Woolworth's Cheesecake

Some of you may be too young to remember Woolworth's, but many years ago, Woolworth's was the place you went to get your drug and beauty supplies. I don't remember it as well as others would, but I think we would also buy fabrics and notions there.

A friend shared this recipe with me many years ago. Seems that when she was a little girl, every Saturday her dad would go to Woolworth's and sit at the counter and enjoy a piece of this very light and fluffy cheesecake and a cup of coffee while his wife and daughter shopped the store. He always asked the waitress for the recipe, but she never shared it with him until she retired many years later.

Thankfully, we have that recipe and you should try it! It calls for Milnot, which is in a can and used to be found near the evaporated milk. I do not know if they make it any more, but if not, Carnation evaporated milk works also!

1 small package lemon Jell-0

1 cup boiling water
3 T lemon juice

1 8 oz pkg softened cream cheese
1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla
1 can Milnot (well chilled and whipped)
1 lb graham crackers (one box)
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs and add the melted butter. Mix together and press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into a 9 x 13” cake pan. Dissolve Jell-o in boiling water, add lemon juice and cool. Cream together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add the Jell-0 and mix well. Fold the whipped Milnot into the Jell-o mixture and then pour over graham cracker crumbs. Sprinkle remainder of crumbs on top before chilling. Chill overnight.