut in half, with 1 cup blueberries or blackberries in alternate rows on top of cheesecake.

AUTHOR: Charl