Music Monday + Thanksgiving Recap

First of all, just a reminder that I am offering 20% off my entire shop today (Monday).   Just enter MERRY2011 at checkout.  Okay....

I hope you have all recovered from Thanksgiving + Black Friday + Small Business Saturday + Cyber Monday.  I mean, really.  I actually had a really lovely Thanksgiving.  Sometimes I feel like the holidays are so packed with cooking, cleaning up, and so on, that you miss actual "family time" -- but this year I felt like we all got to spend quality time together and that was really, really nice.

And, thanks to Pinterest, I attempted several new recipes this year.

I made these sweet potato cupcakes, via Cupcake Project.  I made mini cupcakes, so the uncooked crumb filling didn't really work.  I ended up tossing out the first batch that went in the oven and left it out of the other batches all together.  They tasted fine without it.  Which is actually amazing, considering I managed to leave out the apple cider and oil.  This is what happens when you talk on your cell phone while you are baking.  Lesson learned.

I also made these S'mores Cookie Bars, via Lovin' From the Oven.  I have had these bookmarked for a while now.  They were really, really easy to make and were very yummy.  While I love a baked good, I'm not a big fan of really sugary desserts.  This was a little too sugary for my taste, but something I'll probably make again.

If you have been on Pinterest at all, you have probably seen this picture of the Crispy Potato Roast from Fish Food (via Martha Stewart).  It is so pretty and it seemed like a new take on a classic side (the russet potato), so I thought I would give it a try.

It really is a pretty easy recipe, and it did turn out looking just like the picture.  But I was a little disappointed in the final outcome.  The tops of the potatoes were dry and tough, while the bottom half was nicely cooked.  It's probably not something I will make again, but it was fun to try something new.


This was my third year to make stuffing.  This is my go-to stuffing recipe, via Martha Stewart.  Thanks to Whole Foods finally making it's way to Oklahoma City, I was able to use a loaf of pumpkin bread like the recipe suggests.  I gave it a nice sweetness.

What did you make for Thanksgiving this year?  Any hits or misses?  Any recipe suggestions for future holidays?

I am not doing a playlist this week, but I did want to leave you with a little something.  The Head and the Heart's entire album is really great, but this track is definitely my favorite.

The Head and the Heart singing "Winter Song"

Enjoy!  Happy Monday!

Amy

In the Kitchen - Sweet Potato and Black Bean Lasagna

Last week I came across this recipe for Sweet Potato and Black Bean Lasagna, via Kathleen of Jeremy & Kathleen. Unusual, for sure, but intriguing none the less. I gave it a try and was very pleased with the results. The leftovers were great, too!

It's an easy recipe, but definitely not quick, as you have to roast the sweet potatoes before layering them into your lasagna. I used a standard size ceramic souffle dish, and the smaller size corn tortillas fit perfectly inside.



I'll definitely make it again, and thought you might like to give it a go as well! Thanks, Kathleen!

Thanksgiving - What I'm Cooking

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is mere days away. This year has absolutely flown by -- the last few months in particular. I'm excited to spend Thanksgiving with my family, and excited to prepare a few dishes as well.

I'm making the stuffing this year, which will be a first. I guess, technically, it's dressing, because we don't actually stuff it inside the turkey.

I'm trying this Martha recipe. Usually, I tend to think Martha's recipes are far too complicated. Who has the time to give a portion of your ingredients an "ice bath"? This recipe does call for homemade pumpkin challah bread. Um, no. I will be incorporating Panera-made challah bread instead. I think that I will also use apples instead of dried figs, as it better suits my family (i.e. non-adventurous eaters).

Cornbread and Pumpkin Challah Stuffing with Dried Fruit

This next side might change, based on my brother-in-law's very strong reaction to the mere mention of butternut squash. "Gross! Disgusting!" I reminded him that I made it last year -- Was it that disgusting? Why did no one tell me? But I very clearly remember my family loving it. And I seem to remember my brother-in-law eating and loving it, too. We'll see. I liked it.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Mustard Vinaigrette

I have used the vinaigrette portion of this recipe on many vegetables. It's great with green beans, and the vinegar helps keep them fresh for a little longer than usual, should you have leftovers.

And finally - dessert! I love pumpkin anything, really, but this recipe is especially delicious -- and easy! I first encountered pumpkin cobbler last year while guest-judging a chili cook-off (which I completely failed at, as I don't eat red meat) and halloween costume contest. They had a bake sale as well, and this is what I purchased. It was so delicious that I had to find the recipe. I think I made it two or three times last winter.

Easiest and Most Amazing Pumpkin Cobbler

I'll let you know how it goes! What are you making this year?