My first cheesecake!!!

I had a gift card to Sur La Table and the other weekend, we did a little shopping...well, I did a lot of shopping, but the gift card (and a few other Visa gift cards) made it much easier on our bank account! I have been wanting a spring form pan (& silicone basting brush & Le Creuset silicone spatula & glass prep bowls & dough scraper & & &....haha) for a long time now and decided this was the time to get it and to attempt a cheesecake. So, meanwhile, I have been searching for a good cheesecake recipe that didn't seem too difficult. I found this recipe while watching Paula Deen on the Food Network and decided that since I love lemon, this was the perfect choice for my first attempt at cheesecake. It turned out excellent and it made plenty, so I froze most of it (in 2 person servings) and now we can take it out when we would like a little something sweet.

Joanne's Almost Fat-Free Lemon Cheesecake
Recipe courtesy of The Food Network & Paula Deen

Ingredients:

Crust:

• Cooking spray
• 1 3/4 cups fat-free vanilla wafer cookie crumbs, or any fat-free cookie crumbs of your choice
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages fat-free cream cheese
• 1 cup fat-free sour cream (I used low-fat)
  
• 2 cups sugar or sugar substitute (recommended: Splenda) (I used sugar)
  
• 3 large eggs or 3/4 cup egg substitute
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Lemon Curd: (I didn't use the lemon curd)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 6 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup sugar or sugar substitute (recommended: Splenda)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits, or any fat-free butter substitute

Directions

Make crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Lightly spray a (9-inch) springform pan with cooking spray. Mix crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up side of pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and crust is set. Cool on rack.

Make filling: In large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high, beat cream cheese and sour cream for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar or sugar substitute. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, just until incorporated. Beat in zest and juice. Pour into crust. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until center is almost set, but still slightly jiggly. (Do not overbake, as it will firm as it cools). Let cool completely.

Make lemon curd: In the top of a double boiler, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, egg, egg yolk, and sugar or sugar substitute over gently simmering water. Whisk until hot and frothy, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in butter and continue whisking for 7 minutes or until thickened and coats back of spoon. Remove from heat and cool for 30 minutes.

Run a thin blade around the edge of the springform pan and remove sides. Transfer to a serving plate. Spread lemon curd over top. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Garnish with raspberries and zest, if desired. Cool cheesecake in refrigerator several hours or overnight before serving.