Post-Thanksgiving Bliss...

First of all let me say that both desserts were very well received! Yay! I'm always kind of nervous when I make a recipe for the first time. Phew!

Yesterday, I got up quite early with the rest of the hard-core shoppers to attack the Black Friday sales. I don't, however, wait in line for hours prior to a store opening. That's where I draw the line!! If I have to freeze my booty off for hours and hours, then it cannot be worth it. I got just a good of a deal...if not better...Wednesday evening on www.newegg.com. We bought a 46" Sharp LCD TV with all of the specifications we wanted for $699! Crazy deal!!! Take that, crazy Best Buy shoppers that were lined up all the way to the street yesterday morning!!!! AHHHH HAHAHAHA (evil laugh)!!!!!

One of these days I'll have my Xmas list in order and stop shopping for myself on Black Friday! I did purchase 3 Xmas presents yesterday! That's a record!

Happy Shopping!!!

My first attempt at a trifle...

PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD TRIFLE

Ingredients:

• 2 (14 oz.) pkg. gingerbread mix
• 1 (5.1 oz.) box cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (30 oz.) can pumpkin pie filling
• 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
• 1/3 tsp. ground cardamom or cinnamon
• 1 (12 oz.) container frozen whipped topping
• 1/2 cup gingersnaps, optional

Directions:

• Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar and cardamom into the pudding.
• Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl.
• Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread.
  
• Then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding and whipped topping.
• Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.
  

Pie...Pie...Pie!!

GLAZED APPLE CREAM PIE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. + 1 Tbsp. milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tart apples - peeled, cored & sliced
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 (15 oz.) pkg. pastry for double-crust pie.
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup cream & 1/4 cup butter. Heat until butter is melted, stirring occasionally.
   
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, 2 Tbsp. milk and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir into saucepan. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the apples, flour and cinnamon. Mix well.
4. Line a 9 inch pie pan with pie dough. Pour thickened filling mixture into pastry-lined pan. Arrange apple mixture evenly over filling. Top with second crust, seal and flute edges (or get fancy with a lattice top). Cut slits in top crust.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Cool for at least 30 min.
6. In a small bowl, combine confectioner's sugar, 1 Tbsp. milk, 1/4 tsp. milk, 1/4 tsp. vanilla, and 1 Tbsp. softened butter. Blend until smooth. Pour evenly over warm pie.
7. Refrigerate for AT LEAST 90 min before serving...longer is better.
   

Gobble Gobble!

I hope that everyone has amazing Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and tons of yummy things to eat...and drink. I'll be posting a couple of the things that I'm be chowing down on today in addition to the turkey.

Have a great one!

Apple Brownies...more like Apple-Cinnamon Cake

Courtesy of allrecipes.com...again.
Another yummy recipe I made last weekend. I was a bit busy!! Ha! Anyway, these yummy bars are nothing like brownies (except made in a brownie pan) and much more like yummy, moist apple cake. Let me know if you like them.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 medium apples - peeled, cored & thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.
• In a large bowel, beat together the melted butter, sugar and egg until fluffy. Fold in the apples and walnuts.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
  
• Stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just blended. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake 35 min...or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  

Crazy Good Pumpkin Bread!

So last weekend I tried out this new recipe. Crazy good...and super easy! Hope you like it!

DOWNEAST MAINE PUMPKIN BREAD (courtesy of allrecipes.com)
Ingredients:

• 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 7x13 inch loaf pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended.
• In a separate bowel, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sat, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.
• Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 50 min. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  

Halloween - Springfield, IL Trip

Halloween weekend Chad and I took a weekend trip up to Springfield, IL to take in a showing of Tap Dogs. Tap Dogs is a street-like tap dance production that Chad's brother, Ryan, participated in for about 10 years...and the reason that Ryan ended up in S. Africa. So, of course, I had to see it! One of the best things about it was that one of Ryan's friends, Sheldon, was playing the lead role. I first met Sheldon in S. Africa for Ryan's wedding and was excited to see him again!! The Tap Dogs rolled into Springfield on Saturday evening. We met up with Sheldon at a local sports bar and helped him ring in his 40th birthday. Happy Birthday, Sheldon! The show was Sunday afternoon, and it was amazing! Sheldon reserved great seats for us. Thanks again!


We also took in some sights around Springfield that weekend....the Dana-Thomas House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (pic below) and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. The museum was revamped in 2005 and is quite amazing now! Very interactive. The Dana-Thomas house is also quite unbelievable! Check it out if you get up that way! Have a horseshoe for me...D'Arcy's Pint was closed...the only downer of the entire weekend. Guess we'll have to make another trip...