Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

OOPS! Lightly sauteing the beef prior to making it a pizza is necessary. Don't cook it all the way or it will dry out during baking.

@ Kenji It was with profound pleasure that I viewed your burger-skills how-to on America's Test Kitchen. You are one handsome person, Kenji! Thanks.

@hmw0029
He does truly look bummed out... as though he's been stripped of his dignity somehow! But too cute for words, nevertheless! Thanks.

My "last meal" of choice would be a glorious cheeseburger, no doubt about that! In the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, including Philadelphia, we have Five Guys Burgers & Fries which offer hand-formed, never frozen burgers. Their menu consists of large or small burgers, hot dogs and their wonderful hand-cut fries cooked in peanut oil. The menu is restricted but to die for!

Well, dang! No Battle of Pennsylvania this year and I was all ready to wager a few pounds of our homemade scrapple on this one too!
lacrenshaw

This one is fabulous!

* CRUST:
* 1 1/2 cup ginger snap crumbs
* 1/4 cup Powdered sugar
* 1/3 cup Butter, melted
* CHEESECAKE:
* 32 oz Cream Cheese
* 1 2/3 C Sugar OR Vanilla Sugar (if you have the time, directions below)
* 1/4 C Cornstarch
* 1T Vanilla Extract
* 2 Large Eggs
* 3/4 Eggnog
* 1/4t nutmeg
* 1/2t cinnamon
* RUM SAUCE:
* 1C Dark Brown Sugar
* 1/2C Vanilla Sugar
* 1 1/2t Flour
* 3/4C Cream
* 1 1/2T Dark Spiced Rum
*** vanilla sugar - add a whole vanilla bean to your sugar bowl and cover tightly for at least 24 hours.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Grease bottom and sides of 9" springform pan OR spray
3 .Wrap bottom and sides with foil to protect cake during water bath
4. Combine all ingredients for crust and bake for 7-10 minutes
5. Mix 1 pkg cream cheese, cornstarch, and 1/3 C of vanilla sugar on low until creamy. Add remaining packages of cream cheese 1 at a time
6. Turn mixer up to medium and beat in the remaining sugar and vanilla.
7. Add eggs 1 at a time mixing well between eggs
8. Beat in the eggnog, nutmeg, and cinnamon just until it is completely blended - DO NOT OVERMIX!!
9. Spoon batter into prepared and cooled crust.
10. Place cake in a large shallow pan containing hot water. - water should come 1 inch up the side of the springform pan.
11. Bake until edges are golden brown and top is golden tan, about 1 hr 20 mins.
12. Remove pan from water bath and cool for 2 hours on a wire rack on counter.
13. After the 2 hour cooling period, place cake in fridge over night if possible covered loosly with plastic wrap.
14. RUM SAUCE:
15. Mix sugars & flour and add cream and rum.
16. Bring to a boil stirring constantly
17. Remove from heat once boil is reached
18. Stir occassionally
19. Sauce with thicken upon standing
20. This can be made ahead and refrigerated, just warm slowly before serving.
21. Pour over each slice and serve

Enjoy!
Lorraine