Cheesecake with Cherries

Cheesecake with Cherries

Since I worked for 10 years for the Lazarus Department Store Chain, (now called Macy's) I was a big fan of the restaurant. Plus, it was just around the corner on the second floor from the furniture department, my stomping ground.

page 38, Selected Lazarus Recipes, 1981.

Daily the ladies would line up for the buffet, or the soup, or was it the burgers with the "burger sauce"?

Odds are it was for the DESERTS!!! They were wonderful and this cheesecake recipe is just one of many that were enjoyed by so many Evansville, Indiana ladies.

Crust prior filling.

Ingredients for the crust:

1 1/2 C. crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/3 C. melted butter
1/4 C. sugar

Batter, batter, batter!!!

Ingredients for the filling:

3, 8 Oz. pkgs. of Cream Cheese
1 1/2 C. sugar
4 large eggs
1 T. vanilla

My FAVORITE Tahitian Vanilla.

Ingredients for the topping:

1 1/2 C. sour cream
1/4 C. sugar
1 t. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. and butter generously a 10" spring form pan.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar mixing well. Press into the sides and bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.

You must use an electric mixer for this recipe and a stand mixer is even better!! Combine the cream cheese and sugar and beat together for 5 minutes. 

Add the eggs one at a time and continue beating. Add the vanilla and beat for an additional 30 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl really good at least twice.

Pour into the graham cracker crust and bake in the center of the oven for 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 20 minutes.

Serving time.

Mix the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together well and spread onto the top of the cheesecake. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. Refrigerate overnight before removing from the pan and serving. 

Note:  It is imperative  you beat the batter the full 30 minutes.  It has always turned out perfectly for me.  No water bath, no in the oven overnight, no foil wrapped pan, NO CRACK IN THE TOP. 

The cherry topping is not part of the Lazarus recipe but to make it or any fruit topping use fresh or frozen fruit.  I used 2 C. frozen pie cherries,  add sugar to sweeten to you taste.  We like sweet so I used 1 1/4 C.   Stir fruit and sugar with 1 1/2 T. cornstarch and heat over a medium-high burner stirring constantly until thickened.  Refrigerate and it will thicken further.  Spoon atop cheesecake and serve.
You may also add a drop or two of red food coloring if desired.

Molly on the kitchen floor.

Molly laid patiently at my feet as she always does.  She is my constant companion and also loves to ride in the car.  She is doing quite well and we seem to be getting through puppy hood!!