Cheesecake

Time: 6 hours 30 minutes

Serves: 12-16

Difficulty: 3

Ingredients:

14 graham cracker squares	¼ cup sugar (separate from 1 tbsp sugar)
¼ cup butter	1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar	1 11-oz. can mandarin orange sections
1 cup whipping cream (different from whipped cream)	¼ cup apricot/peach preserves, or orange marmalade
1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened

Supplies:

Large plastic bag	Table knife
Rolling pin	Large mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons	Electric mixer
2 small saucepans	Rubber spatula
Colander	Spoon
Wooden spoon	Can opener
9” springform pan with metal bottom	Foil

Directions:

Put graham crackers in a plastic bag and seal closed. Use the rolling pin to crush them into fine crumbs; you should have about 1 cup.

Melt the butter in a saucepan on low heat. Add graham cracker crumbs and sugar, and stir with the wooden spoon until well mixed. Spread the mixture evenly in the springform pan with your hands. Press hard- you want it compacted to make a crust. Cover the pan with foil and put in the freezer for about 10 minutes or until firm.

Using the table knife, cut up the cream cheese into pieces and place in the mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds or until softened. Add the whipping cream, the ¼ cup sugar, and the vanilla. Beat on low or medium speed until light and fluffy, stopping the mixer now and then to scrape the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula.

Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker crust, spreading evenly. Open the can of oranges and pour into the colander, letting the liquid drain into the sink. Arrange the oranges on top of the cream cheese.

Put the preserves or marmalade in the clean saucepan. With the pan on the burner, turn to low heat and cook until the contents melt, stirring often. Spoon the preserves over the oranges (don’t let them cool) and cover the cheesecake with oranges. Chill in the refrigerator for at least six hours.

When chilled, use the knife to go around the edges of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Slice and serve chilled.

Allergy Information: Contains dairy.