pecan pie

Maple Syrup Pecan Pie

1 prepared unbaked pastry shell, 9-inch (try a gluten free crust)
3 eggs
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups pecan pieces or halves

Preheat oven to 350° and place rack at lowest position. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add maple syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Blend well and stir in pecans. Pour into prepared pie shell. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and the filling is set.

(there is no Karo (corn) syrup in France but this recipe is just as yummy!!)

rolled biscuits

Biscuits*

Preheat oven to 450F (230C)

In a large bowl combine:

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

Cut in:

4-6 tbsp. (75g) chilled butter

Make a well in the center and add:

3/4 cup milk

Kneed 8-10 folds on a floured surface then cut into shape and bake 12-15 minutes.

Option: Can make them bigger and used for strawberry shortcake

*I heard comes from bis - cuit which means twice cooked in French, like an Italian biscotti in origin.

pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Pie

(makes 8)

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin - or bake a whole pumpkin or potimarron

1 can (12 fl oz./ 340 ml) evaporated milk

1 unbaked pie shell

Mix:

Sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk with sugar/spice mixture.

Pour:

In unbaked pie shell.

Bake: Preheated oven 425F for 15 minutes, reduce to 350F; bake 30-40 minutes. Cool 2 hours.

cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup (200 g) sugar

1 cup (255 mL) water

4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries

In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.

Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

For those of you ex-pats who don't want to fork over an arm and a leg for a teeny-weenie jar of cranberry sauce I found that fresh cranberries are reasonably cheap at my local Monoprix so I just make the sauce from scratch. Easy-peasy!

stuffin'

Apple and Onion Stuffing

Place in boiling water for 5 minutes

-1 cup raisins

Drain well.

Add to them 7 cups bread crumbs (soft, not dry)

Melt 3/4 cup butter and saute for 3-5 minutes:

-1 cup chopped onion

-1 chopped garlic clove

-1 cup chopped celery

Cook until clear but not brown.

Add all this to the bread. Then add:

-3 cups diced tart apples

-1/4 cup chopped parsely

-1 1/2 tsp salt

-1 tsp paprika

Stuff turkey loosely, or put into a dish, cover and bake at 350F.

This is the recipe my mom always used and yum yum! + its veggie so unless someone is opposed to something cooked in the turkey (you could always bake some extra in a dish) its great for everyone :-) Even those who don't like stuffing get converted!!!

sweet potato pie

Sweet Potato Pie

1 lb sweet potatoes (des patates douces)
1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 unbaked pie crust

Boil sweet potatoes until soft, peel off the skin*

Mash the potatoes in a large bowl and add butter, mix well. Add sugar, milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Beat until mixture is smooth. Pour into pie crust.

Bake at 350F (175C) for 55 to 60 minutes.

*I found a great tip for peeling any sort of potatoes if using them after boiling... After you clean the potatoes (with the skin on) slice a ring around the middle of the potato before placing it in boiling water. After it is cooked and cool to the touch rince with cool water and simply slide the skin off! It is a great way not to spend hours peeling potatoes...!