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Cool Thanksgiving Pies

Growing up in a small town on the Big Island of Hawaii, Thanksgiving dessert consisted of traditional fruit pies and little more. Which is not to say that I don’t love fresh fruit pies, but when I moved to the “mainland” in the late 1980s to attend college I was introduced to a whole new Thanksgiving dessert option: Ice cream pie. To this day I make sure that at least one frozen (or refrigerated) pie is featured on our Thanksgiving buffet. Decadent chilled pies are much cheaper to make than to buy. What’s more, they offer guests a chocolaty option … Continue reading →

Passing On the Pie: Other Pumpkin Desserts

For some, Thanksgiving is just not Thanksgiving without a traditional pumpkin pie. For others, the holiday is a great excuse to experiment with new pumpkin recipes. My family falls into an in-between category. We love pumpkin pie, but there are several of us who also enjoy sampling new pumpkin desserts. Over the years, the following pumpkin recipes have become welcome members at our Thanksgiving buffet: PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE 1 (18.25-ounce) package spice cake mix 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 3 eggs 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking … Continue reading →

Simple Thanksgiving Pies

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and while this year might not be your turn to cook the bird, there’s a good chance that you will be responsible for contributing at least one dish to the Turkey Day feast. If that’s the case, consider one (or all) of the following dessert recipes. They are easy as pie to make, but so incredibly delicious that your family and friends will never know that you didn’t slave away in the kitchen preparing them. PUMPKIN SUPREME PIE Ingredients for the Crust: 1/2 cup butter, melted 2 cups graham crackers (crushed) 1/4 cup sugar … Continue reading →

Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Other Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Feast

If you aren’t hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but you don’t want to show up to your loved one’s home empty handed, consider bringing along one of these fabulous fruit pies. They are the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving dessert table and will be warmly embraced by other guests who don’t particularly care for traditional pumpkin pie. EASY CARAMEL APPLE PIE Ingredients: 6 to 8 medium Granny Smith apples 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 tablespoon nutmeg 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 pre-made pie crust Pie crust scraps 1 jar caramel topping 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Directions: … Continue reading →

Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Dessert Table

Anyone who has hosted a few dozen guests on Thanksgiving knows that three or four traditional pumpkin pies is not going to cut it when it comes time for dessert. People have different tastes and not everyone enjoys pumpkin pie, regardless of its history with the holiday. If you are hosting a large group for Thanksgiving dinner it’s appropriate to offer a variety of different dessert options. This is especially critical if you are hosting a number of children. Most kids (my daughter not included) would much rather dine on a decadent chocolate treat than dig into a slice of … Continue reading →

Kicked Up Thanksgiving Pies

Kick up your Thanksgiving dessert table this year with these jazzed up pie recipes. It’s not hard to go beyond traditional pumpkin and apple pies by experimenting with additional ingredients. If you’re a bit apprehensive about breaking with tradition then consider the first recipe for Pumpkin Praline Pie. Your family members will still get their pumpkin fix, but the sweet and crunchy praline topping will provide added texture and flavor that ordinary pumpkin pie lacks. The second dessert option is for the chocoholics in your family. The recipe for Easy Chocolate Pudding Pie is so simple your kids could make … Continue reading →

What To Do With Half a Can of Pumpkin

Either the people at Libby’s pumpkin are not so truly bright or they’re very genius. I haven’t decided which yet. Maybe you can help me decide. Yesterday, I made several sweet potato and pumpkin pies and other various desserts. Our church has an annual Thanksgiving dessert where we all get together and eat pie, and for the last several years, I’ve made something. I generally don’t do pumpkin because as we’ve noted, I don’t like pumpkin pie. But this year, that’s what was requested, so that’s what I did. I didn’t make plain pumpkin pie but rather things like Spiced … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Cranberry Crunch Topping

If you want to make a plain old pumpkin pie. . .go check the back of a can of Libby’s canned pumpkin. I am a pumpkin pie bigot, I admit. But this particular pie was so good, I had to share it. It came to me via my e-mail from those lovely folks at the Food Network. . .and then I started playing with it. I know you really wouldn’t think that cranberry and pumpkin go together. . .but trust me. You want to try this pie. For the pastry, check out this blog on making a perfect pie crust. … Continue reading →

Abandon the Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

While I don’t like pumpkin pie. . .I do love pumpkin. I especially liked this dessert when I happened upon it because it’s easy. If your kids are begging to help you in the kitchen, this is the perfect opportunity for them to test out their cooking chops. This pie is pretty much mess up proof as it’s not your traditional cheesecake with the boiling bath and such. And it should be, it’s from my favorite magazine: Family Fun. You will need: 1 9-inch pre-made graham cracker crust 2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, at room temperature (Don’t skip making sure … Continue reading →

Variations on the Traditional Pumpkin Pie

I’ve really enjoyed reading Valorie’s “Abandon the Pumpkin Pie” series. But, unlike her I happen to love pumpkin pie. In fact, love may be an understatement. I could easily devour an entire pie smothered with whipped cream in a single sitting. Okay, maybe a single day. Regardless, my passion for all things pumpkin is well documented in my family. Which is why I am not surprised that my 3-year-old daughter has inherited my love for the orange fruit. Believe me; nothing makes restaurant patrons stop and stare more than the sight of my daughter attacking a slice of pumpkin pie. … Continue reading →