It’s Thanksgiving Day! What’s your favorite holiday recipe?

INGREDIENTS

• 1 9-inch pie shell, frozen or chilled for an hour if freshly made. (See pie crust recipes.)

• 1 3/4 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp molasses
• 2 Tbsp melted butter
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

METHOD

1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread pecans along the bottom of the pie shell. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over pecans. (No need for an electric mixer, you can mix by hand.) The pecans will rise to the surface of the pie.

2 Bake at 375°F for 40-45 minutes until the filling has set. About 20 minutes into the cooking you may want to use a pie crust protector, or tent the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil to prevent the pie crust edges from burning.

3 Remove from oven and let cool completely.

recipe from simplyrecipes.com

Serves 8.

IMANI GIVES US A CLASSIC TAKE ON MACARONI AND CHEESE AND ONE WITH NONE OTHER THAN…..BACON!

Macaroni and Cheese Makes the Soul Feel Good

My favorite holiday food, is hands down Macaroni and Cheese. While I know that the holidays are not the only time that i have this cheesy goodness, for some reason everything seems to taste much better during this time of the year. I’ve also realized that I never get tired of this dish because there are so many different ways that you can prepare it. Therefore, I have not only included a classic recipe but also some modern twists on this dish as well.

The Classic

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients:

8 ounces elbow macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 pepper, or to taste

1 cup milk

1 cup light cream or half-and-half (or more milk)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

3/4 cup breadcrumbs tossed with 2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation:

Cook macaroni following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water; set aside.

Butter a 2-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350°.

In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Stir flour into the butter until smooth and bubbly. Stir in the dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually add milk and cream, stirring constantly. continue to cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese and continue to cook and stir until melted.

Combine the macaroni and the sauce and turn into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the buttered bread crumbs and bake for about 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and topping is lightly browned.

photo credit smittenkitchen.com

Serves 6.

Mac n Cheese with BACON

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

8 ounces elbow macaroni, about 2 cups dry

3 tablespoons butter

4 green onions, thinly sliced

dash garlic powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups milk

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

6 slices bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled

2 cups (8 ounces) sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

Topping

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preparation:

Cook macaroni following package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse with hot water, and set aside.

Heat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 2 1/2-quart baking dish.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add the green onions and garlic powder. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute. Add the flour and stir until well blended and smooth. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir in salt and pepper, to taste. Remove 1/2 cup of the cheese and set aside. Stir the remaining 1 1/2 cups of cheese into the sauce and continue cooking until cheese is melted. Combine the cheese sauce with the drained macaroni and spoon into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle bacon evenly over the casserole and top with the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese.

Toss bread crumbs with 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle over the casserole. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.

http://www.cathedralcity.co.uk/

Serves 4 to 6.

Caitlin’s ALL ABOUT TRADITION WITH PUMPKIN PIE

Although it is a typical holiday dish, I love pumpkin pie.  In fact, I give myself permission to eat any variation of pumpkin during the holidays.  I do love a pumpkin spice latte but nothing beats the real thing, especially on Thanksgiving Day.  My birthday has even fallen on Thanksgiving in the past and, in that rare occasion, pumpkin pie doubles as my birthday cake.  In my eyes, it wouldn’t be the holidays without pumpkin pie.  Here is the recipe my mom uses every year:

pumpkin pie photo credit- pinterest

• (40 ounce) can bruce cut yams, drained
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 (16 ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

My family is very into desserts. It always seems like our dessert table is more full than the main meal. That is why my favorite holiday dish is a dessert. It is a cake called chocolate pudding surprise, and it always seems to make it on my plate when dessert time rolls around. Try it out for yourself!

CHOCOLATE PUDDING SURPRISE 

1 cup flour

1 stick margarine

2 tblsp. Sugar

1 cup chopped nuts

Mix for bottom layer, 350 for 15 minutes.  Let cool.

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup cool whip -spread over bottom layer.

2 packs instant chocolate pudding

3 cups milk

spread

Top with cool whip and nuts.

FINALLY MY FAVORITE IS SWEET POTATO PIE

My meal is complete and my stomach is satisfied when I can sit down with a slice of sweet potato pie topped with whipped cream and a cup of fresh brewed coffee.

Here’s what you need.

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup Agave syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell

Did you notice anything peculiar?  There’s not one vegetable on this page!  Imagine that, a vegetable not making the favorites list!

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Inspiring Creativity,

Ricci