Shelly's Recipe

TACO CHEESECAKE

Category: Spreads -- Cold

3 teaspoons cornmeal
3 (8ounce)packages cream cheese, softened
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream and salsa
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup shredded monterey jack pepper cheese(4-oz.)
1( 4ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
1/2 cup chopped ripe black olives

TOPPING
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced

Sprinkle bottom of greased 9-inch springform pan with cornmeal; set aside.

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the taco seasoning, sour cream and salsa. Stir in the eggs, pepper jack cheese and chilies. Fold in olives. Pour over cornmeal. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool for 1 hour.

NOTE: top of cheesecake may crack. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Spread sour cream over top and sides of cheesecake. Arrange olives, onions, tomatoes and jalapeno slices on top in a circular motion. I do tomatoes on the outer edge, then green onion, jalapeno, then scatter black olives randomly, within the circle. Serve with assorted crackers.