Pumpkin Harvest Cheesecake

Ingredients

3/4 c chocolate wafer crumbs
3/8 c pecans
3 tb butter
1 1/2 c pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 c brown sugar
1 1/2 ts cinnamon
1/2 ts ginger
1/2 ts nutmeg
3 packages cream cheese
8 pkgs
1/2 c sugar
1 tb cornstarch

Instructions

Crust: Heat oven to 350F/180C. Combine first three ingredients and press onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Filling: Whisk together pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar and spices. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch; blend in pumpkin mixture. Pour over crust. Bake 50-55 minutes, or until centre is just set. Remove from oven and run knife around rim of pan. Cool thoroughly at room temperature. Refrigerate overnight. Serves 10-12. Variations: Drizzle chocolate in random pattern over cheesecake using an easy piping technique. Simply melt 2 squares of Baker's Semi-sweet Chocolate over hot water. Pour chocolate into a small plastic bag. Poke a small hole in bottom of bag and squeeze to drizzle chocolate. Place whole pecans around sides of cheesecake and in circl on top of cake.