Key Lime Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce

Here is one more summer dessert.  Cheesecake is always a favorite.  And a key lime cheesecake has the flavors of summer as well as being cool and delicious.  The recipe source for this recipe was Southern Living.

Ingredients:
2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter melted
3 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese softened
1-1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 (8 oz. sour cream)
1-1/2 tsp. grated lime rind
1/2 cup key lime juice
Garnishes: strawberries, lime slices,  and strawberry sauce
Strawberry sauce I use: recipe here.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together first three ingredients and firmly press on bottom and one inch up the sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan.  
3. Bake this at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Cool.
4. Turn oven to 325 degrees.
5. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until blended.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
7. Stir in sour cream, rind, and juice.
8. Pour batter into crust.
9. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, turn oven off, partially open oven door, let stand 15 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and immediately run a knife around edge of pan, releasing sides.
11. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
12. Cover and chill 8 hours and garnish.

 Serves: 10-12

Sherry