14 Days 'Till Christmas: "Real New York Style" Cheesecake Supreme

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Cheese cake is one of my FAVORITE desserts.

Straight from Ms. Clause's book!

Ingredients
Crust:
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 cup butter
1 slightly beaten egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Filling:
5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese or (3 low fat & 2 reg. Pkgs.)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 or 5 eggs (enough to make 1 cup)
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup whipping cream

Directions:
1) Make crust:
*Preheat oven to 400 degrees
*Combine first three ingredients.
*Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
*Add egg yolk and vanilla.
*Blend thoroughly.
*Pat 1/3 of the dough on bottom of 9-inch spring-form pan (sides removed).
*Bake for about 8 minutes or until golden; cool.
*Butter sides of pan, attach to bottom, and pat remaining dough on sides to height of 1-3/4
inches.
*Turn oven up to 450 degrees.
*Place a 9x13 inch pan of hot water in bottom of oven. This helps to keep the custard creamy.
The cookie sides will not bake right if cheesecake is placed in hot water bath.
2)Make filling:
Beat softened cheese until creamy.
Add vanilla.
Mix next four ingredients, (note: important to put lemon peel in flour to coat it),
gradually blend into cheese.
*Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating after each just to blend.
* Gently stir in whipping cream.
*Turn into crust-lined pan.
*Bake for 12 minutes.
* Reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue baking for 1 hour. May need a little time longer because of the water. (Note: if cheesecake is getting too brown cover top with foil with hole torn out of the center so that middle of cheesecake continues baking)
*Remove from oven; cool.
*Loosen sides with spatula after 1/2 hour.
*Remove sides at end of 1 hour.
Note: This cheesecake is at it's very best if refrigerated overnight