EASTER...LEMON SWIRL CHEESECAKE.....ANOTHER FAVE

Another dessert I love to make for Easter is Lemon Swirl Cheesecake......Lemon dishes in the spring are always a favorite.  This is easy.

Crust:  You can make any crust you would like, just a graham cracker crust or a chocolate cookie crust or a graham cracker with toasted nuts......All work.  Just remember to bake it for about 10 minutes to set it.  Heres a good one.....
Oven 350 degrees.......Grind up about 6 whole graham crackers and add about 1 cup of toasted walnuts or pecans....Add 3 Tblsp melted butter and a couple tsp of grated lemon peel.
Mix well and press into a 9" spring form pan and bake 10 min.

Filling: Beat 2 (8oz pkg) cream cheese that you have let set out about 30 min.  Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed) and about 2 tsp lemon peel grated. Blend real good  and then beat in 3/4 cup sour cream.  Then add 2 eggs, one at a time. Beat til blended well and pour over your crust........Bake til only the center jiggles when you shake the pan.......about 50 min. Cool on a rack.

Topping: Put 1 cup sour cream in a small bowl and stir it up..........Whisk 1 jar of "store bought" lemon curd.........THAT is the easy way........I always make my own curd......think the store bought tastes like plastic but whatever you choose.  Recipe for my curd follows.
When the cake is cool.........remove from pan (run a sharp knife around) Now, spoon dollops of the sour cream and dollops of the curd on top of slightly warm cake.......I know I said cool cake, but you know what I mean........just slightly still warm. Cover the top and then run the tip of sharp knife through the dollops and make a design all over with swirls.........shake it a bit. Now put in frig for a least 4 hours........best if made the night before.  Before serving.......whip up some whip cream and pipe around the sides of the cake......to be fancy.......don't spoil the top with whip cream on top........just around the sides.

MY CURD:  I marveled at watching my son, Dustin, whip this perfect curd up in just a few minutes..........Sorry........I'm not that good.......I follow the recipe and take my time.
Combine 3/4 cup sugar, 3 lrg eggs, 6 Tblsp butter, pinch of salt and 1 Tblsp grated lemon peel, and 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice........in saucepan..........Cook whisking........on med low about 15 min..........DO NOT BOIL..........Chill in bowl covered with plastic........this makes a couple of cups..............Save what you don't use and use for something else..........Enjoy.

I HOPE YOU ARE SERVING HAM ON SUNDAY..........REMEMBER NEVER BUY THOSE SWIRL CUT HAMS............TO DRY.........ALWAYS BUY A BONE-IN.........MOIST, MOSIT, MOIST AND YOU HAVE THE BONE FOR HAM AND BEANS!