Traditions

I love characters who cook and nearly all of mine do—even some of the men. Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta character always fascinated me with her cooking. This Italian woman who could so easily whip up the most scrumptious sounding food after a long day at the morgue. Gotta love it! So I always make sure my characters cook, even if it’s only Tuna Noodle Casserole!

Since Thanksgiving is coming up and since I have a new release on Monday that, funny enough, ends around Thanksgiving I thought I’d share some food…and some traditions and hopefully ya’ll will too. I’ll also be giving away a couple of copies of Once in a Blue Moon—as long as you don’t mind not getting your prize until tomorrow.

One tradition I don't miss is my grandmother's Creamed Onions--Yuck! But when I was a little girl, Thanksgiving was a really big deal! My mom always did Thanksgiving and then my aunt would do Christmas. We would spend the days leading up to it polishing all the brass until it gleamed – including the flatware *sigh* and I got to set the table with her good china and all the glasses and stuff.

Mom was organized, Mom was a planner. Mom was up at 5:00 AM stuffing the turkey. We lost Mom four years ago but don’t worry. Dad found a wonderful woman who came with her own traditions. The one thing I miss, besides polishing the brass with Mom, is her Sweet Potato Casserole. Besides the extra yummy crust, this comes with NO marshmallows—which I’ve never liked.

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes

• Topping
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
PREPARATION:
Beat eggs, granulated sugar, and 3/4 cup butter. Add milk and vanilla. Combine with the mashed sweet potatoes; spoon into a greased 2-quart casserole. Combine brown sugar, flour, 2 tablespoons softened butter, and pecans, mixing until crumbly; sprinkle over sweet potatoes.
Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Now Once in a Blue Moon actually takes place over about a six month period, wrapping up shortly after Thanksgiving. Holidays are a really big deal for my heroine, too, who up until her marriage, spends them with her sister, her best friend and her best friend’s kids. And every year Betti makes Pumpkin Cheesecake, which actually, is my own little Thanksgiving tradition. So here you go. The recipe for the Cheesecakes that Betti makes for her first Boudreaux Thanksgiving.


INGREDIENTS:
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 prepared 8 inch pastry shells
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Beat together the cream cheese and the sugar, add the pumpkin and the spices. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add salt. Beat until creamy. Pour the batter evenly into the two pastry shells.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until the knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool then top with whipped topping, if desired.

I’m off to see Harry Potter, but ya’ll feel free to jump in here and share traditions and favorite (or least favorite) foods. I’ll check in when I get back!