1. I hope everybody had a really good thanksgiving. No w i know its not December yet so where not going to rush Christmas recipes just yet but here is a simple cross between both months.

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

• 
  

• 
  

  Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and brandy. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in the white chocolate chips and cranberries. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. For best results, take them out while they are still doughy. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

"Thanks to http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Chocolate-and-Cranberry-Cookies/Detail.aspx"

Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcakes With Crumb Topping

Now where 4 days until turkey day and lets make some yummy  desserts!

Sweet Potato Casserole Cupcakes With Crumb Topping

• Makes 24 cupcakes
• 3 C flour
• 2 t cinnamon
• 2 t baking soda
• 3 C sugar
• 1 1/2 C pureed sweet potatoes (I used the kind from the can. Try to get the kind without corn syrup if you can. They have a really good one at Trader Joe's.)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 C vegetable oil
• 1 C apple cider
• Unbaked crumb topping (1/2 C butter, 1 C flour, and 1 C brown sugar mixed by hand until crumbly) 
• Whisk together flour, cinnamon, and baking soda.
• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, sweet potatoes, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
• Mix in the oil and apple cider.
• Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
• Fill cupcake liners halfway.
• Add a thin layer of the unbaked crumb topping on top of the batter.
• Top off each cupcake with batter until 3/4 full.
• Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes.

"Thanks to http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-cupcakes-sweet-potato.html "

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place in oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

"Thanks to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe/index.html"

Perfect Turkey

When we get close to thanks giving we never know how to make our turkeys...but lets try something simple

Perfect Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 2 cups kosher salt
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 large onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 
  
• Directions

1. Rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. Place the bird in a large stock pot, and cover with cold water. Place in the refrigerator, and allow the turkey to soak in the salt and water mixture 12 hours, or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey, and discard the brine mixture.
3. Brush the turkey with 1/2 the melted butter. Place breast side down on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 the celery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. Scatter the remaining vegetables and thyme around the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the white wine.
4. Roast uncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Carefully turn the turkey breast side up about 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. Allow the bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.

  

From our last blog we have two Thanksgiving holiday dishes down....Check back for more..

- Bakin' Blogster

"thanks to http://allrecipes.com/recipe/perfect-turkey/detail.aspx"

Now lets start with an interesting treat......

"Applesauce Salad"

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup cinnamon red hot candies
• 1 (6 ounce) package cherry flavored gelatin mix
• 2 cups applesauce

Directions

1. Bring the water to a boil. Dissolve the cinnamon red hot candies in the boiling water. Mix in and dissolve the cherry flavored gelatin. Transfer to a medium bowl. Mix in the applesauce. Chill in the refrigerator 4 hours, or until firmly gelled.

What a great desert for any dinner during the month of November. Enjoy and take a load off your feet while you can...Where almost at crunch time..... 18 days......

-Bakin' Blogster!

Thanksgiving

So..... Now where in November THANKSGIVING will be here soon. Everybody has there traditions every year but some never know what to cook. Last month was so much fun with the SPOOKY Halloween recipes. Now this month is going to be full of Thanksgiving Tips and secrets to a successful Thanksgiving. Keep you eyes open for some yummy recipes. Now the countdown begins .....   18 days until Thanksgiving!

- Bakin' Blogster