LEMON-GLAZED CHEESECAKE

LEMON-GLAZED CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tblsp butter; melted
2 tblsp sugar
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp grated lemon rind
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sour cream
3 tblsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Lemon Glaze
Curled lemon strip, large strawberry and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine first 3 ingredients thoroughly. Press crust evenly onto bottom and sides of buttered 9 inch springform pan.Bake crust 5 minutes. Allow to cool.Beat cream cheese until soft. Add sugar, blending thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon juice,rind and vanilla. Blen well. turn into pan and bake 35 minutes.Meanwhile, blend sour cream and remaining sugar and vanilla. Remove
cake from oven after baking 35 minutes. Gently spread sour cream mixture over top. Return to oven and bake 12 more minutes. Cool cheesecake on wire rack 30 minutes.Spread with slightly cooled lemon glaze (before glaze sets). Chill several hours or overnight before removing sides of pan.
Lemon Glaze:
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tblsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 egg yolk
1 tblsp butter
1 tsp grated lemon rind
Instructions:
In heavy 1-quart saucepan mix sugar, cornstarch and salt.Combine water, lemon juice and egg yolk and add to sugar mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a slow boil
and thickens.Add butter and lemon rind. Allow to cool slightly, but spread on cheesecake before glaze sets.