Say Cheese (cake) for Christmas!

The presents were all wrapped and placed under the tree. Three kids, in-laws, outlaws...everyone will have something to open later this morning.
A green bean casserole was in the oven, its various flavors coloring the air throughout the house. It's 2 a.m and it's time to start thinking about going to bed.
But wait...what about dessert for Christmas dinner this afternoon? Oh no.
Cream puffs? Nah...just had those recently.
Carrot cake? No...it would be hard to surpass the one my classmates presented to me as a birthday cake at our class reunion the other night.
Red velvet cake? Nope...I'm the only one who really likes that.
What could I put together quickly that would be absolutely fabulous?
How about a cheesecake with fresh fruit topping.
I rummaged quietly through the refrigerator and gathered up the ingredients. Cream cheese, sour cream, graham crackers, sugar, eggs and a some oranges...and, oh yeah, a box of blackberries for the topping.
Yeah. This was going to be a breeze.

Cheesecake with Fresh Fruit

2 sleeves of graham crackers, crushed to a fine powder
1/2 cup of butter, melted
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of almond flavoring
4 8-ounce packages of low fat cream cheese
8 ounces of low fat sour cream
2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
Juice of 3 oranges

• Mix the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of sugar and the butter until they form a paste. Push them down into the bottom and sides of a springform pan that has been prepared with cooking spray.
• With an electric mixer on high speed, blend the cream cheese until it is smooth. Add the sour cream, continue to blend until smooth,
• Add the sugar and eggs and continue to mix until smooth.
• Finally, add the orange juice and mix until the whole thing is thick and smooth.
• Pour the mixture over the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
• Place the springform pan in a roasting pan. Fill the pan with water about half way up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and it is set in the middle.
• Remove from the oven and from the water bath. Allow it to cool for half an hour or so.
• Sprinkle the top with about half  of powdered sugar shaken through a strainer.
• Arrange the blackberries on top of the cake and sprinkle the other half of the powdered sugar on top.

Vegetarian.

 

 

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                             Merry Christmas, y'all