Thanksgiving Desserts: Pecan Pie

From The Saucy Apron

80 Proof Pecan Pie

If I’m going to bother with this whole pie drill a Bourbon one sounds worth while. This one from A New Old Fashioned Gal is free of nasty syrups, drowning in Bourbon and not cheap on the pecans. Continue reading »

Thanksgiving Sides: Celery Soup with Pancetta

From Finding Tasty

 Cream of Celeriac Soup with Crisp Pancetta

This soup should be on your Thanksgiving menu. If you’ve got any vegetarians in attendance, simply omit the pancetta (as long as the vegetarians are lacto-ovo). Continue reading »

Favorite Family Recipe: Bunny and Pig on Rye

Favorite Family Recipe: Chick and Duck Baked Egg

From Cute Yummy Time

Rich in protein and nutrients, these fluffy baked eggs are a favorite among children.

Makes 2 servings.

1 large white egg sheet

1 large yellow egg shet

2 red lettuce leaves, for garnish

1/2 carrot, thinly sliced, for garnish

1/2 cup mesclun greens

4 mizuna lettuce leaves, for garnish

To make the duck: With a paring knife, cut the white egg sheet into the (6 1/2 x 6-inch) shape of a duck. To form the wing, cut 1 (3 x 2-inch) leaf shape from the yellow egg sheet. To form the beak, cut 1 ( 1 1/2-inch) circle from the yellow egg sheet with a pairing knife or cookie cutter. To form the eyes, cut 2 (3/4-inch-wide) circles from the red lettuce leaves. To form the feet, cut 2 (1-inch) V shapes from the carrot slices. Spread the mesclun greens on a plate and place the white egg body on top. Arrange the feet, wing, and facial features on the body. Garnish the plate with freshly ground black pepper.

To make the chick: With a paring knife, cut the yellow egg sheet into the (6  x 6 1/2-inch) shape of a chick. To form the beak, cut 1 (1 1/2 x 1/2 inch) leaf shape from the carrot slices. To form the eyes, cut 2 (3/4-inch-wide) circles from the red lettuce leaves. To form the feet, cut 2 (1-inch) V shapes from the red lettuce leaves. To form the feet, cut 2 (1-inch) V shapes from the carrot slices. Place the yellow egg body on a plate; arrange the feet and facial features on the body. Garnish the plate with the mizuna leaves and freshly ground black pepper. Serve warm.

Baked Egg Sheets

Egg sheets are as versatile as construction paper. You can dye them any color of the rainbow–using all-natural ingredients–and then cut out the components of a cute animal. Makes 1 large (1/4 to 1/2-inch thick) egg sheet.

Yellow: 6 eggs, or 1 1/2 cups egg whites and 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder or saffron.

White: 1 1/2 cups egg white

Thanksgiving Desserts: Banana Bread Extraordinaire

From Kitchen Butterfly

Monkey bread, Banana bread

I’ve never fancied Banana breads or muffins.  Never courted them, craved them or sought them out in a crowd. Not when I was young and my Liberian-American aunt made it with Rice Flour. I just couldn’t imagine how over-ripe bananas could morph into something glowing…. till I met my friend, S. Continue reading »

Thanksgiving Sides: Yummy Broccoli

From The Saucy Apron

Bring it on Broccoli

This is one big bowl of healthfulness. Perfect for lunch topped with goat cheese or in place of rice, cous cous or pasta for dinner. Tonight i served it with a Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin. Continue reading »

Favorite Family Recipe: Soft Cheese Pretzels

From Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids and Busy Adults

For a birthday party, you can make pretzels in the shape of your age or the letters of your name!

1/4 teaspoon + 1/3 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons +  1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried dill

2 3/4 tablespoons dry yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour mixture

2/3 cup warm (not hot) water

3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (Vegan Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Alternative is dairy-free)

1 egg, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.

2. In a large bowl, use a whisk to blend together 1/3 teaspoon salt, sugar, dill, yeast, baking powder, and flour mixture.

3. With a rubber spatula, stir in the warm water until blended. Stir in the cheese.

4. Sprinkle your hands with a little flour mixture, and then knead the dough to blend in the cheese.

5. Divide the dough into 18 balls (about the size of Ping-Pong balls).

6. Rub your hands with a little flour mixture. On a lightly floured board, roll each ball into a rope shape about 10 inches long, and then fold the rope into a pretzel shape. Place the pretzel on the baking sheet.

7. In a small bowl, beat the egg using a fork or whisk. Brush the tops of the pretzels with the beaten egg, and sprinkle the tops of the pretzels with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Makes 18 pretzels.

Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix

2 1/2 cups rice flour

1 cup potato starch

1 cup sorghum flour

1 cup tapioca flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup garbanzo bean flour

2 tablespoons xanthan gum

Sift all the ingredients into a bowl, then whisk them with a wire whisk to assure that everything is blended evenly.

Makes 6 cups.

Thanksgiving Desserts: Eggnog Cheesecake

From The Naptime Chef

Eggnog Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust & Pomegranate Glaze

It is easy for me to go overboard when consuming holiday desserts. I find it impossible to resist the tray after tray of sugary cookies and chocolate bark candy that are found at my every turn this time of year. After all, these treats only come around once every 11 months, which, in my mind, practically makes it a requirement to sample everything within arms length during this brief period. (I wonder, does eating Christmas cookies in December count as eating seasonally?) Continue reading »

Favorite Family Recipe: Eggnog Pancakes

From Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, and 102 Recipes

Eggnog Pancakes

2 cups flour (wheat or white or a mixture)

2 eggs

1 tbsp. oil

2 cups eggnog

2 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. baking powder

Mix all of the ingredients. Make pancakes. Say whatever blessing you want. Or not.

Homemade Kahlua Sauce

4 cups sugar

1 cup instant coffee

2 cups boiling water

3 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 fifth vodka

Mix dry ingredients together, then add boiling water. Mix until dissolved. Let cool and add the vanilla and the vodka. Put into bottles. Keep for at least a month before enjoying.

Thanksgiving Desserts: Spiced Streusel

From Under the High Chair

Thanksgiving Part 3: Dessert

Why is pie synonymous with Thanksgiving? I have yet to make that connection, but I’ve eaten pie every mid-October for as long as I can remember and I’m mighty thankful for that.

Perhaps it is because the holiday falls right in the middle of apple and pumpkin season and who wants to be baking anything else than gorgeous pies with that fresh, affordable produce? Continue reading »