Corn Pudding

This was one of the first dishes I made before I considered myself "a cook" and took to a gathering. Before I got married and moved into a home of my own, I didn't do much cooking and had no real interest in learning to cook.  I got married and realized I had to feed myself and my husband so I started cooking a little and realized I really enjoyed it and I wasn't terrible at it either.  The first time I made this I was still in college and going to my boyfriend's family Thanksgiving. It just so happens I married that boyfriend; I guess he liked my corn pudding :)

 

This recipe never fails and everyone always loves it.  In fact, I rarely have leftovers to take home if I've taken this dish to a pot-luck style dinner. Like many of my other recipes, it's super easy and doesn't require any special cooking technique.  I obtained this recipe from my mother but I'm not sure where the original recipe originated from.

Next time you're asked to bring a side dish, make this corn pudding.  I guarantee at least two people will ask for the recipe. And is there anything better than having someone ask for your recipe?  In my book, that's the ultimate compliment!

Corn Pudding
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 can cream corn
1 can corn, drained
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 (16 oz) container sour cream
1 stick butter, melted
2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together.

Pour into a 9x9 prepared baking dish (or larger baking dish).

Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.

Serve warm.

Cranberry Sauce

I'd never had homemade cranberry sauce until this Thanksgiving.  Call me crazy, but I really enjoy the canned stuff.  In fact, it's one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I really love spreading some canned cranberry sauce over cold turkey... YUM!

Once I saw this post my heart was set on making my own cranberry sauce and forgoing the canned stuff.  I'm so glad I made this choice.  I don't know why but I had this misconception that making cranberry sauce would be difficult...WRONG! It was super easy and made my kitchen smell AMAZING!!! Cranberries, orange, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. I need a candle that smelled like this sauce because it was intoxicating and I really enjoyed this dish.

I still have some leftovers in my fridge, but I don't expect them to be there much longer because I have full intent on eating it all up myself. 

Cranberry Sauce
source: The Pastry Affair
Printable Recipe

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients:

4 cups (12 oz) fresh cranberries
1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
zest of 1 orange

Directions:

In a large saucepan, stir cranberries, orange juice, and sugar together.

Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.

Turn heat down and let simmer until cranberries burst and sauce thickens, 10-12 minutes.

Sauce will continue to thicken while cooling. 

Stir in cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and orange zest.

Serve warm.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Life is so funny, or maybe irritating is a better word. Do you feel this way? I just wrote about how I never leave dirty dishes in my sink in this post, but I lied...I had to leave dirty dishes in my sink last week. I made these marshmallows for my Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole and since it was 10pm I let the dishes soak with the intention of cleaning them in the morning. Well, I got up and no more had I let Greta out and was starting on those dishes when I heard my cell phone ring. I got called into work early and needed to be there in 20 minutes, so the dishes had to wait.

On my drive to work, my skin was crawling and all I could think about were those dang dishes and how much I was going to hate walking in the door from work and having them waiting there.  Much to my surprise, when I came home from work the dishes were done! SAY WHAT!!!???? At first I thought Steve had done them, since it was a rainy day he didn't go into work until later in the morning. Nope, wrong! It was my Mommy! She had to pick up my Thanksgiving turkey for me and when she dropped it off she let Greta out AND washed my sink full of dirty dishes! Have I told you how much I love my mom? She's truly the best.  Made my long crappy day at work fade away...

Instead of doing dishes I made this pie! Steve doesn't like pumpkin so I made chocolate pecan pie and blackberry cobbler for Thanksgiving dessert. I loved this pie and will definitely be making it again, probably for Christmas. 

 

Chocolate Pecan Pie
Source: The Kitchen Sink
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

4 ounces semisweet chocolate
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups agave nectar (or honey)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pie crust (homemade or store bought)
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water, melt chocolate.  Make sure you stir chocolate occasionally, until smooth.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together (do not whisk) eggs, agave nectar (or honey), sugar, vanilla, and salt.

Stirring constantly, gradually add melted chocolate then pour filling into prepared crust.

Place pie plate on a baking sheet and cover the top of the pie with pecans.

Bake just until set (filling should jiggle slightly when pie plate is tapped), 50-60 minutes.  Let pie cool completely on wire rack (4 hours or overnight) before serving.

 Make sure to keep a few pecans aside so you can munch on them while the pie's baking :)

What was your favorite Thanksgiving dessert this year?