Focusing on Thanksgiving

So Halloween is over…
I happened to be at Target today and noticed that we went straight from Halloween to Christmas. NO Thanksgiving. NO Thanksgiving greeting cards, NO Thanksgiving decorations, NO nothing for Thanksgiving! What’s up!!??!!
As much as I love Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday happens to be one of my favorite holidays as well, and I want to slow down and enjoy and appreciate one holiday at a time. Life is moving so fast as it is. Let’s just take a moment to live in the present.
Here are some fun sweet treats to make for the month of November-

Broiled Apples: (recipe from Real Simple)

• 6 apples, cut into slices
  
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
  
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup rum or 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 pints vanilla ice cream

Directions:

1. Turn on broiler. Toss the apples with the lemon juice, butter, and all but 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer.
2. Broil the apples about 8 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and broil until melted.
3. Heat the rum or maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat.
4. Serve the apples warm with vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with the warm rum or syrup.

 Pumpkin Swirl Brownies:

I made these delicious little treats last year, and have to say they are a favorite of mine. Here’s the recipe-
1/2 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F and butter an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla for a few minutes, until fluffy; beat in the flour just until combined.
Divide the batter between two medium bowls (about 2 cups per bowl) and stir the chocolate mixture into one bowl. Stir the pumpkin, oil, cinnamon and nutmeg into the other bowl.
Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan, smooth the top.
Spread the pumpkin batter on top.
Drop large spoonfuls of chocolate batter on top, then gently swirl the batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, until just set. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

Pumpkin Pie Pudding:
this one is super easy!

1 3/4 cups cold skim milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1  small package of instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Stir milk and instant pudding together until smooth, stir in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Chill and then serve. Top with whipped cream.

I hope you take the time to enjoy the month ahead. Enjoy the colder weather, enjoy your loved ones. Let’s all just slow down a little!

Happy November friends!

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it”.