CRUST:

1 c. graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. butter, melted

Combine crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan (9 inch). Bake 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

CAKE:

1 tsp. grated lemon rind
3 eggs
3 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
3/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, juice and rind. Mix until well blended, add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour mixture over crust. Bake at 300 degrees for 55 minutes.

TOPPING:

1 c. sour cream
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all these (3) ingredients, carefully spread over cheese cake, bake 10 minutes longer. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool before removing rim from pan. This cake does not need garnish. It would be a shame to do anything to take away from flavor of the cake.