This year for Dessert on Thanksgiving Day I will be serving four items… Apple Pie, Almost-Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pecan Pie and Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding!! I think my sweet tooth and I are more excited for dessert than we are for dinner!!! I love the pumpkin cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory and this recipe tastes exactly like it. I discovered the banana pudding when we had dinner at our friend Ashley’s house a few weeks ago! She made it for us and it was amazing so I am taking a shot at recreating it on Thanksgiving!

I have family members bringing the apple and pecan pies. Don’t be afraid to ask for help on turkey day, its a lot of cooking for one person!! I will be preparing the pumpkin cheesecake and the banana pudding myself, and here are the recipes!!

Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding / Almost-Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake

 

 

Thanksgiving is fast approaching! This is my favorite holiday and the one that I host every year. I love having all our family over. My kids have a great day with all their cousins! AND there is no pressure of shopping or gift giving! Its just all about being together!

That said, there is also a lot of planning that goes into Thanksgiving! I have started my planning this week… and it all starts with The Menu! This is our Menu for this year…

CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR MY DESSERT LINEUP!!!!!

Appetizers

Shrimp Cocktail, Marinated Green Tomatoes on mini baguettes, Candied Pecans and Almonds, Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries, and an Apricot Brie Puff Pastry.

Dinner

Turkey with Stuffing and Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Butternut Squash Soup

Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans Gremolata

Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole

Candied Carrots

Candied Nuts / Cranberry Sauce / Curried Butternut Squash Soup / Green Beans Gremolata / Sweet Potato Casserole / Candied Carrots

 

 

 

My middle son LOVES Banana Bread, so whenever we have some over ripe bananas I try to make this recipe for him! He loves it!! It’s also a great Fall comfort food!!

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 very ripe bananas

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, cream together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, oil and cinnamon. Also, add two mashed bananas. Gradually add in the flour mixture, a third at a time, until just combined. Cut up the remaining two bananas and stir in, being careful to not break up the chunks too much.

Pour the batter into a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

Bake for about 1 hour. * Note* Baking time will vary depending on oven and pan. For instance, my bread took 1 hour and 20 minutes since the pan was smaller, resulting in a thicker bread. Insert a bread knife into center of bread, and when it comes out clean, the banana bread is ready!

Recipe From Food Network Kitchen (with a few changes from TPD)

*Dishtowel in stores at Target