* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
* 1 cup half-and-half
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
* 1 piece pre-made pie dough
* Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

More recipes found here.

10. King of Queens – Eye Patch Guy – This episode revolves around a strange guy with an eye patch (“patchy”) that Carrie refuses to let into her house on Thanksgiving because she is afraid he will end up robbing or hurting them. Constant guilt trips from the others around the table make this episode very funny, especially when Carrie turns out to be right.

9. Roseanne – “Thanksgiving ’91″ – Shelly Winters is the character that makes this episode a classic. Who wouldn’t want a Nana like her? She comes out with one funny line after another. Roseanne, Jackie and Darlene have a few good one-liners of their own. After all, what is Thanksgiving without a little drama? You can find the complete episode on Youtube.com when you search under “Roseanne Thankgiving ’91″

8. Everybody Loves Raymond- “Older Women” Debra, who at first is thrilled to find that her separated parents are coming to Thanksgiving dinner, then finds out her that her father is bringing a date. There is a classic scene where Debra, in the process of fighting with Ray, drops the Thanksgiving Turkey on the floor. After 3 attempts to pick up the slippery bird she finally tosses it in anger into the oven and stomps away. Ray’s reaction is priceless. You can find this clip on Youtube.com when you search “Debra Drops The Turkey”

7. Mad About You- “Giblets for Murray” This episode is funny from beginning to end as Jamie and Paul go through 5 different turkeys to serve their 10 guests a “buffet style” dinner for Thanksgiving.

6. Friends – “The One With Chandler In A Box” Friends has made this list a few times because their Thanksgiving episodes are absolutely classic. In this episode Chandler agrees to spend Thanksgiving in a shipping crate as penance for kissing Joey’s girlfriend Kathy.

5. Cheers – “Thanksgiving Orphans” The gang gathers at Carla’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Norm brings Birdzilla and Diane tells Sam to “kiss his butt goodbye” before an awesome food fight ensues! Great quotes from the group such as: Sam: Christmas comes earlier every year, doesn’t it? Woody: I think if you check Sam, it always comes on the 25th of December.”

4. Friends – “The One With All The Thanksgivings”
A very funny episode from beginning to end as the gang discusses past Thanksgivings they have shared together. Chandler ends up getting angry with Monica over something that happened in the past and Monica tries to make him laugh and forgive her by arriving at his door with a turkey on her head. A fez and huge sunglasses complete the effect (which also has Joey running screaming out of the room). You can find the clip of this episode on Youtube.com under “Monica’s Turkey Head”

3. The Bob Newhart Show- “Over The River and Through The Woods” – When Emily leaves to visit her family for a family reunion, the guys end up getting sloshed while having a stag Thanksgiving. Classic clip when a drunk Bob attempts to order Moo Goo Gai Pan from The House of Woo Chinese restaurant in his inebriated state. You can find this funny clip for free at Aolvideo.com under “Moo Goo Gai Pan”

2. Friends – “The One Where Ross Gets High” Filled with many funny clips such as when all of Monica’s and Ross’ secrets come out in a 30 second period to their parents during a fight. Another classic scene is when Rachel attempts to cook dessert, but the pages of the cookbook stick together and she ends up adding beef to it. Great quote by Ross: “That tastes like feet!” You can find this clip on Youtube.com under “Rachel makes Dessert”

1. WKRP In Cincinatti- “Turkey’s Away” This is one of the funniest Thanksgiving episodes to ever hit the airwaves. Mr. Carlson, the station manager, decides to pull a Thanksgiving Stunt that is going to put the radio station on the map. He hires a helicopter to fly over a shopping mall parking lot and drops live turkeys over the crowd. Filled with funny lines such as Johnny Fever reporting “For those of you just tuning in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has been bombed with live turkeys!” Less Nessman comparing the incident to the Hindenberg and screaming “Oh the humanity!” and the final line by Mr. Carlson himself “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.” You can find this entire funny episode for free on Aolvideo.com under “Turkey’s Away!”

References

1. http://www.helium.com

Costumes for Thanksgiving

You can find this one and more from www.free-coloring-pages.com.

No crayons, markers, or paint?  No Problem!  These ones from www.apples4theteacher.com are really cool because they can fill in the colors before printing, if that is how they want to color.

This other great website for free Thanksgiving coloring pages for your kids was at holidays.kaboose.com.  Every little bit helps.  Remember, you can hang these on the walls for your kids to feel proud of, or they could even be sent to family members and turned into cards.  Don’t forget to relax and have some fun this thanksgiving!

