A gift on behalf of the 49th Parallel to the 44th Presiden and July 4th: a rich pastry crust lines a cheesecake pan which is then filled with mounds of apple slices, kissed with pure vanilla and fresh lemon juice. Strips of pie or tart pastry , cut in odd shapes with a serrated pastry wheel create the unusual top crust. Any way you patch together the pastry over the fruit will yield a beautiful finished crostata. The cheesecake pan - which is a gentle salute to the American touch of cheesecakes and springform pans (which I use for almost any cake) helps girdle the tart into shape for fine dining (and easy serving). I suggest a mix of Golden Delicious, MacInrosh and Cortland apples for this recipe. I have a ton of apple cake recipews but this one is easy, looks elegant and is reflective of the sort of cake Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary might have enjoyed. In honor of things presidential, an apple cake is purportedly on the luncheon menu for the Presidential Inauguration. If you've missed your invite somehow, you can still have a taste of a timeless apple cake, that anyone, president or not, would enjoy. You can also check out the free recipe, Mrs. Lincolns Vanilla Almond Cake