Simple But Easy Cranberry Sauce (With No Pulp) for Thanksgiving

1 package cranberries

1 ½ cups of water

2 cups of sugar

Wash Cranberries and put in a large sauce pan, add 1 ½ cups of water.  Bring to a boil and boil until the cranberries are all popped open.  Then you mash it with a potato masher until they are all mashed while you are still cooking on medium heat. Once all mashed, remove from heat and use a strainer to seperate the juice from the pulp.  The juice will be thick. Push it all through the strainer so that all that is left is the skins (or the pulp is left--small amt). Put back in a sauce pan and add 2 cups of sugar to juice. Cook it without boiling until sugar is dissolved (medium-low heat) stirring continuously. When it almost looks like it is going to boil it is done (and there is a better chance of setting up).  Pour into containers and refrigerate.Can make it a week or more ahead of the holiday. 

Pecan Pie

1 C. white corn syrup               1 C. dark brown sugar

1/3 C. butter (melted)               3 eggs (slightly beaten)

1/3 tsp. salt                              1 tsp vanilla

1 heaping cup shelled pecans (whole or cut in half)

          Combine syrup, sugar salt, butter vanilla and mix well.  Add slightly beaten eggs.  Pour into 9 inch unbaked pie shell.  Sprinkle pecans over all.  Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes.

(Note:  I usually use a 10” pie pan so I add one more egg, 1/3 Cup more brown, 1/3 Cup more corn syrup, 1 ½ Tb. more butter, and a little more vanilla and dash more of salt.)    

 -Recipe courtesy of Barbara Leary

Creamy Pumpkin Curry Soup

Make this immediately!!!

4tbsp (1/2 stick) Butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Large onion diced (to taste)
1 1/4 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coriander
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cup chicken broth
16 oz. can solid pack pumpkin (or squash)
1 12oz. can of evaporated milk (I used 2% but I think anything would work... and wondered about coconut milk instead as well... will try next time.)

Melt butter in large saucepan, saute garlic & onions till golden brown. Add curry powder, salt, coriander, cayenne and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in broth & simmer partially covered for 20 minutes. Add pumpkin stirring till smooth. Add evaporated milk. Heat @ medium for 5 minutes. Don't allow to boil (simmer ok). In batches, put in blender until smooth. Eat, love, and be HAPPY!!!

Fast Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts seriously might be my new favorite vegetable.  These are delicious!

Water to cover plus an inch more, well salted (allow 1/2 tablespoon table salt for 4 cups of water)
1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and gnarly outer leaves removed, Xs cut into the cores with the tip of a knife

1 tablespoon butter,
1 clove garlic, finely chopped (I might have used 2... I like garlic)
Juice of half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon) (lime worked well too)
Salt & pepper to taste

Bring the salted water to a boil. Drop the sprouts in, cover and let cook for 3 to 5 minutes until mostly cooked. Drain. (If cooking ahead, drop the sprouts into ice water for a brief moment to stop the cooking and drain again.) Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.

In a large skillet, heat the butter and garlic until shimmery on MEDIUM heat and let cook for about 3 minutes until the garlic flavor is infused into the butter (don't let the butter or garlic burn). Remove the garlic clove and discard and increase the heat to MEDIUM HIGH. Add the Brussels sprouts and stir to coat with fat. Cook the sprouts, turning only every so often for you want the flat edges to darken, taking on almost a little 'burn' and that won't happen when stirring often. (It takes patience to not stir often but you can do it!) When the edges are browned to the desired level, sprinkle with lemon juice. Season with additional salt (if needed) and pepper (if needed). Savor and enjoy!

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

This recipe is delicious! It was a strong competitor last night in the midst of about 8 pies. Rather than posting the entire recipe here, let me direct you to the page on Smitten Kitchen. I'll just leave you with a picture to get your mouth watering. Yum! (And I don't even like cooked fruit usually.)



**Note - You will see in the recipe that it makes a few suggestions for add-ins, etc. I used honey instead of molasses (mostly because I thought others might enjoy the lighter flavor better). I also added a couple dashes of cinnamon and about a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cake batter before baking. She also makes a note of how her cake cooked really quickly (like 30 minutes instead of 45). Well, mine took about 50 minutes and was overflowing the pan. I think you could use a large cake pan. Finally, no parchment was necessary. The cake will come right out of the pan. Enjoy!

Christmas Salad

(Also delicious for Thanksgiving or any other day!)

1 head red leaf lettuce
1 head green leaf lettuce
baby spinach
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 large avocado
seeds from 1 pomegranate
(could also add pears, canned pineapple, apples, mandarin oranges, etc.)

