Author: Ashley

Crispy Mashed Potato Cakes

Crispy Mashed Potato Cakes

After Thanksgiving I had lots of mashed potatoes leftover.  I hate to waste food, but my family will usually only eat leftovers once before they get bored. These mashed potato cakes are a delicious way to use up leftovers. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 

Crab Fondue Dip

Crab Fondue Dip

Crab dip is one of my family’s favorite appetizers.  This dip is flavorful and a perfect start to any meal.  I like it on fresh vegetables, but Ritz and other crackers work too. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: ½ cup whole wheat panko bread 

Herby Mashed Cauliflower

Herby Mashed Cauliflower

Thanksgiving is such a heavy meal, I decided to swap mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower on my plate.  This cauliflower has a creamy texture and is full of flavor. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower cut into florets

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 garlic clove

¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/8 cup grated parmesan cheese

Salt, pepper, and butter to taste

Directions:

  1. Bring 1 inch of water to boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer insert.  Put the cauliflower in the steamer and cover for 10-12 minutes.
  2. Remove the cauliflower from heat and allow it to dry to 5 minutes.
  3. Add olive oil, thyme, and garlic to a small saucepan and cook for medium low heat for 3 minutes.
  4. Transfer the garlic mixture to a food processor.
  5. Add the cauliflower, yogurt, parmesan, and salt and pepper to the food processor.  Pulse until the cauliflower is mashed. 
  6. Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste.
  7. Enjoy!
Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

I was in charge of making the mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner this year and wanted a recipe my family would really enjoy.  These potatoes are not light, but they are delicious.  These potatoes can be prepped in advance and heated when you are ready 

Apple Pie Spice Sugar Cookies

Apple Pie Spice Sugar Cookies

We make sugar cookies all the time so we can use our cookie cutters and decorate.  I wanted a different twist so I added a teaspoon of apple pie spice to the batter.  The result sugar cookies with a nice apple flavor.  You could also 

Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

I always have an apple dessert for Thanksgiving.  I had already bought a variety of apples when my husband came home with an enormous store bought pie, so I decided to try something different to use up some of the apples I had in the fruit bin.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil

1/3 cup light brown sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

2 ½ cups thinly sliced apples (I used McIntosh and Granny Smith)

Cake-

4 tablespoons butter very soft

1 cup sugar

2 eggs at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup nonfat milk

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease or spray a 9 inch cake pan.
  2. Combine the coconut oil, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a small saucepan.  Heat to melt the coconut oil.  Stir.
  3. Scrape the sugar mixture in the base of the pan.  Arrange apple slices on top of the sugar sauce. 
  4. To make the cake add the butter and sugar to a stand mixer.  Mix on medium until creamy.
  5. Add the eggs and vanilla beat until fluffy for about 2 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle in the flour, cornmeal, and baking powder. Mix for 10-20 seconds. 
  7. Add in the milk and beat for about a minute scraping down the sides of the bowl first. 
  8. Spoon the batter over the apples and smooth the top.
  9. Bake for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out dry.
  10. Run a knife along the outer edge of the pan to loosen it from the pan. 
  11. Place a plate or pie pan on the cake and invert it.  Tap if it sticks.
  12. Rearrange the apple slices if needed. 
  13. Let cake cool and enjoy!
Buckeye Brownies

Buckeye Brownies

I think it is safe to say this is an extremely decadent dessert that all peanut butter and chocolate lovers will relish.  This has a brownie base, peanut butter filling, and semi-sweet chocolate ganache to top it off. Ingredients: 1 box brownie mix with ingredients 

Stuffing with Apple and Cranberries

Stuffing with Apple and Cranberries

I don’t normally make the stuffing aka dressing for Thanksgiving, but this year it was added to my to do list.  This stuffing used a mixture of whole wheat and white bread crumbs, celery, onion, Granny Smith apple, and some dried cranberry. Recipe adapted from 

Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding

Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding

This was my first time making bread pudding and I have to say it was delicious! I could definitely eat this again. The pumpkin filling under the caramel topping made this a tasty dessert and breakfast this week.

Ingredients:

Bread Pudding-

4 cups bread crumbs (I toasted slices of honey wheat bread)

1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree

2 eggs

½ cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

½ cup nonfat milk

½ cup truvia or 1 cup granulated sugar

½ tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

¼ cup golden raisins

½ cup pecans chopped

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sauce-

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup heavy cream

½ cup brown sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350. 
  2. Arrange sliced bread on a baking sheet and toast at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Spray a 8×8 dish with nonstick spray.
  4. Whisk together yogurt, eggs, pumpkin puree, milk, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar in a large bowl.
  5. Stir in raisins and toasted breadcrumbs.
  6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  7. Sprinkle with the pecans and bake 25 more minutes until the top is golden and set in the center.
  8. While the bread pudding is baking make the caramel sauce.
  9. In a saucepan over medium heat stir together the butter, heavy cream, and sugar and bring to a boil.
  10. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens in about 10 minutes.
  11. Pour the caramel sauce over the bread pudding and enjoy!
Peach and Mustard Glazed Ham

Peach and Mustard Glazed Ham

My family and I love spiral hams.  In the past I used the glaze that came with the spiral ham from the store, but I have since learned better.  This glazed ham combines peach preserves with whole grain mustard and a few other ingredients to