Christine's Apple Torte

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds rome apple diced peeled
• 8 ounce block cream cheese fat-free
• 1 large eggs 
• 1 cup flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.3 cup stick margarine softened
• 0.3 cup sugar 
• 0.5 cup sugar 
• 0.3 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 0.5 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
• 4 teaspoons water 

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• knife
• wire rack
• blender
• springform pan
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 45
2. To prepare the crust, beat the first 4 ingredients with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife.
3. Add the flour to the sugar mixture, beating at medium-low speed until mixture is well-blended. Press the crust into the bottom and 3/4 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.
4. To prepare the filling, beat 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, the cream cheese, and egg at low speed until smooth.
5. Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust.
6. Combine apple, 1/2 cup sugar, and ground cinnamon in a bowl.
7. Spread the apple mixture evenly over cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with nuts.
8. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 (do not remove torte from oven); bake an additional 25 minutes or until lightly browned and filling is set. Cool on a wire rack.
9. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, if desired.