Desserts, Wine, and Dining Out

Desserts, Wine, and Dining Out

Is it really Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie? I know from past experience if you don’t have pumpkin pie there will be at least one person who feels they’ve been cheated. One year I made the grave mistake of baking a pecan and apple pie and left out the pumpkin altogether as I’m not a huge fan. The person I disappointed the most was the one whom I cared about pleasing the most, my dad.  My dad is without question the cheeriest, happiest, individual I’ve ever met.  He literally starts to hum when he surveys the table and begins to fill his plate at mealtime.  When dessert was being served that year and we didn’t have pumpkin pie, the look of disappointment on his face was heartbreaking.  He smiled and assured me it was fine, and dove into the apple and pecan pies with gusto.  Not only does he actually love pumpkin pie but, I think that for him this dessert embodies the spirit and tradition of Thanksgiving, in much the same
way as does the turkey.  I imagine there are many people who feel the same.  Obviously, that was the last time pumpkin pie was omitted from our menu!

So, if pumpkin pie is a must have on your table this year here are a few suggestions:

1.       One word….COSTCO. They make a great pumpkin pie, with a good crust, big enough to serve 12-15 and it costs $4.99. Deal city. They also do a lovely pecan pie, which makes the dessert portion of your dinner super cinchy. All you need to do is whip some cream, (please use real whipping cream, it makes all the difference.)

2.       If you’re tired of plain pumpkin pie, gussy it up and top with a mixture of chopped pecans, brown sugar and butter. It gives the pie a beautiful and delicious nutty crunch.

3.       Go ahead Martha Stewart, make your own from scratch.  I’ve never done the thing with a fresh pumpkin, but if you have the time and inclination go for it!

Below is a recipe for a delicious Pecan Pie, it uses real maple syrup instead of corn syrup and it’s super fast and easy to make:

Maple - Pecan Pie

Filling:

•1 cup pure maple syrup

•3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

•3 large eggs

•1/4 cup sugar

•3 tablespoons butter, melted

•1 tablespoon all purpose flour

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•1 9-inch frozen deep-dish pie crust (I like to make my own crust, the effort and time is well worth it)

•1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk first 7 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Place unbaked crust on baking sheet.

 Spread nuts over crust. Pour filling over. Bake until filling is set and slightly puffed, about 1 hour. Transfer pie to rack and cool completely.

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What wine will you be serving? Or are you invited to the home of friends or family and bringing wine?  Well there are plenty of wonderful options that won’t break the bank. We like to start with a sparkling wine while enjoying appetizers and putting the finishing touches on dinner.  We love either an Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava. They are fantastic value wines, light, delicious, and priced from $10 - $20. If you haven’t had the pleasure, do yourself a favor and try one this year, you won’t be disappointed.

For dinner we enjoy a variety of white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, or Viognier, and we also like to serve Pinot Noir, it is absolutely wonderful with turkey.  Gewürztraminers are always recommended for this time of year, but I’ve just never been real fond of them, a bit too spicy for my tastes.  I could go into a lot of detail here but to keep it simple here are a few basic tips: You can’t go wrong with a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, the Riesling from locally produced Infinite Monkey Theorem is killer, and there are great Pinot Noirs under $25. For more info check this out: http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Best_Pinot_Noirs_Under_$25  

Dining Out this year?

To heck with all that cooking and cleaning you say? Happy to let someone else do all the dirty work? I can’t blame you, hours of grueling prep and cleaning in the kitchen is not everyone’s idea of a good time. (What is wrong with you??)

Here’s a link to area restaurants who will be serving Thanksgiving this year. There’s a wide range of menus and prices that’s sure to please everyone. Make a reservation, show up, eat a delicious meal then go home, hit the couch and watch football.  No leftovers but that’s the trade off right?

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=5&ref=551&pid=1

Regardless of whether you will be hosting the big event, attending as an honored guest, or dining out in a restaurant; Jack and I wish for you a Thanksgiving Holiday that is rich in friends, family, food, drink and joy.  This is the one holiday whose sole purpose is to celebrate life and share a meal with the ones we love.

And if you try any of the recipes from this blog, I would love to hear how they worked for you.  

Next time you hear from us we’ll be writing about everything Christmas, from cookies, fudge and other treats to the ultimate Christmas Dinner.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!