Double-Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

So, this is my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night with our families....but, since I'm about the only one who likes Pumpkin Pie I decided to try a hybrid of yummy desserts in the hopes that I can get a few more people to try pumpkin for dessert!!

I grew up always having my mom's pumpkin pie for dessert every Thanksgiving and Christmas...it was always the same pie and I LOVED it. Funny enough, looking back I think it's just the recipe off the back of the Libby's pumpkin can, but it was good nonetheless and to me, it's just not Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie.

I started with the crust, and this was an EASY one...I sprayed the bottom of the pie pan with Pam, crunched up some graham crackers and sprinkled the crumbs in the dish. That's it...can't beat that!! I did however tweak it a little and make more crumbs because it's my pie and gosh darn-it, I like a thick crust =)

On a side note, I don't know how I ever let this little miracle kitchen machine sit in my cupboard unused for 3 years!! I have used this little "food processor" more times in the past year than since we got it for our wedding. It actually came as a free attachment for a hand blender (the kind you use to stick in milkshakes) and I LOVE it!!! I can make sauce in it, crush graham crackers and Oreos and puree just about anything!!

Moving on....

As I got the ingredients out I knew this was going to be yummy because it called for this -

Cream Cheese is like butter in recipes for me, the more that is called for, the better you know that recipe is going to turn out!!

So I mixed and divided and layered and about 40 minutes later I had this....there is a white layer of just cheesecake and then a thinner layer on top of pumpkin cheesecake.

This was my first stab at real cheesecake and since it's in a dish like this I can't exactly take a piece and try it so I'll have to let you know tomorrow night how it turned out. It looks great so i can't imagine it being a total disaster!! If it turns out as good as it looks, I will post the recipe AND you can expect to see many more cheesecakes because in this family we are Cream Cheese lovers!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!!!