Fall Party Treats ~ Wow Your Family This Thanksgiving
Not Only Yummy, But Pretty And Festive As Well!
Ahhhh, Thanksgiving, probably my favorite holiday simply because it involves a family get together, without all of the pressure that is present at Christmas time, or with other holidays! The day is mostly for being together, and for eating and sharing GOOD food ~ as well as for being THANKFUL for all of the blessings in our lives. What a great holiday!
And if you're like me, you might even have some FUNNY memories from Thanksgiving's past, like the turkey "neck" and package that was left INSIDE the turkey that one year... you know who you are (winking!!) And one of my favorite memories was being at the "kids" table as a kid, and not being expected to act grownup, we were always able to really BE kids.
Not only that, but adults who never grew up either used to get a kick out of entertaining us! Like the Great Uncle who was OLD enough to know better who took out his false teeth and clicked them together to make us laugh... he had to be close to 90 years old, but alas, he never "grew up." I'm thankful for the little memorable moments like that!
Here are a couple of GOOD recipes for treats that can be eaten any time of the day, especially while that turkey is busy cooking! Keep your kids of all ages satisfied with these. And they can be decorated any way you like, so they can be very pretty, as well as tasty!
PECAN POPCORN BARS
You will need the following:
Nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups popped popcorn
Candy Corn if desired for decoration, as well as colored icing in a piping tube, as many colors as you would like to use.
Spray the bottom of a 9 inch or 8 inch square baking pan heavily with cooking spray. Sprinkle the bottom evenly with pecan pieces, set aside.
In a large cooking pan, bring the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter or margarine, and pumpkin pie spice to a boil; stir in the vanilla. Add the popcorn and toss with a large spoon until well coated. Press this mixture firmly into the prepared pan, using the spoons to avoid burning your hands. Let stand 15 minutes to cool slightly.
Place your serving platter or plate upside down over the top of the pan, then invert, allowing the mixture to fall onto the platter. Cut into squares, or shape into balls if desired,and cool before decorating each bar using a combination of candy corn, if desired, and piping icing. Be creative, let your imagination run wild! This recipe can be doubled.
One recipe will make about 20 squares, maybe less if you use an 8 inch pan.
MINI PUMPKIN CHEESECAKES
These are not only fun to make, but fun to eat as well, and not as filling as a big slice of cheesecake would be, leaving room for all of the other Thanksgiving goodies to come later!
A Scrumptious Recipe That Is So Easy To Make ~ It Gives You More Time To Enjoy The Day!
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
You will need:
12 gingersnaps
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners, lay one gingersnap in the bottom of each cup, flat side down. In a large bowl, blend cream cheese, eggs, sugar, pumpkin, flour, nutmeg and cinnamon well. Fill each cup 1/2 full and bake for one hour. (Note ~ these little cheesecakes will rise, and then fall to 1/2 size.) Serve with small dollops of whipped cream, and maybe a light sprinkle of either nutmeg or cinnamon for decoration. Recipe can be doubled.
Have a wonderful, enjoyable Thanksgiving Day celebration. It truly is a day to be thankful for all of the bounty and the blessings in our lives.
