Tasty Treats For Turkey Day!


Dear Moms, 

 We all know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner and if you have been a faithful reader of the blog- you ALREADY know ya girl is always good for a recipe or THREE! Lol, luckily I am a hungry girl and I also LOVE to be in the kitchen, and even though the turkey is known to be the star of the show- I want you to get prepared to be "thankful" for these sweet tasty treats for turkey day!

 I am an avid fan of incorporating booze into food....so the first offering I have for you is: Bourbon Pecan Pie! Yes, BOURBON! lol Now, when you bake boozy; the alcohol cooks out and only leaves the rich flavors from the "booze used." So, no worries gals- grandma won't be tipsy and trying to fight your in-laws!
Bourbon Pecan Pie
www.pintrest.com
Acquired: 11/14/2016

 Ingredients:
Piecrust (You can ALWAYS buy a pre-made crust too)
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ c. light brown sugar
  • ¾ tsp. fine sea salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 7 tbsp. unsalted butter

Filling

  • ½ c. granulated sugar
  • ¼ c. light brown sugar
  • 1½ tsp. all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. fine sea salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1½ c. cane, sorghum or dark corn syrup, or honey
  • 2 tbsp. bourbon
  • 1½ tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1½ tbsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1¾ c. unsalted pecan halves

Directions:

Make the Piecrust: In a bowl, whisk the flour with the brown sugar and salt. Stir in the butter until the dough comes together into a ball. Transfer the dough to a deep 9-inch glass or ceramic pie plate. Using your fingers, press the dough over the bottom and up the side of the plate to the rim. Crimp the edge with your fingers or a fork. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 3 days. (For the leaf embellishments, just use a cookie cutter!)

Make the Filling: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, whisk both sugars with the flour, salt and eggs until smooth, then mix in the syrup or honey. Add the bourbon, butter and vanilla and fold in the pecans.
Pour the filling into the chilled crust and transfer the pie to a foil-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 1 hour, until the filling is nearly set. Transfer the pie to a rack and let cool completely, about 4 hours, before serving.

Now, I am aware that everyone is not a fan of the booze or nuts for that matter so rest assured I have a non booze, nut-free offering in the works for you! How does a NO BAKE Pumpkin Cheesecake Mini Truffle sound?! To me, like HEAVEN!! I mean, NO baking AND Cheesecake! Omg, *Drool* oh, sorry lol let's get started! A trifle sounds like it will be soooo involved, being that it is such a "fancy" dessert, right? Well, hold on to your hats ladies- this one is uber easy!


NO Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Mini Trifle
www.pintrest.com
Acquired: 11/14/2016

Ingredients:


  • 1 8-oz. brick cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 15-oz. can pure pumpkin
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 c. heavy cream, cold
  • 2 tbsp. plus 1/2 c. granulated sugar
  • 2 c. crumbled ginger cookies or graham crackers
  • 1 1/4 c. chopped candied nuts

Directions:

With mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in brown sugar until smooth. Add pumpkin, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until smooth, scraping side of bowl as needed; set aside. In separate bowl, with mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until stiff peaks form.

In medium bowl, combine cookies and 1 cup chopped nuts; divide half among 8 parfait glasses. Divided half of pumpkin mixture among glasses, followed by half of whipped cream. Repeat layering of cookies, pumpkin and whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to 1 day.

Line cookie sheet with foil. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. In small saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons water and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar to boiling on medium-high; cook until golden. Working quickly, stir in remaining 1/4 cup nuts, then spread mixture onto prepared foil in thin layer. Cool completely. Break into small shards. To serve trifles, garnish with brittle.

If you are anything like me- you absolutely CANNOT resist a good cookie! It's a classic, and I mean, is there a dessert that is easier to prepare than a batch of cookies?! Umm, no! Lol so, how about giving a classic cookie a fall-ish, Thanksgiving twist with the Cranberry Chocolate Chunk cookie? I'm already ready for Thanksgiving dinner's dessert and we still have a week to go! 

Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookie
www.pintrest.com
Acquired: 11/14/2016

Ingredients:

  • 2½ c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¾ c. butter or margarine
  • ¾ c. packed dark brown sugar
  • ¼ c. granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1¼ c. walnuts
  • 1 c. dried cranberries
  • 4 oz. white chocolate
  • 4 oz. semisweet chocolate

Directions:

Arrange 2 oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
On waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter, sugars, and corn syrup until just creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until blended. Reduce speed to low. In 2 batches, add flour mixture, beating between batches until just blended. Stir in two-thirds of walnuts, cranberries, and chocolate pieces. Refrigerate dough 15 minutes or up to 1 day.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart, on prepared cookie sheets (return remaining dough to refrigerator for next batch). Bake 5 minutes. Working quickly, press some of remaining nuts, cranberries, and chocolate pieces into cookies. Rotate sheets on racks; bake 6 to 8 minutes longer or until edges are golden brown.

No matter what dessert you decide to serve to YOUR crew this Thanksgiving, it's important to be grateful for one another and the love that you all share for one another. Make sure to capture the memories, and relish in the laughs and let the hugs linger a little bit longer: tomorrow is not promised to any of us and let's face it the beauty of family is the LOVE!

Until Next Time!

P.S. Don't think I am going to send you into the holiday without a couple of cocktail recipes to help the grown ups imbibe and spread a little holiday "CHEERS!" ;) Check out my YouTube channel: DIY Mindblown for some great how to Thanksgiving craft ideas to decorate and create not only atmosphere, but memories too! And Don't forget about the family vlog channel: WTF? My Life Is Pure Lunacy 





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