Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Try something new this holiday!

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.  Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture until just combined.  Do not over mix. Fold in chopped pecans. Spoon batter into lightly greased or lined muffin tin and fill to 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool in muffin tins for 5 minutes until removing to wire racks to cool completely.

For more simple and traditional recipes, check out our Thanksgiving recipes ebook.

Fancy Lattice Apple Pie

An oldie but a goodie!

Ingredients:
8 cups peeled and sliced granny smith apples (or other tart apples)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 375F. 
In a large bowl combine apple slices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Place mixture into pie crust. On a lightly floured surface roll remaining pastry dough and cut into strips. Place strips on top of apple pie making a crisscross pattern. Mix the egg yolk and water in a small bowl and lightly brush the top of the pie. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. Serve warm topped with custard or whipped cream.

For more simple, traditional recipes, check out our Thanksgiving recipes ebook.

Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

Everyone loves bread and this recipe really mixes it up!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cups brown sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup fresh or dried cranberries

Directions:
In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt.  Mix well.  In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs and oil.  Mix well.  Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture and stir well.  Fold in the cranberries.  Transfer mixture to two lightly greased loaf pans.  Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for approximately 45 to 55 minutes or until golden and baked through.  Cool for 5 minutes in pan before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

For more simple, traditional recipes, check out our Thanksgiving recipes ebook.

Thanksgiving Craft: Pilgrim Hat & Bonnet

Every Thanksgiving, moms and kids have a fun time creating Thanksgiving crafts, especially making Pilgrim hats. It also seems that every year, the traditional black hat with a belt buckle is ingenuously created to wear, hang as an ornament, or use as a centerpiece.

In researching favorite Thanksgiving crafts, there is one item that has rarely been mentioned – a Pilgrim’s Bonnet. While you may see plenty of assorted Pilgrim’s hats for men and boys, it’s time to share a few tips on how to make Pilgrim bonnets for women and girls.

If you are good at sewing, there are plenty of online sites where you can print out a pattern and make a lovely bonnet. If you would like to keep it simple, you can make a bonnet out of white paper. At your local office supply store, you will be able to locate 12×15 white paper. Lay it out on the table, and fold the back underneath about two inches and scotch tape the fold to the back of the paper. Take both corners of the top section and fold them down so they meet in the middle, then scotch tape both corners to the middle section. This is the basis of the hat. In order to wear it, fold it over your head or that of your daughter, and take a hole puncher and punch a hole at each bottom end. Take two pieces of thin white ribbon and put each one through the hole, knotting it from the inside. Now you can take each piece of ribbon that has been secured in place and tie it around the chin.  Voila! 

There are some wonderful traditional Pilgrim hats which can be made as centerpieces. One example is made using black felt material which lines a flower pot. Then a beautiful large buckled strap is placed around the middle of the pot. What is so unique about this piece is the black felt is draped to lie flat, so that when set on a table, it makes a lovely centerpiece.

There are so many ways in which you can use Thanksgiving crafts to make Pilgrim hats. Be sure to include bonnets as well. Whether you make them to wear, or have the kids cut and paste to hang them proudly in their room or the kitchen. Either way, it is not only fun, but you can also start a new tradition by having the entire family wear hats and bonnets this Thanksgiving.

For more craft ideas, visit out Thanksgiving crafts ebook.

How To Cook The Perfect Turkey

The turkey is the central element of any good Thanksgiving meal. An otherwise perfect meal can be ruined by a dry, overcooked turkey. Since this isn’t something we cook on a weekly basis, it’s not easy to pull off the perfect turkey…unless you follow these tips and the recipe below.

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Cornbread Stuffing

This is one of those dishes that is more likely served in the South, but there is always room for more food at the table! Thanksgiving is a great time to try new recipes and get everyone involved in the cooking. This cornbread stuffing is a terrific twist on an old favorite.

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Thanksgiving Crafts to Do With Kids

Spending time creating Thanksgiving crafts with your kids can turn a holiday that isn’t quite as exciting as getting Halloween candy or Christmas gifts into a fun kid’s day! Just a few simple activities can really help bring family happily together at a time when stress levels are at their peak.

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Traditional Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing & Homemade Gravy

This is the whole turkey dinner - right here in one place. If you follow this plan, you’ll be ready for the feast. It’s all on the next page. Just click to keep reading.

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Thanksgiving Craft: Turkey

Turkeys are popular at Thanksgiving time, both as the main dish and as decorations. There are many different ways to create nice turkeys that may become a tradition for decorating for years to come. Here are a few crafty ideas for making your own turkey for Thanksgiving!

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Home For The Holidays - How To Cope With Thanksgiving Family Feuds

For some people, just the thought of Thanksgiving can set their nerves on edge. This is usually because Thanksgiving means inviting the family over for dinner or an extended stay. More often than not, these get-togethers can sometimes rake over old wounds and be a stressful experience for everyone. There are, however, a few ways to make the ordeal a little simpler.

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