Thanksgiving Eats

As the saying goes, "The Best Laid Plans O' Mice and Men Aft Gang Aglay" (and if you like Eddie Izzard, you know the mice are planning their own version of the Italian Job). For us, our Thanksgiving travel plans were thrown out the window when both girls got sick, in the Belly's case a double-ear infection, and we decided not to fly. So, we had a nice dinner at my lovely friend S's house, and made our own little family for the night.

For me, it's just not Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. And I found the most amazing recipe for Caramel Pumpkin Pie, courtesy of Dorie Greenspan. (I haven't made it with the strussel as in the link, but it's got to be even more fantastic.) S made a delicious apple pie which was made divine with the inclusion of The Pioneer Woman's Hard Sauce. I made yummy noises the entire time I ate it.

It's also not a holiday unless there's Pink Salad. It's something my stepmom always makes for big dinners, a recipe she got from her mom. It's wicked easy, very refreshing, and since it has light cream cheese and pineapple, you might be able to convince yourself it's a healthy thing to eat.

Pink Salad
1 - 6oz package of Strawberry Jello
2 - cups water
2 - 3oz packages light cream cheese
1 - 20oz can crushed pineapple
1 - cup pecans
1 - package Dream Whip, prepared according to the box
(Note: if you can't find Dream Whip, you can use a container of thawed Cool Whip)

Combine pineapple and water. Bring to a boil. Stir in jello. Cut up cream cheese and stir until nearly dissolved. Chill until set but not jelled. Fold in Dream Whip and pecans. Put into lightly oiled mold (I use a pie pan) and chill until jelled.

The perfect thing to wear to eat all this? Hot Pattern's Wong-Singh-Jones Marrakesh Drawstring Pants. They look nice and dressy, but have an elastic drawstring waist, so you can eat your fill and still look fabulous.