Sunday, November 20, 2005

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!

35 Comments:

Blogger Shara Lanel said...

Hi CeCe!
The recipes look yummy--I'm going to have to copy them down.
Hope you have a fun day--
Shara

10:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sweet potato casserole. Yummy.

And I agree, creamed onions sounds yucky - and I love onions.

Rae Morgan

10:47 AM  
Blogger Dee S Knight and Anne Krist said...

LOL! Creamed onions ain't bad, but y'all, sweet potato casserole is the BEST thing this side of sex and heaven!!

Dee

10:59 AM  
Blogger Estella said...

Pumpkin cheesecake is also a tradition in my family, at least since my children have been grown.
My birthday falls close to or on Thanksgiving and pumpkin cheesecake is my birthday "cake". Yum!!
Creamed onions sound really yukky.

12:19 PM  
Blogger robynl said...

characters who cook is great but even better would be if my dh would cook;
he doesn't do a blessed thing. On the other hand the kitchen would be a mess perhaps if he ever ventured in there to try his hand at something. LOL

The sweet potato thing was done by Mom also; we lost her to breat cancer 2 yrs. 3 mons. ago. and Dad just passed away 2 months ago. Hopefully we girls will keep the traditions going.

12:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gawd--and I came in here HUNGRY!!!

I am printing these recipes as I speak, lol! Sounds absolutely YUMMY, Cece--and congrats on the new release.

(and what's better than food plus sex??!)

1:55 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Shara Harry Potter rocked!!!!! And the recipes ARE yummy!

2:50 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Dee you're right it IS the best thing this side of sex!!!!!

I love sauteed onions. I love purple onions in salad but I do not love creamed onions ;-)

2:56 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Paige that cran-grape and 7 Up sounds yummy!!! I'm with your hubby though no matter where we eat thanksgiving I alwasy cook a small one so we have leftovers ;-)

My grandfather (on mom's side) used to make turkey noodle soup after every Thanksgiving with the leftovers and the carcass. I don't do this every year but it's SOOOOOOOOO good!

2:58 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Estella what a great birthday cake! early Happy Birthday!

2:59 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Robyn Hugs!!!

ANd just think if the hubster did cook, you'd never hear the end of how hard it is and how much work he did and oh just EVERYTHING!!!! like we don't already know that, huh?

3:00 PM  
Blogger Tracy Sharp - Author of the Leah Ryan Series said...

Oh that cheesecake sounds friggin' awesome!! But I'd have to make it without the sugar. I'm sure it can be done. I wanna try it now.

Congrats on the new release Cece!!

3:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yummy!

There are certainly times when I hate being single. If I had a family maybeI'd cook more. Or they would!

3:34 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Sasha.........step mom's not cooking this year so no being single doesn't help much ;-)

4:00 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Trace I've never baked with Splenda but it might be worth a shot!

4:01 PM  
Blogger Denise McDonald said...

Thanks for the recipes! I am actually cooking the whole she-bang today - incase the mom-in-law makes lasagne or manicotti again like she did one year - the hubby complained for months. So now I always do the entire spread the weekend before. (Get's me major Brownie points! Now to figure out how to cash them in...)

Yeah on the book coming out tomorrow!

4:43 PM  
Blogger LadyVampire2u said...

Some awesome recipes. I will have to try these. As for traditions, well on Thanksgiving we of course always try have a meal with as much of the family around the table as can make it to the meeting spot, but we also leave food out for the animals and secretly bring cooked foods or pies to those without family or elderly. We stit the plates on the doorstep, ring the bell and run off. It makes you feel warm inside when you see the faces of the people when they recieve things unexpectedly. And since we are talking recipes on here also, here's a few we have made in our family for a while:

No Bake Preacher Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 cups quick cooking oats
½ cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring the sugar, cocoa, milk, butter, and salt to a rapid boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the quick cooking oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

or

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Ingredients


1 1/2 c Finely crushed chocolate
-wafer cookie crumbs
-(about 30 cookies)
1 c Sugar
1/4 c (1/8 lb.) melted butter
-or margarine
2 pk (8 oz. each) cream
-cheese or neufchatel;
-cut into chunks
1 c Regular or light sour cream
3 Large eggs
1 t Vanilla


Instructions

1. Mix crumbs, 2 T sugar, and butter; press firmly over bottom and 1/2-inch up sides of a 9-inch cheesecake pan with removable rim. Bake in a 350 degree oven until slightly darker color, about 8 minutes.

2. In a food processor or with a mixer, whirl or beat remaining sugar with cheese. Add cream, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. Pour into crust. Drop cookie dough in 2- tablespoon portions evenly over cake; push dough beneath surface.

3. Bake in 350 oven until cake jiggles only slightly in center when gently shaken, about 40 minutes. Spread topping over hot cake. Let cake cool, then chill until cold, at least 4 hours; serve or wrap airtight up to 2 days. Serves 12 to 16.

4. COOKIE DOUGH: In a bowl, beat to blend 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Stir in 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1 cup semisweet chocolate baking chips or chopped pieces.

5. TOPPING: Mix 1 c regular or light (reduced-fat) sour cream, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

6:11 PM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Sandy steak sounds really good and so does that soup!

dennie--cash in those brownie points on a vacation!

Ladyvampire ...Yummy cookies...great traditions and cheesecake......heaven!

7:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yummy recipies from everyone. No bakes are great.

We don't have many traditions around Thanksgiving except to get together for Turkey. There are certain people I'd rather have help me cook.

Jillian

9:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Cece

I finally made it and found you! Happy release day tomorrow! I can't wait.

Debbie E

10:10 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I love sweet potato casserole. My aunt always makes it. She didn't have a specific recipe for making it. I will use this recipe this Thanksgiving. Thanks.

10:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I copied about 4 recipes and they sound yummy and since I'm a terrible cook thanks - I need all the help I can get. My 13 year old daughter Candace just made 2 batches of Rice Krispie squares and the second batch went into cup cake pans - we'll see what she thinks of that in the morning packing her lunch for school.

Thanks again!

10:39 PM  
Blogger Jaynie said...

When I was a kid the tradition that stuck out most in my mind was leaving Santa a can of beer and a piece of Christmas cake - and I always left carrots for Rudolf.

I think I might have the kids leave something for Santa this year - carry on the tradition *g*

12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey,Cece!
Love the sweet potato casserole. We don't like marshmallows either. ;-)
Thanks for the recipe!
Jeanmarie

12:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Cece, The sweet potato casserole sounds yummy!! Have a good holiday.
Mary Ann

1:47 AM  
Blogger jennyowl said...

The most significant holiday tradition in my family is having steamboat for the annual reunion dinner. There's something very cosy about the whole family sitting around the happily bubbling steamboat, cooking our food. As the clock strikes twelve signaling the arrival of the new year, my parents would give us red packets containing a little money to represent good wishes for a bountiful new year.

2:08 AM  
Blogger jennyowl said...

Cece, which is your favourite Harry Potter movie so far? All the Harry Potter movies have outstanding moments and the special effects have improved with each new installment but Harry Potter 2 remains my favourite.

2:48 AM  
Blogger Meljprincess said...

Man, reading all the different recipes on different blogs is making me so hungry. I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

One of my favorite traditions is watching Christmas theme movies like A CHRISTMAS STORY or GRINCH or movies that come out around Thanksgiving like WIZARD OF OZ and eating "Peanut Blossoms". Peanut butter cookies with a Hershey kiss on top.

Cece, I love the cover of your book! Enjoy Harry.

8:17 AM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Jenny I agree lots of great recipes!

Hey Debbie!! Glad you made it! Lemme know how those rice crispie treats turned out. I'm not a bad cook--I just don't have time to cook. *sigh*

Amy glad I could help. ;-)

Kim I'm with you on the green bean casserole. It ranks down there with creamed onions.

Jaynie I just bought Christmas cards with a cat on the front contemplating drinking Santa's milk! I had to get it.

Hey Jeanmarie! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you like the recipe.

8:24 AM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Mary Ann enjoy!

Jenny...What a great New Years tradition! You know, I don't remember seeing the second movie. I really need to go back and watch it again, but I think the first is still my favorite!

Mel thanks! I love my cover too ;-) My favorite holiday movie is The Santa Clause (1 and 2!) and I really want to see Christmas with the Kranks (did I spell that right?).

8:27 AM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

Jaynie a couple of years ago they had cheese commericals for christmas where some kid would leave Santa cheese and just hit the motherload! LOL Needless to say my kids insisted on leaving Santa cheese that year!

8:42 AM  
Blogger Daisy Dexter Dobbs said...

Aagghh! My eyes, my eyes!

Cece, how could you do this to me? Here I am in the middle of my 5th week of Weight Watches and I see the post on your blog saying to pop over here for recipes and such. So, I thought, hey, how bad can they be, huh? Maybe Cece will be posting stuff like Tripe Soufflé, or Roasted Lung of Beef, or Stuffed Pork Pancreas, or Breaded Turkey Ass Nuggets (hmm…those might be tasty…), or…well, you get the idea. But NO. Instead I come here and have to be tortured with all these damned scrumptious recipes. Yours are bad enough, Cece, but then the commenters had to add even more! Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!

Sheesh, what is with you Silver Expression people? Have you no pity? No compassion? No sympathy for those of us on diets who are brimming with elation because on Thanksgiving we might allow ourselves to indulge in carrot sticks for dessert because their sugar content places them in the dieter’s sinful dessert category?

Okay. I’m going to take the high road and post one of my very own original recipes for dieters here. You’ll note there’s no butter or sugar added, and nothing is fried. There’s also no flour or bread. That means there are barely any calories, fat or carbs in this. It’s practically a no-guilt treat. Plus it’s highly medicinal and strongly therapeutic, too-because of all the antioxidants in the chocolate. Trust me, I know these things. I’m a veritable storehouse of nutritional knowledge. Here’s the recipe:

Daisy’s Holiday Soup and Sandwich Combo for Dieters

Ingredients:
2 Hershey bars
1 jar of thick, premium chocolate fudge sauce
1 Snickers bar, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 pkg. chocolate sprinkles
1 cup hot cocoa
1 bag M&Ms
Whipped cream

Sandwich: Spread bottoms of Hershey bars with ample dollops of fudge sauce. Layer Snickers slices on one Hershey bar and top with the other (fudge side against the Snickers). Carefully spread another layer on top of sandwich and then cover with half of the chocolate sprinkles.

Soup: Pour steaming hot cocoa into a bowl. Sprinkle M&M’s on top. Garnish with a dollop of fudge sauce, a spritz of whipped cream, and the rest of the chocolate sprinkles.

Hah! Take THAT you dastardly Silver Expressionists!

11:43 AM  
Blogger Amie Stuart said...

*howling*

Evil begets Evil Sweet Daisy!

11:58 AM  
Blogger Angela's Designs said...

Yum, yum.

12:31 PM  
Blogger Michelle Miles said...

Better late than never, eh? Our Thanksgiving tradition, these days, consist of going two places in one day. His mom's/my mom's. Growing up, aunts, uncles and cousins would come to Mom's and we'd stuff ourselves, watch the Cowboys, and have a rousing game of touch football in the front yard. I miss those days sometimes. They were so less hectic then.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

PS love the recipes. ;)

11:12 AM  

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