My Favorite Cheesecake

I got to thinking of cheesecake this evening when I was mulling over whether I should make one for an upcoming silent auction at church. I obtained this recipe from a cheesecake class I took here in Orange City. Cheesecakes "taste" like they're really hard, but they're not. The first thing you need to go buy , if you don't own one, is a 9 " springform pan...that's a MUST.
New York Cheesecake
crust:
1 stick butter
1/4 c sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c flour
Preheat oven to 400 deg. Spray a 9 inch springform pan with Pam.  In a small mixing bowl, cream together 1 stick butter and 1/4 c sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in one yolk, lemon zest and vanilla. Gradually add flour. Pat over bottom of pan. Bake 8-10 min at 400 or until browned. Cool on wire rack.  Turn oven to 500. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
Using two pieces of heavy duty foil, cover bottom and up sides of pan (on the outside) to prevent darkness and leaking.

Filling:
5-8 oz. pkgs cream cheese-only Philadelphia brand (room temp)
                              I find the other off brands don't mix as well.. they remain too lumpy/aren't as creamy
1 3/4 c sugar
3 T. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla
5 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 c whipping cream

Combine cream cheese, sugar, flour, lemon zest and vanilla in large bowl. Beat eggs in ONE AT A TIME. Now Beat egg yolks in ONE AT A TIME. Add cream. Pour into crust lined pan.* Bake 8 min. at 500 deg. decrease to 350 deg. and cont baking one hour. Middle should be shaky but not wet. Cool on wire rack. Run a knife around the sides when taking out of oven.

When completely cooled, remove sides of pan. Can be frozen or remain in frig for several days.

*After pouring cheese mixture into pan, "stir" with a toothpick to rid it of bubbles. Any bubble will be a brown spot on top of the cake.
For no cracks...beat ALOT...til the cream cheese glistens. Let alot of air into it. MIX IT VERY WELL.

To make a Turtle cheese cake...top the crust with caramel ice cream topping, pecans and chocolate chips or chunks before adding cheese mixture.