Shelly's Recipe

BERRY GLAZED CHEESECAKE

Category: Cheesecake

Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

Filling:
2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
2 cups Ricotta cheese or cream-style cottage cheese, drained
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
6 egg yolks
1/3 cup flour
6 egg whites

Berry Glaze:
1 pint strawberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Crust: Combine crumbs, sugar and butter until well-blended. Press onto bottom and sides of 9 inch springform pan. Chill while preparing filling.

Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and Ricotta cheese until smooth; add sugar, vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in egg yolks. Gradually blend in flour. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into cheese mixture. Turn into pan. Bake at 350 for 1 1/4 hours; then turn off heat, open oven door and let cool in oven to room temperature. (It is normal for cake to sink slightly in center.) Chill before adding Berry Glaze.

Berry Glaze: Mash 1/2 cup of the strawberries. Place in saucepan with sugar, 1/2 cup water and lemon juice; bring to boil. Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup water and add to fruit mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens; remove from heat and cool. Top cheesecake with remaining berries; pour glaze over cheesecake.