Basic Philly Cheesecake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons margarine, melted
Filling
3 (8 ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
pie filling (optional) or sundae sauce, to top cheesecake (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
Combine crumbs, sugar and melted margarine and press onto the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven and raise oven temperature to 450F degrees.
To make filling, combine softened cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beating at medium speed until well mixed.
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition; blend in vanilla then pour into crust.
Bake for 10 minutes at 450F, then reduce heat to 250F and for 25-30 minutes more, or until set.
Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan.
Chill; top individual slices with desired topping, if any, just before serving.