I recently got an email with some yummy recipes for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday! Not only did I get sent recipes, but also a music player for you to enjoy while you cook (or dine)! Click on this: Pop Up Audio to stream the music or from the side bar under “At Home with Friends”.

Food Network star Sandra Lee and Grammy Award Winning violinist Joshua Bell have come together to help you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. The combination of great food, and lovely music, is sure to make your dinner a hit. We start our festivities on Sunday, with three different family meals to be enjoyed during the holiday, we love to find new dishes to share!

I haven’t had a chance to make this yet, but this Brownie Bottom Cheesecake sounds amazing! It would be a fun addition to the usual pumpkin pie! It sounds great for any other occasion too.

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake – Dessert

Prep 30 minutes Cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours (High) + 1 to 1 1/2 hours (Low) Chill 4 hours Makes 8 servings
Canola oil cooking spray
1 box (18.3-ounce) fudge brownie mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup canola oil
1/4 cup espresso-and-cream coffee drink
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cake flour
Pinch salt
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Coat an 8 1/2-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap foil around the bottom of cake pan. Crumple additional aluminum foil to create a “ring base” about 5 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together brownie mix, two of the eggs, the oil, and coffee drink until combined. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Place foil ring in bottom of slow cooker; pour 1/2 inch of hot water into bottom of slow cooker. Using 2 long strips of foil, make an “X” over foil ring and bring it up along the sides of slow cooker to assist removing pan from slow cooker. Place springform pan on top of ring and the “X” in slow cooker. Stack 6 paper towels; place over top of slow cooker bowl. Secure with lid.
4. Cook on High heat setting for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (Do not lift lid for the first 1 hour of cooking.)
5. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add sugar, flour, and salt; beat until smooth. Add the remaining two eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add cream and vanilla; beat until combined. Pour over brownie mixture in slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours more. Turn slow cooker to Low heat setting. Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until cheesecake is set with a wet-looking center. Turn off heat and let sit, covered, for 30 minutes.
7. Use foil strips to lift springform pan from slow cooker. Place pan on wire rack; let cool to room temperature. Chill in pan for at least 4 hours. Just before serving, remove cake from pan.
Excerpted from the book, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Money Saving Slow Cooking, by Sandra Lee
Copyright © 2009 SLSH Enterprises, Inc. www.sandralee.com

Joshua Bell is a new to me artist that I had the chance to review over on our site, Wish List Worthy. I found his music to be so unique. He is a great violinist, and you will find that we were able to add his music to our site for the season (find the stream on the sidebar under “At Home with Friends”).

His new album, At Home With Friends, features duets with Josh Groban, Sting, Regina Spektor, Kristin Chenoweth and many others. It would make a great background for your Thanksgiving. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

“Thanksgiving is the perfect time to bring everyone together to celebrate a year of blessings. Simple, time-saving shortcuts to create a meaningful feast can be found in my new book Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cocktail Time. Give your gracious gathering a heartwarming start with my personal favorite, Joshua Bell’s new album, At Home With Friends and greet guests at your door with a vibrant cocktail, such as a Cinema Paradisio. The main attraction is food, so try turning your main dish into a colorful centerpiece. For a quick and easy dessert try Semi-Homemade Brownie Bottom Cheesecake, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time celebrating with your family and friends.” – Sandra Lee

What Thanksgiving recipe do you love most? My favorite things are fresh rolls, and of course, mashed potatoes! What about you?