“In My Kitchen” December 2023

The holiday season has officially started.  I can’t wait.  I have some grandiose ideas about gift making and giving this year.

For this month’s “In My Kitchen” (hosted by Sherry’s Pickings), I wanted to focus on our Thanksgiving.  It’s been a while since I hosted the Thanksgiving meal and it had been even long since I roasted a turkey.  All (mostly) turned out well.    We had my in-laws and my brother-in-law in attendance.  It was a great few days.  It’s always good to see them all and we had some laughs and made some memories.

I always use my mom’s recipe for pecan pie.  It’s a tradition.  But, a month ago, mom told me she made it without any corn syrup.  She was making it late one night and didn’t want to run to the store for it.   She made her own substitute.   I’m not sure what recipe she found but I found one here: Homemade Corn Syrup Substitute.

Seriously.  Who ever uses an entire bottle of corn syrup anyway.  This recipe was fast and worked perfectly in the pie.  In fact, I think the texture of the finished pie was better than I have ever made.   I will never buy corn syrup again.  Trust me and try this trick.

I tried some new recipes like a green bean casserole with goat chees.   You can find the original recipe here.    I halved the recipe (using only one pound of green beans) and left out the almonds.  I placed roasted red peppers along the top.  When I make this again, I will add more smoked paprika though.  

I also roasted some Brussels sprouts along with quartered baby Portobello mushrooms.  When they came out of the oven, I drizzled them with balsamic.   I love this recipe, too, and will make it again.

Other standard favorites were rosemary smashed sweet potatoes and Riesling gravy.  I used my garlic confit recipe to rub under the turkey skin, using the remaining olive oil to rub on top of the skin.

I was just commenting that it is impossible to get good blog-worthy photos when you’re cooking for a holiday feast.   Sorry, but no pics of the Brussels sprouts or the turkey or the sweet potatoes or the gravy.  Just trust me that they were delicious.

I also made one of the best apple pies ever (at least according to my brother-in-law).  You can read about that Sour Cream Apple Pie with Walnut Streusel here.  

My sister-in-law who was not able to make the trip sent a huge surprise for us to try.    Unfortunately, the package didn’t get to our house until Friday but that was OK.  We were about out of dessert by that time.  She shipped us a Piecaken.   

It’s a Frankenstein concoction of pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and spice cake all wrapped up in a weighty dessert.    I cannot imagine how this was dreamed up (but it’s kind of genius).

Insane and over the top.

For my curveball this month, I have to show you what my sister sent me for my birthday.

I have to say that when I unpacked it, I was thinking, “What?”

Then, she called to explain that it was a cactus planter.   (She knows how I love my cacti.)

I love it!

Please join in posting what’s new in your kitchen and link up to Sherry’s post.

Until January….