So I gave you the mashed potato recipe and thought, I would share this one as well.  This recipe is one that’s too good not to share.  Okay so the things you will need are:

• 5 cans of green beans (any kind you like)
• 4 cans of cream of mushroom soup
• French fried onions
• 1 onion
• Cheese of your choice I like pepper jack
• Salt and pepper

So, let’s get started!  First pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.  Take your Pyrex pan and place the green beans in and then place your cream of mushroom soup and start mixing with a fork. Cut onion into very small pieces and stir into mixture.  Grate your cheese over it, and mix together. (I generally use the entire block of cheese)  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Make sure it’s all mixed very well, even it out and place the french fried onions on top of the casserole.  Now place the casserole into the oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the onions and top are golden brown.  Let cool and serve, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.  Happy Thanksgiving!

I am going to share my recipe of mashed potatoes with you all, and I am pretty sure you are going to love them!  I don’t measure anything I usually just cook and taste and when they are right they scream for themselves.  If cooking for more than few people you will need:

• 12 potatoes
• 1 1/2 sticks of butter
• 2% milk
• Sour cream
• Salt and pepper
• Cheese of your choice I like to use Colby Jack

Okay, now that you have your ingredients you will need a large pot.  Boil the potatoes with the skin until you can cut them in half with a fork.  Once soft drain the water from the pot, use a large fork to begin smashing the potatoes. (don’t smash too much you want some of those lumps to remain)  They will be dry so pour in a half a cup of your 2% milk while continuing to stir with fork, once the potatoes have absorbed the milk, add a handful of grated cheese and a 3 tablespoons of sour cream.  Continue to stir. (your arm should be getting tired) Now add your pepper and half a stick of butter ( I personally don’t add extra salt because the butter provides it all)  Continue to stir and taste to see how close you are to done.  The potatoes should still be a little dry so add a little more milk and sour cream ( I prefer to use more sour cream than milk, it’s your choice) Add more pepper and cheese and continue to stir until the consistency of the potatoes are to your liking.  Once you have stirred until your arm feels like rubber and the potatoes taste the way you want them too, you are done!  Hopefully yours turn out as wonderful as mine!

Being a vegan is especially difficult over the holiday season. As families gather and prepare delicious home cooked meals, vegans and vegetarians may feel left out or alienated due to lack of cooked turkey enjoyment. However, there are many delicious recipes one may concoct, so as to not go hungry this Thanksgiving. Some recipes are as follows…

TOFU PUMPKIN PIE

• 1 can (16 ounces) pureed pumpkin
• 3/4 cup sugar or sucanat (or 1/2 cup maple syrup)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
• 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch to firm up the pie filling
• 1 package (10-12 ounces) silken/soft tofu
• 1 9-in unbaked vegan pie shell

VEGAN MAC N CHEESE

• 1 1/2 cups of plain soy milk
• 1 cup of water
• 1/3 cup of tamari or soy sauce
• 1 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon vegesal or in lack of fancy product, just use salt
• 1/4 of a block of firm (not silken) tofu
• 1 cup of canola or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 lbs of pasta of your choice preferably macaroni
• a relatively large baking pan (like a brownie pan)
• 1 dollop of mustard (optional)

PILGRIMS BREAD

• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1/4 cup cooking oil
• 2 packages active dry yeast (about 4 tsp)
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup rye flour
• 4-5 cups unbleached white flour

References

1. Veg Web

2. Veg Web

3. Veg Web

4. Inhabitat

Pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving Holiday dessert. After everyone has their fill of turkey and dressing, it’s time for dessert. Traditionally a piece of pumpkin pie is what everyone want to eat. Not only is pumpkin pie delicious, it is extremely easy to make. Follow this recipe and you will serve the best pumpkin pie this year.

Ingredients

• 1 Unbaked pie crust
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups pumpkin or squash puree
• 1-1/2 cups light cream or evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup  sugar
• 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves or allspice
• 1/2 tsp salt

Preheat your oven to 425 F or 220 C.

In a large bowl- whisk eggs thoroughly. Glaze the pie crust with a bit of the beaten egg yolk. Warm the pie crust in the oven until it is hot to the touch.

Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients in with the egg yolk until smooth.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the hot pie crust and bake for 10 minutes. Then decrease the oven temperature to 350 F or 175 C. and bake for another 35 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center of the filling comes out clean.

Let pie cool completely on a rack, then refrigerate for up to one day. It may be served cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed. Accompany with whipped cream or brandy sauce.

References

1. bfeedme.com

Fall Centerpiece Ideas