"American" Thanksgiving

We were so excited to be able to spend American Thanksgiving this year with friends.  Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, and after eight years, we are finally getting used to everyone celebrating Thanksgiving "so late".  We used to cook a turkey and celebrate in October, but, since no one else here was celebrating, we have slowly adjusted our holiday as well.  American Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so it usually becomes a four day weekend.  Our friends Tully & IY drove up to visit and we enjoyed a roaring fire all weekend with them.  We got our first snow fall the morning they arrived, so we hunkered down and had a lazy time.  Movies with Logan (Toy Story and Wall-E) and playing with an almost crawling Sadie.  We appreciate them driving to see us, and can't wait until we see them again.

We cooked a turkey, had our favorite stuffing (maybe we will share our Mom's secret one day), "Elsie's" Potatoes, a sweet potato casserole, purple cabbage, brussels with pecans & cranberries, homemade cranberry sauce and fresh buns.  For dessert, two pies.

Pumpkin Pie

1 pkg cream cheese softened
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, plus 2 yolks beaten
1 cup half & half
1/4 melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon

pie shell
whipped cream for topping

Preheat oven to 350.  Put pie shell in freezer for ONE hour.  Line shell with foil, place in oven, bake for 10 min.  Remove foil and bake 10 min or until crust is dried and beginning to color.  In bowl, beat cream cheese, add pumpkin and combine.  Add sugar, salt, eggs, half & half, and butter.  Beat until combined.  Add vanilla and cinnamon.  Pour in crust and bake for 50 min or until set.  Top with whipping cream.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

1 1/2 cups pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
1 unbaked pie shell
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch salt

Preheat oven to 375.  Spread pecans and chocolate chips evenly on bottom of pie shell.  Whisk remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Pour over pecans.  Bake until filling sets (about 45 min).  Let cool 30 min before slicing.

Sending Love,

Twin A