Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a food processer, process the matzo meal and almonds together until the almonds are finely ground. Add the sugar, pinch salt, and melted butter, and process until the mixture is evenly moist and starts to clump together.

Press the crust mixture onto the bottom and at least one inch up the sides of a 6-inch springform pan. Bake the crust for 12-15 minutes, until set and starting to brown. Allow to cool while you prepare the filling.

Scoop out the flesh of the roasted sweet potato, and either puree in a food processor or blender, or press through a food mill. Set aside.

Crack the egg into a small bowl, lightly beat it, and set aside.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth, then add the sugar and continue beating until the sugar is thoroughly and evenly incorporated.

Turn the stand mixer speed to low, and add the lightly beaten egg, a little bit at a time, scraping down the bowl periodically, beating until the egg is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.

Beat in the vanilla extract, spices, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.

Wrap the springform pan with the crust in two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil -- you re going to bake the cheesecake in a hot water bath and this is to make sure that no water seeps in.

Scrape the cream cheese mixture into the prepared crust -- unless your springform pan is pretty deep (mine is not), you will not be able to fit all of it in. But don't be afraid to fill it close to the top of the pan.

(If you don't want to waste the extra, you can bake it separately in a ramekin!)

Place the foil-protected springform pan in a larger pan, and carefully fill the pan halfway with boiling water. Transfer the the pan to the oven, and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set near the edge but there is the *slightest* wobble toward the middle . (The cheesecake will puff up a bit in the oven.)

Turn off the oven, but don't remove the cheesecake. Prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon and allow the cheesecake to cool in the turned-off oven for one hour.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven, remove the aluminum foil wrapping, and transfer the springform pan to the refrigerator to chill for at least eight hours.

When the cheesecake is fully chilled, carefully release the springform pan sides and transfer the cake to a serving platter. Decorate with candied sweet potato roses if you wish.