PRESIDENTS DAY DESSERT

Greetings from Carmela's Cucina,

Today is Presidents Day (http://enwikipedia.org/wik/washington%27_birthday) and many of you have the day off so take some time and make your family a special dessert to celebrate. Washington, our first president is famous for cutting down a cherry tree, these cheesecakes with a cherry topping are so good that your family is going to be cutting you many compliments.

And for cooking classes from my Cucina consult the calendar on my web site at www.carmiescucina.com or contact me about arranging a private class for you and you group.

PRESIDENTS DAY CHEESECAKES

Any pie filling can be used to top these cheesecakes. Fresh fruit is also a nice addition. The cheesecakes can be made ahead and frozen, top with pie filling or fresh fruit when ready to serve.

3- 8 ounce packages, cream cheese
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 can Wilderness cherry pie filling

Cream together the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla and mix together.

Divide mixture into 24 cupcake liners in cupcake pans. Bake 40 minutes at 300 degrees until lightly browned. When cooled top with the cherry pie filling.

Buon appetito,

Carmela Tursi Hobbins