Stacey's Favorite Books

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Another Idea for Thanksgiving...

     Here's a  new twist on an old favorite!

Gingersnap Pumpkin Pie 

Gingersnap Pumpkin Pie

  • Prep
  • Cook
  • Ready In

Recipe By:Deanna
"A spicy version of the all time favorite pumpkin pie."

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
 
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Combine cookie crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter in a 9 inch pie pan. Press into sides. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool completely.
  3. Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, eggs, and milk. Blend with wire whisk until combined.
  4. Pour into crust. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour. Let cool. Refrigerate to chill.

Friday, November 20, 2015

From Our Recipe Box to Yours..

Hey all! Thanksgiving is upon us and I thought I'd include a few recipes here you might like to try, or maybe you'll stick with your tried and true, but it never hurts to mix it up a bit!

Here is a dressing recipe from Pioneer Woman!! Dressing/Stuffing is one of my favorite parts!! MMM! I can almost smell it! (www.thepioneerwoman.com)

Basic Thanksgiving Dressing

Prep: 24 HoursLevel: Easy
Cook: 45 MinutesServes: 18

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf Cornbread (see My Skillet Cornbread Recipe)
  • 1 loaf Italian Bread, Such As Ciabatta
  • 1 loaf French Bread
  • 1 whole Large Onion Or 2 Medium Onions, Diced
  • 5 stalks Celery, Diced
  • 1/2 bunch Parsley, Chopped
  • 1/2 cup (1 Stick) Butter
  • 6 cups Low-sodium Chicken Broth, More If Needed For Moisture
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Thyme
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, Finely Minced
  •  Salt And Pepper

Preparation

Cut all the bread into 1-inch cubes and lay them out on sheet pans. Cover with a dish towel and let them dry out for 24-48 hours until they're dry and crisp.

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the onions and celery and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the broth, parsley, rosemary, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper and stir.

Put all the bread cubes in a large bowl and slowly ladle in the broth mixture, tossing as you go until the dressing has the moisture level you want. Taste and add more seasonings as needed. 

Pour the dressing into a large casserole pan and/or the turkey cavity. Bake the casserole for 20 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees until golden and crisp on top. Serve piping hot with a turkey and gravy!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Thoughts on this Thursday...

 
       Hi. Recently, I was putting books out on display and noticed "The 13th gift: a true story of a Christmas Miracle" by Joanne Huist Smith. Every year, I try to read at least one or two Christmas stories. They are usually feel good stories and just plain fun this time of year! The 13th gift was no exception. This Christmas story happens to be true, where most of the ones I've read aren't. The beginning is a bit depressing, taking place shortly after a death in a family. It ends up being a story of second chances and new beginnings, which is always heartwarming. It's also, at its heart, about giving and helping people out.
     There are secret gift givers in the story, who deposit gifts on this family's doorstep following the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. These gifts come at a time where the family is at its lowest, due to the recent death of the Dad in the family. Starting out, the gifts are more bothersome than not, due to the fact that they remind the family of everything they have lost. As the story progresses, however, the gifts become a sort of glue that brings the family members back together, proving they aren't broken and life is still worth living. The loved one is not forgotten, but neither are those left living.
     As the song adds gifts, so does the family. By the end of the story, we see that's it's not really an ending, but a new and different beginning.
     This true account inspires readers to help others in some small way. We are all in this big world/life together and if we can make someone else's life a little easier, Why not?

Indeed. Why. Not.

Friday, November 6, 2015

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     Tomorrow is our Silent Cake Auction and Cupcake Walk!!! It's from 10 a.m. to noon and anyone can participate. Bring a decorated cake to donate for the silent auction or just come and bid on one. Funds raised will be given to the Friends of the Waverly Public Library! Need not be present to win! Each cake will start out at $5 and there will be a free cupcake walk for the kids!! There will be prizes for best decorated, best technique and best bitty baker too!! Come on out and support your library!!!
     So in honor of our first ever cake walk, I'm posting a cake recipe!! What fun!!

I found this one at http://www.food.com/recipe/waldorf-astoria-red-velvet-cake-8972

Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake

Photo
Photo by May I Have That Recipe
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Servings: 12

About This Recipe

"I haven't even tried it, but it looks good."

Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup shortening
    • 1 1/2 cups sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 ounces red food coloring
    • 2 tablespoons cocoa ( heaping)
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 2 1/4 cups cake flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar

    FROSTING

    • 3 tablespoons flour
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 cup butter ( must be butter)

Directions

  1. Cream shortening, sugar and eggs.
  2. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa.
  3. Add to creamed mixture.
  4. Add buttermilk alternating with flour and salt.
  5. Add vanilla.
  6. Add soda to vinegar, and blend into the batter.
  7. Pour into 3 or 4 greased and floured 8" cake pans.