Turkey day dinner
We split duties this year. I made the greens, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potato pies. black_reign made the chickens, stuffing, biscuits and the cheesecake bars.
Sweet potato pies
Cheesecake bars
Glazed chickens
Mustard greens with smoked turkey
Stuffing
Mac & cheese
Plate didn't last long
Sweets go well with milk
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:45 min
Serves: 2 dozen or 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel topping, recipe follows
1/2 cup caramel topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.
Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
Yield: approximately 3 cups
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Crimson cherry-glazed holiday hens
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Roast: 60 minutes
ingredients
4 24-ounce Cornish game hens
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup sliced or chopped shallot
2 tablespoons butter
1 12-ounce jar red cherry preserves (with whole cherries)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut one of the cloves of garlic in half and rub the skin of each hen with cut side of garlic clove. Mince remaining garlic clove and set aside. Tie drumsticks to tail. Brush hens with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; twist wing tips under back (see photo 4). Roast, uncovered, for 60 to 75 minutes or until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh of each hen registers 180 degrees F. (The thermometer should not touch bone.)
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook shallot and minced garlic in butter over medium heat about 3 minutes or until tender, stirring often. Stir in preserves, vinegar, allspice, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until desired glazing consistency.
3. To serve, transfer hens to a serving platter. Spoon glaze over hens. Makes 4 servings.
Sweet potato pies
Cheesecake bars
Glazed chickens
Mustard greens with smoked turkey
Stuffing
Mac & cheese
Plate didn't last long
Sweets go well with milk
--------
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:45 min
Serves: 2 dozen or 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel topping, recipe follows
1/2 cup caramel topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.
Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
Yield: approximately 3 cups
--------
Crimson cherry-glazed holiday hens
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Roast: 60 minutes
ingredients
4 24-ounce Cornish game hens
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup sliced or chopped shallot
2 tablespoons butter
1 12-ounce jar red cherry preserves (with whole cherries)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut one of the cloves of garlic in half and rub the skin of each hen with cut side of garlic clove. Mince remaining garlic clove and set aside. Tie drumsticks to tail. Brush hens with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; twist wing tips under back (see photo 4). Roast, uncovered, for 60 to 75 minutes or until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh of each hen registers 180 degrees F. (The thermometer should not touch bone.)
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook shallot and minced garlic in butter over medium heat about 3 minutes or until tender, stirring often. Stir in preserves, vinegar, allspice, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until desired glazing consistency.
3. To serve, transfer hens to a serving platter. Spoon glaze over hens. Makes 4 servings.