Recipe - Normans Cheesecake

CRUST
1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
Three fourths cup Toasted ground almonds
1/3 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/3 cup Melted butter

FILLING
Three fourths cup Sugar; plus
2 tablespoon Sugar
1 pound Cream cheese; at room
temperature
4 Eggs; separated; at room
temperature
1 cup Sour cream; at room
temperature
One half teaspoon Vanilla extract
One fourth cup Unsweetened passion fruit
juice

CRUST: Mix crumbs, almonds, sugar, cinnamon and butter in 1quart mixing
bowl until thoroughly combined.

Spread evenly in greased 10inch springform pan, the base of which has been
wrapped on outside with foil to prevent leakage. Using plastic wrap,
compress mixture firmly and evenly over bottom and about 1 inch up sides of
pan. Set aside.

FILLING: Mix Three fourths cup sugar and cream cheese on low speed of electric mixer
until creamy, about 1 minute. Add egg yolks and mix 5 minutes. Add sour
cream and mix 1 minute. Add vanilla and passion fruit juice and mix until
blended, about 15 seconds.

Beat egg whites to soft peaks in separate bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons
sugar and continue beating until just firm but still moist. Fold into cream
cheese mixture.

Pour filling into prepared pan, then spread evenly. Place on baking sheet
and bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 1 hour. Loosen
cheesecake from sides of pan with thin, flexible knife. Let rest 10
minutes. Carefully release sides of springform pan. Cool at room
temperature, then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, preferably
overnight.

To serve, dip sharp knife into hot water and cut into wedges. Serve
chilled.

[Yield: 12 to 14 servings. Each of 14 servings: 359 calories; 209 mg
sodium; 115 mg cholesterol; 26 grams fat; 26 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams
protein; 0.57 gram fiber.]

*REF: GOOD COOKING, "New World Fusion," By ABBY MANDEL, Wed 5/13/1998
www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/FOOD/ "The fusion of flavors and cultures that
is New World cuisineLatin, Caribbean, Asian and Americanmoves easily
from spring into summer entertaining. Excellent examples are a Shanghai
noodle salad, spicy EastWest barbecued veal chops that pair well with rice
or corn on the cob and a lightly textured cheesecake from Norman Van Aken,
chefproprietor of Norman's in Miami." Sent by Hanneman/buster

Notes: If you can't find passion fruit juice, 2 tablespoons orange juice
and 2 tablespoons lemon juice will work just as well.

Recipe by: Norman's in Miami, see *ref

Posted to MCRecipe Digest by Kitpath phannema@wizard.ucr.edu on May 14,
1998