Happy Thanksgiving
Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving I thought I would two of my favorite recipes that are made in my family for our Thanksgiving table. The first one has been a part of our Thanksgiving spread for as long as I can remember. It’s always made by my Grandma on my Dad’s side. I have no idea where she got it from or if she made it up I’ve never seen anyone else make it, so maybe it’s an original? Regardless of where it came from though it’s delicious!
Grandma’s Red Hot Cinnamon Apples
Ingredients
McIntosh Apples
3 others (whatever you prefer)
1/2 cup Cinnamon Red Hots
Peel and remove the core from apples.
Directions
Add to pot with 1 inch water, bring water to boil then turn temp down to a low simmer and cover.
Simmer 15-20 min till apples cook down.
Dump red hots in and stir while melting.
Mash with Potato masher.
Add sugar to taste
Optional 1 tsp vanilla
This 2nd recipe is one that was introduced to me a few years ago by my Husband’s step-mom when we spent Thanksgiving with them in North Carolina. I’ve never been a big fan of Pecan Pie but she made this one that has a twist and it was delicious. It’s probably the only way I will eat Pecan Pie from now on. Again I’m not sure where she got this recipe from but I’ve seen numerous variations online so I’m sure it’s not her original recipe.
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Ingredients
1 (9 inch) Pie Shell
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Preheat over to 325 degrees
In a small pan combine sugar, corn syrup, and butter.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Let mixture cool slightly.
In large bowl combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Slowly pour in sugar mixture, whisk constantly.
Stir in chocolate chips and pecans, mix well. Pour mixture into pie shell.
Bake for 50-55 min, or until set and golden.
Can be served warm or chilled.
This one is so so so good! I’ve found a few tips though from making it a few times. When it says “cool slightly” it actually means cool completely. I didn’t let it cool enough the first time I made the recipe and when I mixed in the chocolate chips they melted immediately and that messed up the texture of the pie and made it taste like only a chocolate pie. You want the chips to stay whole until you put it in the over to bake. I also use Dark chocolate chips because I like Dark better than Milk chocolate. Either one it good I’m sure but my opinion is that dark chocolate makes everything better!
If you try either one let me know what you think. Also let me know if you have any recipes that are a tradition in your family. I always love finding new recipes to add to my growing collection in my recipe box.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow and enjoy your families. I’m thankful for so many things this year but having my family close by to spend holidays with is probably one of the biggest. I’m also thankful for our health and the blessing we’ve had this year moving to our new house in a great neighborhood. We’ve enjoyed making it a home.