Trader Joes Wassail Hack

 

Image from Here

For a quick Wassail Hack...

Combine in large pan and heat until warm: 

• 1-64 oz bottle Spiced Cider from Trader Joes (shake before emptying to get all of the settled spices on the bottom of the bottle)
• 1 can frozen apple juice concentrate
• 36 oz water (Use apple concentrate container and fill up three times with water)

*Serve in your favorite mug.  

*Add a flair of garnish with a cinnamon stick, lemon slice, orange slice, etc.

THE BEST Lemon Sour Cream Pie

 

Think Key Lime Pie---but better.  I actually think you could use a similar technique to improve the typical key lime pie!  I love how the sour cream and whipped topping reduce the strong acidic/sweet tones of the straight lemon or key lime pie.  If you love lemon desserts, this will win you over!

Image and Recipe from Here.  I've just made a few adjustments to the original recipe.  Also note that this works really well with a prepared graham cracker crust which makes it even easier to make!  I actually prefer the graham cracker crust myself.

Ingredients

• 1 9-inch homemade pie crust , baked and cooled
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 Tablespoon + 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
• 3 large egg yolks , lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup butter , softened
• Zest of one lemon , about 1/2 tablespoon
• 1 cup sour cream

For whipped cream topping:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

• Crack eggs in a small bowl, beat slightly with a fork and set aside. 
• In a large saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in milk and fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and bubbling.
• Reduce heat to low and cook for two more minutes. Add a spoonful of the hot mixture into the egg yolks and stir well. Repeat this process with two or three more spoonfuls of the hot mixture added to the egg yolks. (The goal is to temper the egg yolks so they don't cook when added to the hot saucepan.)  Poor egg mixture into the saucepan and stir well.  Remove from heat.
• Add softened butter and lemon zest and stir until butter melts completely. Allow mixture to cool and then stir in sour cream. Add filling to your pie shell.

For the topping:

• In a mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with an electric mixer. While beating, add sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream over pie filling. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before serving.
• Enjoy the best lemon sour cream pie ever!

Raspberry Cream Pie

I love this pie recipe.  It tastes fresh and the creamy filling is light and fluffy!  

This is a great addition to a Thanksgiving Pie Spread.  You can make this with a traditional flour pie crust, but I prefer the graham cracker crust.

Image from Here.

 

MAKES 2 PIES

Ingredients
2  9" prepared graham cracker crusts

Raspberry (or berry) Topping:
¼ cup white sugar
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (24 ounce) package frozen raspberries

3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

fresh berries (optional garnish for topping)

Cream Filling:
1 cups heavy cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream

Directions
1.  Whisk sugar and cornstarch together in a medium saucepan. Stir in raspberries, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.
2.  Pour heavy cream into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl.
3.  Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in the stand mixer bowl. Switch to the paddle attachment and beat until well combined, about 2 minutes. Fold in whipped cream and sour cream until evenly incorporated.
4.  Spread cream filling into the pie crust. Top with the cooled raspberry topping and fresh raspberries (optional). Refrigerate pie until thoroughly chilled, 2 hours or overnight.

Applesauce Spice Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

This is a keeper from Melskitchencafe.com (recipe and image from here).  The brown butter frosting is delicious, and the toasted pecans taste like toffee (If you don't like pecans, you could sprinkle with toffee bits instead).

Applesauce Cake:

• 2 ½ cups (355 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4  teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 cups (500 g) unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large (100 g) eggs
• ¾ cup (146 g) neutral-flavored oil
• ⅔ cup (142 g) granulated sugar
• ⅔ cup (142 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 6 tablespoons (77 g) salted butter
• 3 ounces (85 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups (342 g) powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk or cream
• 1 cup (120 g) toasted pecans (toasted pecans have so much more flavor!)

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch metal baking pan and set aside. (If using a glass pan, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.)
• For the cake, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. 
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, eggs, oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth. 
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined and no dry streaks remain. Don't over mix. 
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top springs back lightly to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. 
• Let the cake cool completely in the pan. 
• For the frosting, place the butter in a light-colored skillet or pan over medium heat. As it continues to cook, it will foam and sizzle. Once melted, the butter will begin to foam and sizzle around the edges. Stir occasionally with a silicone spatula to keep it from burning. As it cooks, the butter solids will begin to brown and it will smell caramelly and nutty. Watch closely so it doesn't burn. Once the solids are golden brown, immediately remove the pan from the heat and pour the butter into a medium bowl to stop the cooking. 
• Let the butter cool until room temperature and sludgy in consistency, 20-30 minutes.
• Using an electric handheld mixer (or transfer the butter to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), add the softened cream cheese to the butter and mix until well-combined. It will look curdled; that's ok. Add one cup of the powdered sugar and mix until mostly combined. 
• Add the vanilla, two tablespoons of milk or cream and mix. 
• Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar while mixing on medium-low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add additional milk or cream to adjust the consistency, if needed. Mix for 1 to 2 minutes until very thick and creamy. 
• Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with toasted pecans, if desired. Cut into squares and serve at room temperature or chilled. 

