Thanksgiving Pies & Desserts

Today I am sharing a few tried and true favorite dessert recipes for your Thanksgiving table so you can get a head start on both shopping and baking! Enjoy!

Nut Cups

Pie Dough

Coconut Custard Pie

Chocolate Chip Pie

Classic Apple Pie

Apple Crumb Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Cinnamon Mocha Tart

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Maple Pumpkin Custards

Maple Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cake

Cranberry Coconut Cookies

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

Cranberry Coffee Cake

Chocolate Cream Pie

Pumpkin Squares

Dessert Recipes for a Mother's Day Brunch Table

Mother's Day is Sunday, so I thought I'd share a few tried and true recipes with you that are sure to please Mom.

This Lemon Cake from Ina Garten is a favorite in my home. Made with yogurt, it has a  extra tang and is absolutely delicious!
  

Another great lemon recipe is this Lemon Blueberry cake. Easy to make and leftovers(if there are any) can be wrapped well and frozen.
 

 Elegant Cookie Mousse Cups make a beautiful addition to any brunch table.
  

Here are a few more favorite brunch dessert ideas.

Lemon Bars

Madelines

Chocolate Sour Cream Loaf

Cinnamon Mocha Tart

Mousse Filled Crepes with Vanilla Sauce

Fruit Crumb Bars

 I hope you will try a recipe or two and enjoy them as much as we do! Check in tomorrow for some Mother's Day breakfast ideas!

Have a sweet day!

Thanksgiving Dishes

The big day is just a week away! Today I want to share some of our favorite things to make for Thanksgiving,including a soup a few sides and plenty of desserts.
   Butternut Squash Soup is one of my fall favorites. It can be made ahead and freezes well. It is a great way to start any meal and also makes a perfect lunch on a chilly day.

    Acorn squash is a vegetable that is often overlooked because many feel it is too difficult to prepare, it isn't..I promise. This recipe is can also be made ahead( 1 day) and refrigerated until ready to bake.

   I usually roast carrots with a little olive oil,salt & pepper, and it is an easy,delicious,no fail way to make them.However, for special occasions,I prefer to make them this way.Wonderful flavor that perfectly compliments the Thanksgiving meal.

   What is a meal without mashed potatoes? I switch between two favorite recipes in our house. The first, is from Ina Garten which is a buttermilk recipe that is incredible! The other is a garlic sour cream recipe that is equally delicious. Whichever you choose, you will be deliciously happy!

   Very often,recipes call for fresh herbs. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere warm, you may still have some in your garden,however,if not, you may wind up paying a pretty penny for them at the market. This is how I preserve the herbs from my garden. I make herbed butter, which freezes well and is ready anytime I need it . A few days before Thanksgiving, I take a few from the freezer and slather them on our turkey. They add amazing flavor !

  Without fail,every year I make this  spinach dish from Ina Garten.
So delicious!
  

When it is time for dessert,I serve a variety of goodies to my family. Here are a few of our favorites.

Oatmeal Buttercotch Cookies

Cranberry Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Nut Cups

Coconut Custard Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Cinnamon Mocha Tart

Apple Pie

Lastly, here is the recipe I use if you are interested in making your own pie dough.
 

I hope you have a chance to try some of these recipes that we love so much! Check in tomorrow for some  day after Thanksgiving breakfast ideas!

Some Thanksgiving Recipe Suggestions

I have been writing this blog since January 2011 ,and we have covered quite a few recipes.Although they haven't been featured this month,perhaps you may want to make some of them for your Thanksgiving dinner.To find the recipes,just type in the name in the "search" box on the right side of this page,and you will find it.

Chocolate Chip Pie
Pecan Nut Cups
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
Cinnamon Mocha Tart
Apple Crisp
Mini Apple Crumb Tarts
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes
Brownie Pie
Carrot Squares
Maple Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cake
Pumpkin Bread
Maple Pumpkin Custards
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Chocolate Cream Hearts
Coconut Custard Pie
Butternut Squash Soup
Gingered Carrots
Garlic Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Apple Crumb Pie
Pumpkin Squares
  I hope this helps a bit.Whatever you make,I hope you have a "sweet" Thanksgiving!

Cinnamon Mocha Tart

A few days ago,I mentioned how chocolate & banana is one of my favorite flavor combinations.Well,nothing brings out the true flavor of chocolate like coffee or cinnamon,and this tart has both!It is a bit decadent,but so good.Again,I have made my own pastry dough,but feel free to use the refrigerated dough you find in the market in a pinch.
Dough:
2 sticks of very cold butter,cubed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. sugar
2c. flour
1/4 c. ice water

In the bowl of a food processor ,mix together the flour,sugar & salt.Add the butter and process until butter is about the size of small peas.Add the water and process until the dough comes together(about 1-2 minutes).Divide the dough in half,flatten into disks.Wrap in plastic wrap,and place one in the refrigerator for 30 minutes,and the other in the freezer for future use.
  Now for the filling:
1/2 c. butter
1 tbsp. instant coffee
3 eggs
1 c. sugar
4(1oz.) squares of unsweetened chocolate,finely chopped
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3c. flour
1 tbsp. cinnamon
fresh whipped cream

 In a small saucepan,melt butter.Add coffee,then chocolate .Mix together and set aside to cool.
In the bowl of your mixer,beat the eggs.Slowly add in the sugar and cinnamon.Add the vanilla and then the cooled chocolate mixture.NEVER add hot chocolate to the eggs..they will cook and we don't want scramble eggs.

   Remove dough from the refrigerator.Roll out on a lightly floured surface.Fit into your pan.I am using a square tart pan,if you have a round one,or a shallow pie plate,that is fine.Whatever you choose to bake it in should be on the shallow side,as this dessert does not rise like a cake.Individual tart pans work great as well.Place the tart pan on a baking sheet in case of accidental overflow.We don't want to ruin your oven!Prick a few holes into the bottom of the dough and bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.If your dough tears a little,relax!!Just patch it with extra dough.Noone looks at the bottom of your dessert.(If they do,you might think twice about inviting them over again)!If you look at the picture closely,you will see that I had to do some repair work as well!

  Remove the tart pan from the oven,and pour the filling in.Bake  for another 25 minutes.Remove and let cool.Remove from the tart pan,cut into squares and serve.If using a pie plate,serve directly from the plate.Garnish with fresh whipped cream & cinnamon.