A two day food extravaganza

Because Mama needs a new roasting pan, this post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by Butterball.

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I don't think it's any surprise that I like food.  I like eating it, I like cooking it, I like family meals and coming together around it.  In my family, Thanksgiving is an event.  Growing up, I remember my dad grabbing his plate and literally running around the table.  We used to have dinner with just my brother, sister, and parents and then would go out visiting.  As our families have grown and changed, so have the holidays.  Usually we see Dave's parents and brothers in the morning for breakfast and then go to my aunt's house for dinner.  This has worked extremely well for us.  I dream of having a big enough house and dining room though to have everyone over to our house. 

When my side of the family cooks, we cook in a big way.  Here's the leftovers from a typical Thanksgiving:

And that doesn't include dessert which is normally pumpkin pie, apple pie, mincemeat pie my grandmother insists on making though no one eats it, pumpkin cheesecake (my specialty), and a variety of cookies.   Not to mention the occasional birthday cake for my cousin whose birthday sometimes falls on Thanksgiving.  All those leftovers have lead to our Day 2 tradition where we get together the next day and do it all again. 

I usually spend the day before baking up pumpkin cheesecakes which are always a big hit.  It sounds like it would be a complicated recipe.  I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit I got the recipe off a coupon for cream cheese.  Hey, I stick with what works.

Comments

[Kelly]

Share that recipe!

[Sonja]

Yes, I neeeeed that recipe!

[Jen]

The new FoodNetworkMagazine has a pumpkin cheesecake recipe in it. The reverse engineered version of Cheesecake Factory. Something like 2 pounds of cream cheese, 2 1/2 cups of sugar and 6 eggs (SIX!) How does yours compare?

I have Persimmon Pecan Bread in the oven. Do you ever bake with persimmons? It smells amazing!

[Kir]

OOOH, I am soooo hungry and all those "leftovers" look soooo good. :)
I love thanksgiving, the food, the family, the funny stories and the start of the Christmas season..nothing better than that.

[Joy]

That Philly Cream Cheese 3-step cheesecake recipe is my absolutely favorite! There are so many things you can do with that basic recipe! Our favorite is to use a pre-made chocolate crust and add mini chocolate chips. That was my "birthday cake" this year. I may have to try your pumpkin version now!