Recipe Round-Up ~ Thanksgiving Inspiration!

It’s getting to be that time of the year. Not that I need an excuse to bake, but no other time can rival year’s end when there are so many holidays that seem to have been invented just for us bakers. Historically though the Pilgrims, at what many consider to be the first American Thanksgiving, did not in fact share anything sweet as they had run through much of the supply of sugar they had brought with them over the Atlantic. We can all give thanks for the change to the Thanksgiving meal as sweet desserts along with side dishes have now become requisites at the table. With that in mind, came this weeks idea of a Thanksgiving edition of the Recipe Round-Up. For those international readers, sorry for the US-centric posts but I do live in the states. Please stick around though because I love to learn about other cultures and as my knowledge increases so will the posts on other traditions. (If anyone wants me to research something specific let me know!)

One of the chief traditions in my family, as I’m sure in many others, is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade first thing in the morning. Through the years I think I may have caught seeing the very beginning of the parade only once since I tend to be a night owl and when I get the chance to sleep in I generally take it. While I missed the beginning over the years, I’ve yet to miss an end with Santa and his reindeer waving cheerfully, promising a warm winter in the heart if not the weather.  

Inspired by European traditions, the parade started in 1924 as a ritual to display the civic pride of first generation immigrants who worked at Macy’s. Floats, bands, and revelers appearing as cowboys and clowns among others, as well as some animals on loan from the Central Park Zoo paraded from 145th Street to 34th Street. It wasn’t until three years later that the first helium balloons replaced the live animals from the zoo and became the trademark symbol of the parade. Before the advent of the television, people across the country got their taste of the parade through radio broadcasts. The first newsreel recording of the parade shown in theaters around the world was in 1933, the only year that Santa led instead of closed the parade.

If you ever plan on making a trip to the Big Apple to catch this historical parade check out this site. There’s a ton of information on the history of the parade in addition to the current parade route and nearby hotels and restaurants.

Catch this wonderful American tradition while snacking on some of these decadent morning treats:
Orange Ricotta Hotcakes from Taste Buddies
Bananas Foster Scones from Peanut Butter And Julie
Off the Cuff French Toast from Zesty Cook
Banana Chocolate Waffle Sandwich from Kitchen Doorknobs

While I’ve covered Apple and Pumpkin, the two foremost flavors of Fall and the Thanksgiving season, in the last two weeks I can’t help but include a few more that I came across this week:
Sticky Sweet Caramel Apples from Confessions from the Cookie Jar
Apple Cake from Cook Uncook
Apple Dumplings With Warm Crème Anglaise Sauce from Dalla Mia Cucina
Caramel Sauce, Apple Pie Pizza and Vanilla Apple Crisp from Closet Cooking
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Maple Bourbon Sauce from Memories In The Baking
Pumpkin Chai Latte Cakes and Raspberry Genoise from Sugar Punk
Pumpkin Praline Fudge from Mommy Mack on Foodbuzz
Iced Pumpkin Cookies from SugarEd Lagniappe
Pumpkin Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from No Fear Entertaining
Homemade Pumpkin Pie from jdelaneyh on Factoidz
Pumpkin Pie, perfected! from Mike’s Table
Pumpkin And Pistachio Baked Alaska from cannelle et vanille
Pumpkin Fondue from Yumblog
Fluffy Pumpkin Dip from The Hungry Housewife This is a great alternative to your typical guacamole. Check the rest of the post for other finger food ideas.
Tea-Scented Pumpkin Soup from Appetite For China
Pumpkin Moli from What’s Cooking

I came across a ton of creative recipes using cranberries, another essential Thanksgiving flavor:
Marshmallow Cranberry Cheesecake from Thanksgiving Recipes
Cranberry Pie from Paint Your Tongue With Taste
Cherry Cranberry Trifle from Festive Charms
Apple Cranberry Crumble from Inn Cuisine
Apple Cranberry Cookie Cobbler from Girlfriend’s Kitchen
Cranberries Grand Mariner with Crystallized Ginger from Swedish Baker
Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Hold The Onions
Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Mix from Grandma’s Kitchen
Cranberry-Apple Relish from YaYa’s Funhouse
Here’s a Cranberry Chutney from Fuzzy Thoughts
And a Cranberry Chutney from Think Inside The Icebox with a red pepper kick
Cranberry Catsup Recipe from The Recipe Box

If you want to see some truly art-inspiring photos of some cranberry bogs check out Amanda’s Msadventures post on taking part in a cranberry harvest.

