There are few things that are more eagerly anticipated in Hendersonville each year than sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. The delicious tastes and aromas of turkey, dressing and desserts transcend the day, evoking memories of holidays past.
We all love to savor traditional comfort foods lovingly crafted from family recipes that have been handed down for generations. These days, many of us also choose to prepare a special Thanksgiving meal for our four-legged family members. After all, dogs and cats enjoy treats, too!
As we approach Thanksgiving Day, we would like to share two special recipes with our readers. The first recipe is for a traditional family dessert, Deep-Dish Pumpkin Pie. The second one is for a comfort entree that is also pet-friendly, Harvest Stew.
Deep-Dish Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
1 unbaked deep-dish pie crust
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 15-ounce can solid pack pumpkin
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk (Pet)
2 eggs
Directions
1. Combine sugar, salt and other spices in a small bowl.
2. Beat eggs slightly in a large bowl.
3. Stir in the pumpkin and sugar/spice mixture until everything is thoroughly blended.
4. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
5. Pour mixture into the deep-dish pie crust.
6. Bake the pie in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F, and continue baking for 40-50 more minutes or until knife inserted into pie center comes out clean.
Harvest Stew
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef, turkey or chicken
2 large potatoes
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup canned green peas
1 medium carrot
3 cups water
Directions
1. Peel and dice the carrot and the potatoes, and place them in a roasting dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir. Roast the mixture in a preheated 350-degree oven for 1 hour or until the potatoes are soft and browned.
2. Brown the meat in a large pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
3. Add the carrot and potatoes mix to the meat along with 3 cups water.
4. Add green peas.
5. Heat the pan until the mixture begins to boil; let simmer for 30-40 minutes. Be sure to stir the mixture periodically while it simmers.
6. Let the stew cool down to thicken before serving in bowls.
