Chocolate Covered Marble Cheesecake

This is the reason I exercise - I like all the wrong food!  Delicious cheesecake - and what is life with out love, chocolate and cheesecake!  This came out of a cookbook Chocolate - Better Homes and Gardens.  My kitchen floor got an unexpected wash as I dropped the bowl I had melted the chocolate and shortening in - broke the bowl of course - and sprayed chocolate all over the kitchen.  Good thing the kids were downstairs at the time and didn't hear me cursing like a sailor!  So word to the wise - hold onto that bowl!  BTW I now have a very clean kitchen floor!

1 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers (about 33 cookies)
1/3 cup butter melted
2 squares semisweet chocolate
2 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 cup cream style cottage cheese, drained
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp finely shredded orange peel
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
4 squares semi sweet chocolate
4 tsp shortening
halved orange slices or mandarin oranges (optional)
Finely shredded orange peel (optional)

For the crust, combine the crushed wafers and melted butter.  Stir till well combined.  Press crumb mixture onto the bottom and 1 3/4 inches up the sides of an 8 inch springform pan.

For the filling, melt the 2 squares semisweet chocolate; cool. In a large mixer bowl beat together cream cheese, cottage cheese, milk, 1 tsp orange peel, and vanilla till well combined.  Stir together the 1 cup sugar, flour, and salt; gradually beat into cheese mixture.  Add the 2 eggs and egg yolk all at once; beat on low speed of electric mixer just till combined.  Do not overbeat.  Transfer half of the cheese mixture (about 2 cups) to another bowl.  To the remaining mixture, stir in the melted chocolate till well combined. Spoon filling into the prepared crust, alternating light and dark mixtures.  Using a narrow spatula, swirl gently through the filling to marble.  Bake in a 450 oven for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to 300p bake about 40 minutes more or till a knife inserted near centre comes out almost clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  While cheesecake is cooling melt together the 4 squares semisweet chocolate and shortening. (watch out here).  Spread over warm cheesecake.  Chill 4 to 5 hours.  Before serving, use a knife or a narrow metal spatula to carefully loosen sides of cheesecake from springform pan.  Remove the sides of the springform pan.  Garnish cheesecake with a ring of halved orange slices or mandarin oranges and finely shredded orange peel if desired.  Makes 12 servings.