Turtle Cheesecake

Photo: flickr user Samdogs

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 (14 oz.) bag Kraft caramels

1 (5 oz.) can Pet Evaporated milk

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces, melted

Preparation

Combine crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9" spring-form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Melt caramels with milk in 1 1/2 quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour over crust. Top with pecans.

Combine cream cheese, sugar, and extract, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate; mix well. Pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.