Thanksgiving Punch

Last week on ChezCateyLou, Cate gave you all the recipes you need to put together a successful Thanksgiving meal.  That’s all well and good, but surely you’ll need something to help you survive the other seven hours of the day when you’re not stuffing your face.  That’s where this delicious Thanksgiving Punch recipe comes in handy.

* This post also appears on The Nobler Experiment.  The Nobler Experiment is an excellent blog that focuses on all things alcohol related.  You should head over there right now to check out their Thanksgiving content, including more cocktail recipes and wine and beer recommendations for the big day.   

Dad’s Apple Crumb Pie

Today is the final day of our Thanksgiving Week! Are you full yet? I hope not, because it is time for dessert! Somehow no matter how much I eat on Thanksgiving, there is always room for dessert. And of course it is Thanksgiving, so dessert has got to be pie. Unless you are TheBetterHalf – he likes chocolate chip cookies for Thanksgiving dessert, which I think is just weird. But when he has Thanksgiving with my family in Thanksgiving, I humor him and make cookies and pie.

In our family, the pie of choice is apple pie – but not just any old apple pie – an apple crumb pie! And it tastes even better, because it is made by my dad. Now I think this recipe is technically my mom’s, but my dad has been making it every Thanksgiving since I can remember, so I think it is safe to call it Dad’s apple crumb pie.

Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

It is Thanksgiving Week, Day 4! Time for some potatoes, because what is Thanksgiving without at least two types of potatoes.  I love traditional mashed potatoes (smothered in gravy of course) but since that recipe is fairly basic, I decided to make sweet potatoes. There are so many ways to prepare sweet potatoes, but I went for a candied sweet potato casserole topped with glazed pecans!  You could top this one with marshmallows instead if you are so inclined, but TheBetterHalf is not a marshmallow fan.  He actually said “It’s Thanksgiving, not summer camp.” So that’s that.  

Sherry Charred Brussels Sprouts

It is Thanksgiving Week day 3!  So far we’ve had Haricots Verts and Stuffing (TheBetterHalf’s favorite) and now it is time for my favorite – Brussels Sprouts! I know, it is hard to believe that I choose brussels over pie, but it is true.  I just love brussels sprouts!  There is something about their flavor -when they get all browned and crispy that I just can’t resist.

We eat brussels sprouts all the time, especially in the winter.  I have no self control around them – I actually have to make only two (large) servings or else I just won’t stop eating them.  I usually roast them in a 400 degree oven tossed in some olive oil, salt, and pepper. But for our Thanksgiving Week, I decided to try a new recipe, one for the best brussels sprouts that I have ever eaten.

Mom’s Stuffing

It is Thanksgiving Week, day two! This is the most exciting day of this week for TheBetterHalf – stuffing!  I talked about this in my post on Stuffing Bread (side note: make this bread immediately for your leftover turkey sandwiches! so good!), but TheBetterHalf LOVES stuffing. I mean he loves all food (we’re a good match), but I think he really gets the most excited about stuffing. 

Haricots Verts with Toasted Almonds and Caramelized Shallots

It is Thanksgiving week! Ok I know it is not actually the week of Thanksgiving, but we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week on ChezCateyLou. I have 5 amazing recipes to share with you, for the best parts of the meal – the sides and dessert!