My Thanksgiving Day Favourites

Yeah I know, I’m not in the US anymore ToTo, but I can still celebrate giving thanks with my UK family and friends. Whilst Thanksgiving does give it’s heritage to both Canada on it’s Thanksgiving day and American on this Thursday there is nothing stopping us from giving thanks for everything in our lives with our families. What is a better way to spend time with family than making a huge meal together, sitting around the table sharing and making memories.

For me, Thanksgiving is even bigger than Christmas and normally I’m back in America surrounded by my whole family enjoying their company, a massive meal and fellowship with our friends.

This year I’m home in the UK making new traditions by celebrating Thanksgiving at work – watch out guys I’m bringing in Pumpkin Pie – and making all my friends and neighbours fat with my homemade American treats. Why not try a few of these this weekend? Give thanks for your family, you lives and your loved ones.

Bourbon and Sweet Potato Casserole

Pecans, you just can’t go wrong with pecans. Pecans cooked with bacon – shut the front door – amazing.  This isn’t just another sweet potato pie or sweet potato casserole, it’s the culmination of candied bacon, pecans, bourbon and sweet potatoes. This casserole is sweet and savoury perfection. If you want to impress dinner guests with something they’ve probably never had before head over to Half Baked Harvest for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

This is one of my favourite Thanksgiving day dishes. I really don’t know why I don’t make it the rest of the year, seems a bit sacrilege maybe?! The green bean casserole has been a Thanksgiving staple for as long as I can remember. I do have a few changes from this recipe by Center Cut Cook that I make to my own, but always stick with the basics. French cut green beans, cream of mushroom soup, cheese and french fried onions. As long as you have these things you can’t go wrong. My green bean casserole involves shredded cheddar cheese and fresh mushrooms instead of parmesan. It’s just a personal choice though as I’m not a major fan of parmesan!

Brown Sugared Carrots

If your kids don’t like vegetables this dish may just change their mind. I call them candied carrots, Martha Stewart calls them brown sugared carrots. Regardless of the name, they are absolutely delightful. In fact, they could probably be included in the dessert category. They are tender and sweet and delicious. If you can talk your kid into taking one smidgen of a bite, they will eat the whole plate. I’d even put a bet on it.

 Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Why does red velvet anything taste better than normal chocolate? It must be some sort of psychological change that takes place when we see red coloured sweets. We’re like a bull after the matador with red chocolate. The red velvet cheesecake brownies from Sally’s Baking Addiction will definitely have your guests running to the kitchen, and you’ll definitely be fighting them off to keep them from disappearing before dinner!

These are fairly easy to make and include handy metric measurements of most of the ingredients. If you don’t like to add artificial colouring to your foods I can promise they will taste exactly the same way if you don’t add the food colouring. They just won’t have that amazing vibrant red hue.

Pumpkin Cannoli

Cannoli and pumpkin – culinary matrimony. I know, you’re probably thinking ‘Ok Kat, enough with the pumpkin already’ but you’ll have to forgive me and deal with my pumpkin indulgence just a few weeks longer.

This cannoli recipe from Roxana’s Home Baking is pure heaven. Ever since I visited Rome during Easter last year and tasted fresh cannolis at La Cannoleria Siciliana I’ve been jonesing for some homemade ones. This recipe gives you all the delicious notes of pumpkin and spice with the same sweetness and texture of a traditional cannoli. I absolutely love them. They are perfect the Thanksgiving table or giving for homemade Christmas gifts.

Egg Nog

I couldn’t finish my blog for Thanksgiving off with anything other than a beautiful egg nog recipe. This recipe from Epicurean Mom is cooked and can be made with or without alcohol. Egg nog is one of my favourite treats during the winter, despite the exorbitant amount of calories. Want to make a twist on this? Substitute the one cup of rum for one cup of espresso. Voila! Egg nog lattes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when I tell you they are extremely addictive.

Bring a little bit of giving thanks into your home. It doesn’t have to be a holiday but just a reason to remember your loved ones, the reasons you are grateful and to tell others you’re grateful for all they do.