Thanksgiving Feast!

Cooking Club: November 2009

Thanksgiving Sides and Desserts

Pictured: Pumpkin Bombe

*******************************

Teresa (Host): Turkey and gravy

Linda: Green Bean Casserole

Ashlin: Turkey Meatloaf Burgers

Jodi: Sweet Potatoes

Lori: Chopped Apple Salad and Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

Shauna: Cauliflower Gratin with Endive

Susan: Broccoli Casserole

Summer: Pumpkin Pie Martinis

Laura: Pumpkin Ice Cream Bombe

Sarah: Cranberry Relish, Apple Pie

Dana: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Side Note: For some reason my camera captured a dreary orange glow in all the photos.

**************************************

Dish: Cauliflower Gratin with Endive

This was pretty good. It was very expensive to make and hard to find all the ingredients. This recipe comes from Martha Stewart and sometimes it hit or miss with her stuff.

Recipe: Click Here

Dish: Not your Mama's Green Bean Casserole

Fresh, gourmet take on the traditional green bean casserole. Fresh green beans are mixed with a homemade mushroom sauce and topped with a buttery bread crumb and onion mixture.

Recipe: Click here

Dish: Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

This was a delicious pie and had a yummy combination of flavors. It wasn't as sweet as the other pies, which wasn't a bad thing. But, we thought it could use another 1/4 cup of brown sugar. It was topped with a tasty dollop of bourbon whipped cream.

Recipe: Click Here

Turkey Meatloaf Burgers with Cranberry Sauce and White Cheddar

This is a great use for all that left over turkey. Everyone gobbled these up! Served hot with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy and you have a great post Thanksgiving meal.

Recipe: Click Here

Dish: Apple Pie

It's not Thanksgiving without it. This one was tart and went well with the sweet pumpkin desserts.

Dish: Special Cranberry Relish

"You love it or you hate it". This is a savory take on cranberry sauce. It's a highly requested recipe of Susan Stamberg's from NPR. It combines cranberries, onions, sour cream and horseradish. Judging from the ingredients, you would think it was awful, but a majority of the cooking club really enjoyed this paired with the turkey. If you're adventurous and want to try something unique, this is the recipe.

Recipe: Click Here

Broccoli Casserole

This recipe combines Gorgonzola, heavy cream and bread crumbs. Don't be scared off by the Gorgonzola, it makes the casserole rich and creamy and it isn't pungent tasting like you would think.

Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Martinis

Before my changes these could have been called booze martinis, because that was about all you could taste. The vodka was a bit strong, so I cut the amount in half and added a drop more heavy cream. And the secret ingredient that balanced out the flavors and made it taste more like pumpkin pie? A small scoop of pumpkin ice cream.

Recipe: Click Here

Turkey and Gravy

This turkey was moist and delicious. All it needed was a good rubbing of butter and herbs and some basting along the way.

Chopped Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts,

Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Long name, awesome salad. I had thirds. I don't usually think of salad at Thanksgiving, but this one is tasty enough to add to anyone's Turkey day menu! Delish.

Recipe: Click Here

Dish: Sweet Potato Casserole

These sweet potatoes aren't the typical pureed, bland sweet potatoes that show up on Thanksgiving. Chunks of sweet potato are mixed with butter, marshmallows and brown sugar and baked to bubbly perfection. "These are dangerous and bad, but Thanksgiving only comes once a year."

Recipe

*****************************

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Super creamy and perfectly sweet and spicy, just like pumpkin dessert should be!
A ginger snap crust would be delicious with this too.

Picture and Recipe

Pumpkin Bombe

This pumpkin ice cream cake was sooo good! A mix of vanilla ice cream, pumpkin puree and lots of yummy spices are housed in a graham cracker crust, topped with walnuts for decoration and chilled to perfection.