Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

8 1/2 oz Chocolate Wafers, Fine Crush
1/2 c Butter, Melted
12 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 1/2 c Heavy cream
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/4 c Sugar
4 ea Large Eggs
1 ts Vanilla Extract
1/2 c Heavy Cream Whipped (Opt.)
In large bowl, combine chocolate wafer crumbs and butter. Pat fimly into 9-inch springform pan, covering bottom and 2 1/2 inches up sides. Chill. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine over hot (not boiling) water, chocolate chips and heavy cream. Stir until morsels are melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar, beating untl creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture and vanilla, mix until blended. Pour into prepared crust.
Bake at 325 degrees F. for 60 minutes. Turn oven off. Let stand in oven with door ajar 1 hour. Remove, cool completely. Chill 24 hours.
Decorate edge with whipped cream, if desired.

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

Base:
2 c Vanilla wafer crumbs
6 tb Margarine, melted
Body:
1 ea 14-ounce bag caramels
1 cn 5-ounce evaporated milk
1 c Chopped pecans, toasted
2 pk 8-ounce cream cheese, soften
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Vanilla
2 ea Eggs
1/2 c Semi-sweet chocolate pieces
Base: Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degree F, 10 minutes.
Body In 1 1/2 quart heavy saucepan, melt caramels with milk over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour over crust. Top with pecans. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate; pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees F, 40 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and additional finely chopped pecans, if desired.