Toss all together or arrange on individual plates
(You can do all the fruit or we like it with just pears and pomegranates)

Dressing:
1 c. sugar
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 c. apple cider vinegar (or white)
2 c. vegetable oil (I probably use a little less than this)
1 Tablespoon celery seeds

Combine in food processor, refrigerate until ready to use. Mix into salad if you don't plan to have leftovers, otherwise serve on the side so your salad will keep into the next day.

Roasted Vegetables

I know this is kinda basic, but it's a good reminder of an easy and delicious side dish/main dish. :)

I generally roast sweet potato, yellow squash, asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, or cauliflower (usually some combo of the above), but you really could use any veggies you like. Keep in mind that some cook faster than others (mushrooms, bell pepper, etc.), and I find it helpful to give the sweet potato a head start with a couple minutes in the microwave before I chop it up.

Cut the veggies into larger than bite sized bits, keeping in mind that the smaller you cut them the faster they'll cook. Toss with olive or canola oil, chopped garlic, thyme, salt, garlic salt, season salt, lemon pepper, pepper, cumin, rosemary, or some combination of these (or others).

Spread out on cookie sheet and roast at 400-450 degrees until tender, tossing the vegetables around on the cookie sheet occasionally so they don't burn. Generally 20-ish minutes.

That's it. Something about roasting brings out the best in the flavors of the vegetables. Plus, you can mix it up so it's different every time. :)

Pumpkin Mousse

Ingredients

1 cup Canned pumpkin
1/2 cup COLD milk
1 3 oz. Package vanilla instant pudding
1 tsp. Pie spice or
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ginger
3 1/2 cups Cool Whip

Preparation

Combine pumpkin, milk, pudding, and spices. Beat on lowest speed for 1 minute. Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon into dessert dishes and tip with hazelnut crunch.

I made this with lite Cool Whip and it was so, so delicious! Next time I'll use sugar-free pudding as well. I served it in a graham cracker pie crust I had on hand... yum! Sadly, it fell from the counter to the floor after only a couple servings. :( It will definitely be made again.

(Courtesy of Mealsmatter.org)

All About Apples

It's Apple Harvest and there is nothing I love more than: APPLE CRISP! This is a variation/concoction I came up with for your eating enjoyment and it's TASTY.

MARY'S APPLE CRISP

• 4 Large Granny Smith Apples
• 3/4 c. Brown Sugar
• 1/2 c. Flour
• 1 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 c. Butter
• 3/4 c. Rolled Oats

Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Place in buttered 8x8 pan. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon together. Cut in the butter, then add the rolled oats. Flake over apples and bake at 350 for 35-40 min. Serve with whip-cream or icecream. ENJOY!

thanksgiving cornbread stuffing

Cornbread Stuffing [dressing]

This recipe is from the Pioneer Woman, and it's the best stuffing I've ever eaten. Ever. Don't tell my family.

YIELD: 2, 9x13 pans of stuffing!

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe cornbread (baked/prepared) - make your fave recipe
1 loaf french bread
1 medium onion, diced
4 C low sodium chicken broth
1/2 C (1 stick) butter
2 C celery, chopped
1/4 C chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp dried basil
2-3 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 tsp ground thyme
salt (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Slice the cornbread and french bread into 1" cubes. Spread out over baking sheets and let dry out for 24 hours.
   
2. Heat a large skillet over medium and add butter. When butter is melted, add onion and celery; cook for a few minutes until onion is almost translucent. While it's cooking, chop herbs.
3. Add 4 cups chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add basil, ground thyme, rosemary, and parsley. Stir until combined.
4. Place all your dried bread cubes into a LARGE mixing bowl and toss them a bit. Gradually ladle the broth mixture into the bread, tossing lightly as you go. Continue ladling broth into bread, tasting as you go and adding more herbs as desired. Add salt carefully - you don't want this to be too salty! If the mixture isn't moist enough add a little more chicken broth and stir. The mixture should be light and moist, but not soggy.
   
5. Either stuff your bird and cook according to bird directions OR place in a 9x13 baking dish and bake @ 350 for 20-25 minutes; until golden brown.
   

NOTES:

I halved this recipe to make only one 9x13 pan (pictured above). It's way more than enough for 2 people, but I'm telling you we could've eaten the whole dish. I cannot wait until Thanksgiving so I have an excuse to make this again. Also, follow the link to PW (above) and she has a printable version of the recipe and lots of in-process pictures.