Lemon Cream Cheese Pie (or Tarts)

• 2-8” baked pie crusts (or 12 tart shells
Filling:
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 3 eggs beaten and strained
• juice from 2 lemons
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• yellow food coloring (optional)
Cream Cheese mixture:
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla
• ¾ cup whipping cream, whipped
In a double boiler, mix sugar and cornstarch. Add eggs, lemon juice, and water. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat and add vanilla and a couple drops of yellow food coloring. Cool.
Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in whipped cream. Fold cooled lemon filling into cream cheese mixture. Place in baked pie crusts or tart shells and serve chilled.