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Another Thanksgiving post - dessert
We are cooking dinner this year. It's just going to be my, my husband, and my MIL. There might be one or two other friends that join us, but it will likely just be the three of us.
So, we really only need one dessert. So, I need to choose wisely.
MIL can't eat nuts or seeds, so pecan pie is out, as is anything that uses nuts in the crust or topping. Berries, like cranberries, are also out for her, since they have tiny seeds in them.
My husband likes basic pumpkin pie, but the farther the pumpkin dessert gets from the basic, the more he will hate it. He also hates pumpkin-chocolate combos, and he really hates cheesecake (pumpkin and normal).
I'd like to do something interesting or try something new here, but I'm working with such strict parameters, that all I'm coming up with are basic pumpkin or apple pies.
Does anyone have any ideas for something festive and seasonal, but also meets these requirements?
Re: Another Thanksgiving post - dessert
How does your husband/MIL feel about rhubarb? It's not exactly in-season season, but you still should be able to get some good stuff in California even now...
Not to toot my own horn, but I make the best rhubarb pie EVER. If no one in your family is opposed, I'd make it.
I also have a yummy peach pie recipe, but it's really more of a summer recipe than a fall one.
Or Ina Garten's Outrageous brownies (sans nuts). MMM... maybe I'll make those for tomorrow...
zoe, have you ever made cheesecake at all? If not, I'd recommend this one:
3-Step Cheesecake
It's super easy, just make sure the cream cheese is room temperature soft before baking.
I think cheesecakes are easy, but if you've never made one at all, I wouldn't recommend making your own crust and trying to use a springform pan.
OMFG. I effing love these brownies. As someone who does not particularly care for chocolate, I cannot understand why. But I love them. Love.
I usually buy one of those pre-made Nilla Wafer crusts (like graham cracker, but made with Nilla Wafers instead). The taste is milder and I think it compliments the cheesecake a little better. I've also done the chocolate graham cracker crusts and they're pretty good.
I like mine plain, but it's great with cherry pie filling or some fresh strawberries or raspberries. Or chocolate fudge.
The cheesecake recipe I posted is the one I make like 90% of the time when I make cheesecake. I usually make plain cheesecake anyway, and I honestly don't think the fancier ones taste any better.
Bourbon pumpkin pie. ?It is the most awesomest ever. ?On epicurious of course. ?It's not so far from pumpkin pie it would scare your husband. ?It's basically ordinary pumpkin pie. ?But better. ?And it goes with candied ginger whip cream make it even more awesomer.
See how awesome it is? ?It makes me use bad grammar.?
In my world, Thanksgiving dinner requires pumpkin pie. I cannot imagine a Turkey dinner without it. It's just wrong. I know you want to make something different, but if I could only make one dessert for Thanksgiving, I'd choose pumpkin pie. I recently made one with a gingersnap crust that was very tasty. You can also change it up a little by making a maple-pumpkin, rum-pumpkin, or bourbon-pumpkin variation.
If, for some reason, I was forbidden from making anything with pumpkin, and I also had the other limitations you listed, I would probably make a pear tart. It's seasonal and yummy, but a little different from the usual fare.
I looooooove anything with ginger. Sibil, I'll definitely look up that pie with the candied ginger whipped cream. Yum.
gtown - is the gingersnap crust in your blog? That sounds yummy.
Not yet, but I'll try to post it this weekend. I modified a graham cracker crust and substituted gingersnaps, and it worked out really well. I used Whole Foods 365 gingersnaps, which have a nice kick.
This Spiced Apple Pie is to die for... it has Allspice, Mace, and Cloves, in addition to the more traditional Cinnamon and Nutmeg. It's a little different (and much better!) than a traditional apple pie.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spiced-Apple-Pie-817
I make the original Joy of Cooking crust, and I do an oatmeal crumb topping instead of a pie crust topping. But either way, the filling recipe is fantastic.
I'm sorry your husband hates cheesecake. That's just sad!
Zoe and ESF --
I made my first cheesecake in February. I used this recipe:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Lemon-Ginger-Cheesecake-108255
Lemon Ginger Cheesecake. Three kinds of ginger -- gingersnaps, fresh ginger, and crystallized ginger. SO GOOD.
zoe, don't be intimidated by cheesecake. It's not hard at all. This was my first one, and it turned out perfectly. Definitely do a water bath and use a springform pan.
sweet potato pie -- hands down best thanksgiving dessert. i wish i had a recipe, but my mother makes it and i've never seen the woman use a measuring cup. sorry, i'm no help there.
or what about bread pudding with a bourbon sauce? or a chocolate mouse pie? regular old apple pie is always fantastic. and patriotic!
I'm totally bookmarking this for my next occasion when DH's tastebuds will not come into play. If I could bathe in ginger, I would. I LOVE the stuff.
The crystallized ginger is amazing. I got a huge thing of it at Giant, of all places, for $2.50!! I expected it to be $9 or something ludicrous.
This recipe really hooks you up for ginger-related snacking. Leftover gingersnaps (and gtown, i agree, WF365 ones are da bomb) and leftover crystallized ginger = many excuses to go to the kitchen ;-)
Really? At Giant? Who knew? I buy bags of it at Trader Joes from time to time. mmmm.
I wish I liked sweet potato pie, but I just don't. I do like bread pudding though...that is another good idea, gypsy.
Would you consider making an apple pie? You can't go wrong there. I know you said only one dessert, but maybe you could do an apple pie and a pumpkin cheesecake.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/philadelphia-3-step-pumpkin-cheesecake-51376.aspx
Ooh, look what I found!
7 twists on pumpkin pie.
http://www.yumsugar.com/slideshow/2498927
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