Holiday Recipes

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and many people are planning their holiday feast.  The traditional centerpiece for the dinner's main dish is the plumb roasted turkey.  There are many side dishes and desserts that go very well with the roasted delight.  Holiday preparation begins early in order to complete the meal planing and grocery shopping for the dinner with family and friends.

Holiday Baking season typically kicks off with Thanksgiving and there are so many wonderful recipes to chose from for the fabulous feast.  Holiday Headquarters has selected a few that we think you will enjoy with your main dish this year.

Spiced Pumpkin Latte Cheesecake Serving Size: 16 servings Total Time: 28 hr 40 min Prep Time: 40 min Ingredients: 2 cup(s) Graham Crackers  3/4 cups lightly toasted hazelnuts or pecans, chopped 1/2 butter, melted 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3 packages (8oz) cream cheese softened 1-1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 8oz container of sour cream 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract  4 large eggs  1-1/2 teaspoon instant coffee 1 cup pumpkin puree Sweetened Whipped Cream for topping Cinnamon sticks for topping  Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together first 4 ingredients until well blended. Press mixture on bottom and 2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 15 minutes). Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Beat cream cheese and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating until just blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just blended after each addition. Remove 3/4 cup batter and set aside. Stir together instant coffee and 1/4 cup hot water until dissolved. Add coffee and pumpkin to remaining batter, beating just until blended. Pour pumpkin batter into prepared crust. Spoon dollops of reserved batter over pumpkin batter and swirl. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour or until center is almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed, 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan). Cool completely on a wire rack (about 2 hours). Cover and chill 24 hours. Remove sides of pan; transfer cheesecake to a serving plate. Serve with desired toppings.  From Country Living

Apple Walnut Stuffing      By Marian Cooper Carins and Mary Allen Perry   Serving Size: 8 to 10 servings   Total Time: 1 hr 15 min   Prep Time: 25 min   Ingredients: pound(s) mild ground pork sausage 1 medium sweet onion, diced 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 1 cup(s) celery, sliced 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 12 cups assorted bread cubes 2-1/2 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth 1/4 cup melted butter Fresh parsley chopped for garnish    Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Sauté sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium heat 6 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. Add apples and next 2 ingredients; sauté 5 more minutes or until apples are tender. Stir in walnuts and next 5 ingredients. Transfer to a large bowl, and let cool 10 minutes. Fold in bread and broth until well blended. Spoon into a well-greased 3-quart or 13- x 9-inch baking pan. Brush top generously with butter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is crusty and brown. Garnish, if desired.   From Country Living

Apple Pie by Grandma Ople Serving Size: 8  Servings Total Time: 1 hr 30 min Prep Time: 30 min Oven Temp: 350 Ingredients: 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.        From Country Living

Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing      Serving Size: 9-12 Servings     Total Time: 55 min     Prep Time: 15 min     Oven Temp: 375    Ingredients: 1/2 Cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour 1 Cup Cornmeal 2 tsps baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1-1/2 cups buttermilk 1 cup Cranberries, halved Directions: In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs; mix well. Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Fold in cranberries. Transfer to a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm.  From Taste of Home  Originally published as Cranberry Corn Bread in Country Extra January    2004, p49

Let the Holiday Baking Begin! 

 Holiday Headquarters has everything you need to wow your Holiday Guests!