Instructions:

Cheesecake with Strawberry Glaze

This is a truly beautiful cake!

Cookie Crust
1 cup sifted flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
Scrapings from small vanilla bean
1 egg yolk, beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened

Mix ingredients by hand. Pat into bottom of springform pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool.

Filling
1 1/4 pounds cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tablespoons flour
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons milk or cream
4 egg yolks

Cream cheese until softened. Beat in next 6 ingredients. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each. Pour into springform pan over crust. Bake at 500 degrees F for 6 minutes; then reduce heat to 200 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes more. DO NOT OVERCOOK. Cool and refrigerate. Leave in springform pan until chilled; then unmold.

Strawberry Glaze
2 pints fresh strawberries, divided
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Juice of 1/2 lemon
5 drops red food coloring

Pour 1 cup strawberries in blender. Blend on high. Place sugar and cornstarch in shallow pan; add strawberry puree and cook to a simmer to thicken. Cool and then spoon over the cheesecake and refrigerate overnight before serving.