Cottage Cheese Cheesecake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Crumb crust
1 3/4 Oreo cookies (about 47 Nilla Wafers) or 1 3/4 vanilla wafers (about 47 Nilla Wafers)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
Chilled cheesecake
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups cottage cheese, creamed
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (approximately 2 cups when whipped)

Preparation

For the crumb crust: In a bowl, mix together the ingredients until well combined. Press into a 9 inch springform pan or a 10 inch pie plate.
For the chilled cheesecake: Combine the gelatin and 3/4 cup of sugar in a medium saucepan.
Beat the egg yolks, then stir in the milk gradually.
Stir into the gelatin mixture and place over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly for 3-5 minutes or until gelatin dissolves and mixture is slightly thickened.
Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon rind, lemon juice and vanilla extract.
Beat the cottage cheese with and electric mixer at high speed for 3-5 minutes or until completely smooth. Stir into gelatin mixture, then chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon.
Beat the egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Add 1/4 cup sugar gradually and beat until very stiff. Fold into the gelatin mixture, then fold in the whipped cream.
Turn into the prepared pan. Chill for 3-4 hours or until firm. Loosen side of pan with a sharp knife and release springform.
You can decorate the cheesecake with chocolate leaves in a circular pattern on top and/or place fresh raspberries in the center.