Rubyee

I usually end up getting stuck with the baking for Thanksgiving. And I also usually end up doing a lot. Here are a few of my recipes for the big day.

Pretzel Salad
It is a three layered salad with a pretzel crust, a cream cheese filling, and a jello like top. Make each layer one by one, starting with the first. (I don't use the marshmallows, but if you do, tell me how it turns out.)

1st Layer
2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted margarine
3 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 400. Line the bottom of a 9x13x2 inch pan with the pretzels, and pour a mixture of the sugar and margarine over the top. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove to cool.

2nd Layer
1 8oz package Cream Cheese
2 cups whipped topping
1/2 C. confectioner's sugar- more or less to taste
marshmallows (optional)

Beat sugar into cheese, fold in whipped topping and marshmallows. Spread over cooled pretzels.

3rd Layer
1 6oz package strawberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 10oz box frozen strawberries, thawed

Mix gelatin, boiling water, and strawberries and set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese layer, chill thoroughly.

Fun Cranberry Sauce

Along with the cranberry sauce out of a can, I take empty tin cans and pour different flavors of jello in those to set. I slide them out of the can just like cranberry sauce and serve them all together. It looks really neat when you do it.

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maleficent

Time to dig out this thread -- let's get some added to it.... I get dessert duty for Thanksgiving... since I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, I look for alternatives: This year, my trusty favorite is coming out:

Pumpkin Tiramisu

1 package authentic Italian ladyfingers (they're hard, not soft)
8 ounces mascarpone
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar (or to taste)
1 Tsp pure vanilla extract-- or orange extract
2 1/2 cups heavy cream, whipped and chilled
1/4 cup either: Frangelico liqueur or Kahula or some sweet liquor (OJ works for non alcohol version.

Arrange ladyfingers on the bottom of a 9x9 pan. Pour liqueur over ladyfingers.
Mix mascarpone with the pumpkin, spices, sugar and extract.
Fold in 1-1/2 cup of whipped cream.
Pour mixture over lady fingers.
Gently spread remaining whipped cream on top of mixture.
Sprinkle decoratively with additional cinnamon (or some crushed ginger snap cookies if you have them).
Cover and chill at least two hours or overnight.
(If using large trifle bowl, you can layer the ladyfingers and cream mixture: just make sure you sprinkle lady fingers with liquid--orange juice or liqueur--before covering with cream mixture).

(When I couldn't find the lady fingers, I have substituted Ginger Snap Cookies or those thin chocolate wafer cookies and done it in a trifle bowl, this is a super easy recipe todo, and is always a big hit)

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maleficent

One of my most favorite things of all time

Apple Crumble
6 apples
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
6 teaspoons butter

Crumble
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats

Peel and slice apples into greased baking dish (I don't always peel them).
Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over apples.
Dot with two teaspoons of the butter.
Blend the remaining four teaspoons of butter into brown sugar.
Mix and add flour and rolled oats.
Spoon mixture over apples.
Bake at 350%F. for 15mins.
Uncover and bake until crust is golden and apples are tender (approx. 30 minutes.)

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream-- or just as is...

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Blackthorn

Hey Mal...these two recipes look fabulous! Do you use Granny Smith's for this one?

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maleficent

I will use what ever apples look the best to me at the time.. I just like a firm apple-- usually a mixture of granny smith, braeburn, and gala...

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KMA-628

My wife makes the first recipe for me every year, a few times, around the holidays. It is my all-time favorite desert.

The pretzel part sounds strange, but it is actually really good. Also, this recipe gets the most raves from family and friends.

mtsgsd

Here's a recipie verbatum from a friend of mine. I make this one at Thanksgiving to rave reviews. The original is full of html tags, but since it seems to work this way, I won't change it.

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<P>I can give you approximates, but it is a recipie that I got from my grandmother which has been tweaked.....alot! I usually use pippen's, but any apple that is not very sweet will work.</P>
<P>3 lg. apples - peeled, cored, sliced 3 / 4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, minced 1/2 tsp allspice 2 tsp cinnamon 3 / 4 cup raw sugar (or split it btwn brown sugar & granulated sugar) 2 Tbsp AP flour 2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice</P>
<P>Deep dish pie crust (recipie I use is from foodtv.com - Sweet Dreams cherry pie recipie)</P>
<P>Put half of the apples in the pie crust. Toss the cranberries evenly on top. Sprinkle half of the remaining ingredients over apples and cranberries. Repeat minus cranberries. </P>
<P>Topping - 1 cup AP flour, 1/2 cup cold butter, 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar - cut butter into flour and sugar, spoon onto pie. </P>
<P>Bake in 400 degree oven for about an hour. Check topping at about 50 minutes, and if it is getting dark, cover with aluminum foil. Serve hot a la mode!</P>

sub zero

Candy tamales man...if you don't know what they are think capirutada...if you don't know what that is...bread...bananas...raisins cheese and whatever else you think might be good (sugar included)

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Mobo123

Mal, i have been racking my brain what dessert to serve besides the basic pumpkin pie. This is a winner. Thanks!!!!

mxyzptlk

Here's one from my college days:

Peel, core and cut 3 or 4 fresh pears. 1" chucks work well.

Simmer them in dark rum until transparent and remove pears.

Add maple syrup and cook on medium/high until syrupy. Sometimes I add brown sugar for taste or to thicken. As it starts to thicken, add about 1/2 cup of zante currents (little black raisins available at store). Reduce to a simmer and return pears to mixture until they are warm.

Serve over the best vanilla ice cream you can find. Terrific.

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maleficent

YAY! It's one of my favorites cuz it's easy, adaptable, you can add nuts, raisins, pears anything you want to it -- and it tastes pretty yummy. (I've also travelled with it -- and just do the final cooking when it arrives at it's destination)

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robodog

Ok that is just awsome! Tiramisu and coffee is the worlds most perfect desert and this looks like a VERY cool holiday twist on the classic. I think I might bring this to the family gathering this year =)

Mobo123

Maleficent, how many does that crumble recipe serve? We've got 17 people coming over. Also, would you recommend granny smith apples? thanks

maleficent

After a large thanksgiving feast, it serves 4 -6 if serving ice cream with it.... (and more than one dessert) Granny Smith work great-- or any firm type apple. The recipe easily doubles or triples (figure one to 1 1/2 apples per person.) just make sure that whatever you cook them, the pan isn't super deep-- so all the apples cook evenly.

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Mobo123

mal, your dessert was a big hit. thansk for the recipe. Only problem is that there are no leftovers.