Can’t stand pie? Try a cake:
Orange Cake from Get Baked
Hazelnut Ring Tea Cake from Fresh From The Oven
Honey ricotta cake with sauteed nectarines from make life sweeter!
Green Tomato Chocolate Cake from Burp! Recipes
Sweetened Condensed Milk Cake from Technicolor Kitchen
Vanilla Pistachio Pudding Cupcakes from Bites
The Secret Family Cheesecake Recipe from Chaos In The Kitchen isn’t so secret anymore

For those who want chocolate regardless of what’s traditional:
Trio of Chocolate Mousse Cake from No Special Effects
Spiced Chocolate Truffle Cake from Bonbini!
Egg-less, no bake, chocolate pots de crème from La vida en Buenos Aires
Chocolate, Cardamom, Date & Sesame Cake from Swirl & Scramble
Italian Bittersweet Chocolate Silk Pie from The Feast Within
Steamed Chocolate Pudding With Chocolate Sauce from Delia Smith written in the Telegraph.

Here’s a literal cornucopia of recipes that can tantalize guests at your celebration. From breads and puddings:
Blueberry-Cranberry Bread and Calabaza en Tacha – Candied Pumpkin and Guava from Apple Pie, Patis, & Pâté
Golden Pretzel Rolls from Culinary Cory
Chocolate-Cranberry Sweet Buns from Baking And Books
Challah Bread Pudding with Blueberries & Cardamom from [eatingclub] vancouver
S’mores Bread Pudding from Culinary Concoctions By Peabody
Sticky Toffee Pudding from Thyme For Food

To more unconventional fare:
Mango Pannacotta With Caramelised Mango from Cook Almost Anything
If you want to get the wide-eyed, jaw dropping effect try the Thanksgiving Delight Dessert from This Mama Cooks
Poached Pear Tarte Tatin from The Barefoot Kitchen Witch I wasn’t sure if I should include any pear recipes since I (shame on me) didn’t know if it was pear season. I looked it up and apparently nearly every variety other than a Bartlett is considered a Winter pear. I discovered this along with a charming quote about pears at the Rain Cooking School, “You can eat an apricot right off the tree, or a peach, or an apple. But a pear is more complicated.  You have to be patient with it. A pear is like a lady: A handsome, foxy guy takes more care of her, but she’s worth it.” Check out this article for more information on pears.
Roasted Pears with Bay Leaf Sabayon from :pastry studio
Mini Pecan Pies from Check It Out
Chocolate Orange Truffles from Elana’s Pantry

Go Greek with Bougatsa With Quince and Almonds from Kalofagas. The picture with the phyllo oozing custard really did me in for this one. Give his Roasted Acorn Squash With Meringue a try as a dessert or side dish even. Kinda puts those sweet potato with marshmallow recipes to shame.

Speaking of side dishes:
This drool-worthy pic of Baked Acorn Squash from Bay Area Foodie merited inclusion.
Sweet Potatoes Candied With Cider from Jersey Bites
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Cinnamon Pecan Crunch from Vera White in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Try this Pomegranate Salad from San Diego Cooks as an alternative to a more traditional Ambrosia if that’s your thing. Apparently November is National Pomegranate Month…who knew?

Don’t forget the beverage!
Cranberry Hot Toddies from An Odd Woman’s Perspective
Hot Buttered Rum from James Starmer
Pumpkin Martini among others from The Intoxicologist
John’s Classic Drinking Chocolate from Ezra Pound Cake

Despite the fact that no recipe is included, I had to let you all know about this post from Cakespy. Maybe I should start a “Bake Porn Post Of The Week”; if I did this one would be a good start. My heart skipped a beat at virtually every photo that by the end of the post I thought I was going to pass out.

And rounding out this Round-Up are some items to make your entertaining more fun:
Set the stage of your table with this twig table runner.
Serve dip, nuts and condiments in Harvest dipping bowls.
I wish I had picked up these Pilgrim Salt & Pepper Shakers from Publix when they were available
Direct guests to their seats with Turkey place card holders.
Use this ingenious cutting board to carve your turkey and save those luscious juices.
Celebrate the season with maple leaf, acorn and turkey shaped cookies.
Use this elegant pie server to display that pumpkin pie.