This is another winner. This cheese cake is so good you will not believe it. Anyone who knows the least bit about cooking and can read can make it. I have won all sorts of contests with it, one being the local newspaperÂ’s recognition as "best cheesecake of the year." This recipe is another that was given to me by a good friend. She asked originally that I not give it to a soul; however, she does know I am using it in this book because it is Too Good To Be True!

Leave cream cheese out of refrigerator for a couple of hours prior to starting cake. Turn oven on to preheat to 350 degrees. Lightly oil inside of "angel food cake" springform pan. Pour 1 cup of crumbs into oiled pan and roll around and around allowing the crumbs to adhere to sides, bottom, and center tube of pan. Keep left over crumbs to use later. If you want a "crust" for the cheesecake, check out "Crust for Cheesecake - see Index.) Blend the cream cheese and the first 3/4 cup of sugar well in mixer, adding the sugar a little at a time. Add eggs one at a time and continue mixing. Combine 1 teaspoon of the vanilla. Gently pour cheesecake batter into springform pan on top of crumb coating or onto prepared crust if you are using a "crust." Spoon remaining crumbs into a tea strainer and tap the strainer gently as you move it around and over the top of cake. Do this sufficiently to seal the cake and form about a 1/4-inch crust. Be sure to cover evenly and to distribute to outside and center edges. If you need more crumbs, make them and continue. The crumbs will necessarily fall to outside of pan edge and through center tube. You might want to do all this on top of paper towels to aid in clean up. Bake in preheated, 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. No More. No Less. The top of cake will probably "crack open." Disregard. Cool for 30 minutes. Blend the second 3/4 cup of sugar with the sour cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well. Carefully pour onto top of cake, trying not to dislodge crumb crust too much. You can spoon it on if you prefer. Level with back of spoon or spatula if necessary. Bake in preheated, 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes to "set" the sour cream topping. Let come to room temperature. Chill at least 4 hours before slicing. This is a creamy, moist cheesecake, not a typically "dry" one. It freezes well. I prefer to slice, quick freeze individual pieces, wrap frozen pieces in plastic-wrap and return to freezer to use as many pieces as needed, when needed. Plan no more than 30 minutes for defrosting prior to serving.

vanilla wafers.