Cranberry Salad

DELICIOUS!!!!


This dish can be served mixed up in a serving bowl, as seen above, or in it's original shape (picture below).



I was extremely pleased with how this salad turned out for our Thanksgiving feast at work. I'm posting the recipe right away because several friends at work have requested the recipe.

Cranberry Salad

2 (3 oz.) boxes raspberry Jell-O
2 (16 oz.) cans whole-berry cranberry sauce
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
2 (16 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
1 & 1/2 c. pecans
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
dash ground cloves

1. Prepare gelatin according to package directions in a baking dish.

2. Stir cranberries, apples, oranges, pecans, cinnamon, and cloves into the gelatin mixture.

3. Refrigerate overnight or until firm.

*I adapted this recipe from one similar in Family Circle magazine March 2009.

Bran Muffins

Bran Muffins
by: Barbara Jackson & Jamie Wise

These turned out great! I love the texture! Don't leave out the pecans because I feel that is the key ingredient--oh SO GOOD! Thank you, Jamie and Barbara for sharing this delicious recipe!

Ingredients:
* half of a 20 oz. box Raisin Bran cereal
* 2 c. buttermilk
* 1 1/4 c. brown sugar
* 2 1/2 c. plain whole wheat flour
* 2 1/2 tsp. soda
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/2 c. cooking oil
* 2 large eggs
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. cloves
* 3/4 c. pecans
* 1 c. raisins

Directions:
* Combine the following: Sugar, oil, eggs – then the buttermilk. Next mix this mixture with all dry ingredients. Beat well with mixer. Add nuts and raisins. Spray muffin tin.
* Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on size of muffins.

*freeze well

Eggnog Cookies and Cupcakes

Eggnog Cookies and Cupcakes

Recipe found on www.babycenter.com "Cookies for Santa"



Ingredients
Cookies & Cupcakes:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I used ground cloves instead)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup eggnog
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg yolks

Icing:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons eggnog
Optional: 1 to 2 teaspoons of spiced rum or rum extract (I did not use.)

Preparations
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

2. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. Cream sugar and butter until light. Add eggnog, vanilla, and egg yolks; beat at medium speed with mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. (If consistency is hard to work with, cool dough first in refrigerator.) Bake 16 to 24 minutes or until edges start turning light brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. To prepare the icing, put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Stir in the remaining eggnog one tablespoon at a time (and the rum or rum extract, if opted for) until the desired consistency is reached. Spread onto cooled cookies and sprinkle tops very lightly -- adding too much will overpower the taste -- with nutmeg.

6. Let icing harden. Serve and enjoy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake
by: Paula Deen, 2007

I made this cheesecake this Thanksgiving for the second time! Last year in Macedonia was my first time making it and I was so pleased! It is incredibly delicious!! This is now a traditional recipe that I want to have every Thanksgiving on the menu.

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 (optional)
* 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 oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.