Happy Thanksgiving

I'm cybering this holiday.  Does that make me a full fledged geek?  It sure is easier to get from dinner to dinner.  I don't have to worry about the traffic, parking, the Bay Bridge, drinking and driving.  I've already enjoyed one dinner by benefit of a phone call from my mom.  She's been in Texas for the past month, visiting with kith and kin.  She had dinner with two of her favorite nephews and some of their family and friends.  Their dinner consisted of turkey and cornbread dressing, chicken and dumplings, a ham, sweet potato casserole.   She made special mention of something called an Italian Cream Pie.  Can't wait 'till she makes it for me.

The dinner I'm attending physically isn't until eight this evening.  I'm having my thanksgiving dinner with Leif and Susan, one of my favorite couples.  She has to work until seven, so Leif is cooking dinner.  Cocktails are at 7:30.  Dinner will probably be around nine.  I'm betting on a formal table, but I'm not sure.  I'm calling over this afternoon to volunteer my help.  He can probably use a helper, but he may already have a couple of volunteers.  It's a small kitchen and Leif is a scientist by profession.  He knows how to work his kitchen. 

Someone did a google search for "pumpkin cheesecakes in Houston" and my blog was listed, so they came by.  Like the old song goes, "if I'd have known they were coming, I'd have baked a cake" or at least give them a recipe for it.  I will anyway.  I'm actually kinda sorta famous for my pumpkin cheesecake.   Did you ever hear the song "She's the cheesecake queen from New Orleans"?  What'dya mean, you never heard of it?  Maybe that was in my mirrored universe.  Yeah, that's it.  That's from my other life, the one a long time ago and far, far away. 

Pumpkin Cheesecake
1-1/2 lbs creamcheese
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spices

Blend until smooth.  Pour into prepared spring-form pan and place in oven that's been pre-heated to 400 degrees.  Now turn the oven down to 350 degrees.  Come back in an hour.  It should be done.  Take it out of the oven and allow it to completely cool before serving.  Serve plain or with a dollop of whipped cream, "mit schlag" as we say around my house.  I used to make a cookie-dough crust, but lately I prefer crushed ginger snaps mixed with a bit of butter pressed into the bottom of the pan and dusted on the sides.  This is one delicious dessert.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.   I can't wait to see what Leif has planned.  I know I'm going to be treated to food that will be pleasing to both palate and eye.  He throws a "glog" party each year around the winter's solstice where he serves Swedish Christmas cookies he's been baking for weeks.  His mother is from Sweden.  I think those people have a real cookie-intense approach to Christmas, because Leif sure does turn out some fancy work.   Anyway, I credit his Swedish mother for this influence.

Hope you have the kind of day that will always give you a glow when its remembered.

Comments

[CarolC]

Happy Thanksgiving Houston. I am thankful you are in my life.

[Leslie]

I read "1 1/2 pounds or creamcheese" and just kinda drifted off. ; )

I hope dinner and the company were both equally good. Now I'm off to Google Italian Cream Pie -- I wonder whose blog I'll land on?

[Leslie]

Well, imagine that! I landed here. (wink)

Doesn't this sound yummy?

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
5 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
1 cup pecans
5 egg whites

Cream sugar and butter well. Add egg yolks, one at a time. Mix vanilla extract and baking soda in small bowl, and mix flour and buttermilk in separate small bowl. Begin with vanilla mixture and add flour mixture alternately with vanilla mixture until all blended. Add coconut and pecans. Beat egg whites and fold into batter. Pour into 3 (9-inch) rounds or one sheet cake pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Icing
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup coconut
1 box (4 cups) powdered sugar

Mix together ingredients in the order listed.

[tinheart]

I had my first pumpkin cheesecake this year. Decadent. Very decadent! Mmm....

[wanda]

I gained 5 pounds just reading this post and it's comments. You people are just plain wicked to tempt a poor soul like me with such delights.
Houston, I hope your evening was all you predicted it would be. That pie sounds too delish for words. As does Leslies !

[Ryan]

That sounds awesome. *prints receipe* I'm gonna have to make that and see how it comes out.

[Vickie aka Sweet n Sassy]

I am so thankful for you Houstoun and that I can call you my friend!!! I so hope your evening was all you had hoped it would be and maybe even more. You have become one of my special friends out here and I so hope one day our paths will cross for there are few things I would like more than to meet you.

[jenifer]

SnLAHn http://djtnG49Nsl0g2KasFu.com