The Holidays seasons are always so fun.  It's once a year where we can really indulge.  Here's a wonderful basic recipe that can be embellished and personalized to your taste.  And, who doesn't love a good cheesecake.  The beauty of this recipe is that you make a basic New York style cheesecake and then top it with your favorite fruit, nuts (cooked or uncooked, home made or store bought).

NY Style Cheesecake with fruit topping -

The topping is only limited by your imagination.  You can even top this basic cheesecake with nuts if your prefer.  Figs seem to be abundant, so try figs.

Skill Level: Easy/intermediate

Crust:

1 & 3/4 cup crushed graham crackers
1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped nuts your choice: almonds, pecans or walnuts
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup melted butter

Mix all ingredients and press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch spring form pan.  Set aside and prepare the filling.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Filling:

2 pounds cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup sour cream

Cooking Method:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and light.
• Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch, only until thoroughly mixed.  Stir in the sour cream until the mixture is well blended.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared crust and bake for 45 minutes.  Allow the cake to cool in the oven, with the door propped slightly open for 3 hours.  Chill minimum 8-hours or overnight.

Toppings:

Top with your favorite fruit or nuts.  If using fresh fruit, I recommend you glaze it to make it glisten and make it more eye appealing.  This can be done by simply heating up fruit jelly (e.g., grape, apricot etc).   When melted, brush it on the fruit.

If the fruit needs sweetening, make a simple sugar by boiling together equal parts sugar and water.  Then simply cook the fruit with the simple sugar, and once slightly cooled, pour on top of the cheese cake and let it drip around the sides.  Note:  cranberries cooked in simple sugar makes a wonderful topping.

You can use bottled or canned fruit toppings e.g., canned cherries.

Enjoy, and Happy Cooking.