CRUST:

1/2 c. butter, chilled
1 c. sifted flour
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

FILLING:

1 lb. cream cheese
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 lg. eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract

TOPPING:

3 med. apples, peeled & sliced
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. coarsely chopped walnuts

CRUST: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butter into very small pieces. Combine flour, sugar, butter pieces and vanilla. Mix together with your fingers until pastry resembles coarse meal. Press dough into 9 inch springform pan and bake for 5 minutes.

FILLING & TOPPING: Change oven temperature to 425 degrees. Combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix until completely blended and pour into crust. Combine apple slices and add sugar, cinnamon and vanilla; mix well. Layer apple mixture on top of cream cheese mixture, then sprinkle with walnuts. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees, bake 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then chill.