3-step cheesecake

Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla at medium speed with electric mixer until well-blended. Pour into crust. Bake at 350'F. for 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight, Makes 8 servings.

NOTE: You can also use lighter Neufchatel-type cheese.

Variations: For chocolate, melt four squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate; add after eggs and mix until blended. For candy version, sprinkle 1 cup of chopped candy bars on top of cake before baking. For pumpkin, add ½ cup canned pumpkin, ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon and a dash each of nutmeg and cloves in the first step. Then add eggs and proceed as directed.

Submitted By KEN SMALL On 01-18-95