- BIRTHDAY CHEESECAKE -

Tonight I made Alyssa's favorite dessert - cheesecake. She requested this for her birthday brunch tomorrow. I'm including the recipe below:

TAMI'S NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 
  
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup milk, room temperature
  
• 4 eggs, room temperature
  
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
  
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9 inch springform pan.
2. Wrap pan with several layers of foil to prevent water bath from seeping in.
   
3. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar. Press onto bottom of springform pan.
4. In a large bowl, BEAT cream cheese with sugar until smooth. WITH WIRE WHISK, blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
5. Place pan in water bath in the oven, filled with 1 inch of very hot water.
   
6. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.
7. Serve with topping of your choice - i.e. cherry, blueberry, raspberry etc. Top with whipped cream if desired. YUM!!!