Margarita Cheesecake

-----CRUST----- Nonstick vegetable oil spray 1 1/4 c Graham cracker crumbs

1/4 c Unsalted butter -- melted

-----FILLING----- 3 pk 8-oz. "bricks" Neufchatel

-cheese -- (reduced-fat cream -cheese), room temp 1 1/4 c Light sour cream

3/4 c Sugar -- plus 2 tbsp

2 1/2 tb Triple sec or other orange

-liqueur 2 1/2 tb Tequila

2 1/2 tb Fresh lime juice

4 lg Eggs

-----TOPPING----- 3/4 c Light sour cream

1 tb Fresh lime juice

1 tb Sugar

Very thin limes slices -- cut -in half Very thin lime peel strips

Made with reduced-fat cream cheese and light sour cream, this cheesecake is irresistible - just like its namesake cocktail. FOR CRUST: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with vegetable oil spray. Mix

graham cracker crumbs and butter in medium bowl until blended. Press crumbs over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Refrigerate crust. FOR FILLING: Using electric mixer, beat cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in sour cream, then sugar, triple sec, tequila and lime juice. Beat in eggs. Pour filling into crust. Bake until outside 2 inches are set and center moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven; turn off oven. FOR

TOPPING: Whisk sour cream, lime juice and sugar in small bowl to blend. Spread evenly over cheesecake. Return cheesecake to hot oven. Let stand 45 minutes or less (Cheesecake will look very soft, but will set up when chilled.) Refrigerate cake until well chilled, up to 1 day. Run knife around pan sides. Remove pan sides. Place cake on platter. Arrange lime half-slices and peel around top edge of cheesecake. Source: Bon Appetit (6/95)