Pesto Green Beans

 

This is my kids' favorite way to eat green beans.  Enjoy.

Image from Here

INGREDIENTS:
Green Beans
salt
Costco Pesto

-Lightly steam green beans (DO NOT overcook).  You want them al dente.

-Season with salt and pesto (you can add as much as you would like, but I do about 2 TBS pesto per 1 cup steamed green beans).
-Garnish with toasted pine nuts, toasted almonds if desired.

Chacuterie Centerpiece

 

I attended a dinner event where the floral centerpieces were interspersed with Chacuterie Board Spreads.  I thought it was SO beautiful...and a PERFECT idea for holiday entertaining.  This just may have to be my go to for Thanksgiving time!

Fall Butternut Squash Salad

 

Image Credits: CookingClassy.com and diet hood.com

My sister Mary Kay found this recipe.  Her garden seems to grow an abundance of butternut squash, so she's rather an expert in how to use it!  This salad is beautiful and delicious. Once I had it, the cravings began! The maple roasted butternut squash makes it very filling (well, you may still need something extra if you have hungry male teenagers at home!).

Salad Ingredients:

Roasted butternut squash and red onions (see note) 

Cheese: feta, goat cheese, parm cheese,  or Jarlsberg/swiss cheese

Roasted pecans or salted pistachios

craisins

Optional add ins: apples, pumpkin seeds, quinoa

-Butternut Squash preparation:  Peel butternut.  Cut in half.  Clean out seeds and insides.  Chop into cubes.  Place cubes on baking sheet.  Drizzle with a little olive oil and maple syrup.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast 425 for 10-15 minutes until butternut starts to brown (don't overcook or squash gets mushy and doesn't hold shape in salad).  Once cooled down slightly add to the rest of the salad ingredients.

Image Credit: Downshiftology.com

Apple Cider Vinaigrette (from downshiftology.com)

1/3 c. light olive oil

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

1 TBS honey

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 clove garlic

1/4 tsp salt and pepper

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

1/2 c. light olive oil

1/4 c. raspberry vinegar (or balsamic or red wine vinegar)

1/4 c. honey

1 clove garlic

1 TBS dijon mustard

1/4 tsp black pepper

-Blend all ingredients in a blender on high for 2 minutes until emulsified (keeps dressing from separating).  

Fall Table Setting Idea

 

I love this simple fall table centerpiece:  eucalyptus greenery, fresh apples and white candles.  This is especially perfect if you don't have a wide dining table.

Bruschetta- Three Ways!

I love appetizers!  These are simple, beautiful, and easy!  Because they are small, it does take a little more hands-on love, but it is worth it for special occasions. 

Baguette slices, Boursin Cheese, Sliced apple, Jalepeno Pepper Jam (fruit variety works too) , drizzle with honey

Baguette slices, pesto (or Boursin cheese), arugula, cucumber, ground pepper

Baguette slices, guacamole, shredded carrots, arugula, bacon, shavings of Pecorino Romano Cheese

Curry Pumpkin Soup

Picture from vibrantplate.com

picture credit:  mommyshomecooking.com

Carmelize for 7 minutes in soup pan over medium heat:

2 TBS oil
1 sweet onion

Add and simmer until carrots are tender-about 10 minutes:

6 carrots, diced

4 c. chicken or vegetable broth

-Blend onion and carrot/broth mixture

-Return blended mixture to soup pan

Add:

4 more cups for chicken or vegetable broth

1 28 oz can pumpkin

1/4 c. honey

2 1/2 tsp curry

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 c. cream

-Stir soup until combined and heat until warm.

-Garnish Ideas: Pumpkin oil and pumpkin seeds, or freshly ground pepper and parmesan cheese, croutons, bacon bits, cream drizzle and parsley

Thanksgiving Chacuterie Board

 

Coconut Almonds, Grapes, Apples, Three kinds of Cheeseball, Blackberry jalapeño Jam, crackers.

Cheeseball is a CLASSIC appetizer in our family...and when it comes to Thanksgiving, the more the merrier!

Buttermilk Pie

This just may be one of my all time favorite pies.  

It has such a unique flavor-a cross between a custard, lemon meringue, and cheesecake.  I had this as a child and have been working to create my ideal recipe.  I found a great version on food wishes.blogspot.com from Chef Jon.  I've slightly adjusted his recipe.  You may want to watch his video here--He's so entertaining and it is helpful to see the steps in real time when making something for the first time.  Let me know what you think!

Image from Southern Living.

Ingredients for one pie:

1  9" Pie crust rolled out.

**Poke crust a few times with a fork around bottom and sides.  Prebake crust at 350 F. for 15-20 minutes, let cool while you make filling.

For the filling:

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

zest from one lemon

juice from one lemon

3 drops lemon essential oil (NOT extract)

1 cup buttermilk

-Combine butter and sugar.  Using a whisk add all other ingredients and mix until smooth.

- Pour filling into prefaced pie crust.  Bake for another 45-55 minutes, or until the filling is golden and “set.”
-Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream (either warm, cold, or room temperature).