Monday, November 11, 2019

Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie: Which One Wins Thanksgiving?

pecan pie and pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie and pecan pie: Both worthy additions to a Thanksgiving dessert table. But which one wins the top spot?

“Well, I definitely want to make a pecan pie,” my sister-in-law declared.

My mom, my sister-in-law, and I were discussing which desserts to serve after Thanksgiving dinner. My mom and I had been confident in our assumption that pumpkin pie was a given, and so we were taken aback by sister-in-law’s statement.

Outsource DessertThe Best Holiday Treats to Have DeliveredPecan pie? My mom and I looked at each other. “Sure, I mean, we’re a pretty small group this year; I don’t know if we’ll eat two whole pies, but, okay, we can do that…” I reasoned, more to convince myself. Why would we need pecan pie when we would have pumpkin? Why would we serve some other pie alongside the shining star of Thanksgiving pies?

We bought the ingredients for both pies, though I was suspicious of the dark corn syrup; pumpkin pie used familiar ingredients, and now pecan pie was bringing corn syrup into the equation! Both pies were baked, and after dinner I had a small slice of each. Well, it turns out (and it’s probably not a surprise for most people) that pecan pie is incredible! It was so good! It had creamy, it had crunchy; it was sweet, it was a little savory. It was so much better than I expected!

My sister-in-law’s family is from the South, and her family tradition was to always have pecan pie at Thanksgiving. My tradition was to always have pumpkin pie. So which pie is the superior Thanksgiving pie?

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Round 1: Personal Traditions – Tie!

Pecan–Sweet Potato Pie recipe

Chowhound

It’s subjective! We’ll have to call this round a tie—I shouldn’t let my own personal leanings decide which pie wins Thanksgiving. There are all kinds of traditions out there, and so I shouldn’t deem my own to be best, solely because it’s familiar. For example, my friend from Mississippi thinks sweet potato pie is the Thanksgiving pie. Even though that sounds like a crazy bunch of nonsense to me, I respect her tradition, and truly, I wouldn’t turn down a slice of sweet potato pie any other day. If you are so inclined to include a third pie in your own personal Thanksgiving bake-off, try our sweet potato pie recipe.

Related Reading: Cooking Novice? Thanksgiving for Beginners Guide

Round 2: Here First – Pumpkin Pie

make ahead pumpkin pie

Chowhound

Back to our two contenders: pumpkin and pecan. Even if we discount the portions of pumpkin pie history which refer to boiling pumpkin in milk, filling pie crust with pumpkin and apple, or using a hollowed out pumpkin instead of a crust, it looks like pumpkin pie in its closer-to-modern form came about in the 1700s. The history of pecan pie reveals that its existence began later, in the 1800s at earliest. Unless we’re playing by ‘first is the worst’ rules (rules by which I refuse to abide!) pumpkin pie wins this round.

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Round 3: Dessert-ier – Pecan Pie

chocolate pecan pie recipe

Chowhound

It’s good to eat healthfully, and it’s important to be aware of the nutritional value of the foods you consume. It’s just…I don’t think Thanksgiving is about all that. Maybe it should be—more power to you if you create a healthy Thanksgiving dinner menu, or if you exercise even minimal portion control. If so, you’re amazing! But for my ruling of which pie is the dessert-ier option, I’m going to have to go with big, bad pecan pie weighing in at 503 calories and 27 grams of fat per slice. Pumpkin pie comes in at a paltry 316 calories and 14 grams of fat—it’s nearly a vegetable! And if you are going to give into sweet temptation, you might as well try our chocolate pecan pie recipe, which adds irresistible elements of bourbon and chocolate.

The Tie-Breaker: Charlie Brown – Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie with Spiced Crust recipe

Chowhound

In “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” when that blockhead botched his friends’ Thanksgiving dinner (what else is new?), which pie does Peppermint Patty lament missing? That’s right, pumpkin pie! This is the quintessential Thanksgiving pie, at least according to Charlie Brown’s social circle—not a peep about pecan. And so, pumpkin pie wins this one. Try our perfect pumpkin pie recipe to avoid a misstep like Charlie Brown’s.

Using these standard pie-judging categories, we have come out with pumpkin pie as the winning pie of Thanksgiving. No hard feelings, though, pecan pie—you’re a stellar, stand-up pie, and anybody would be lucky to have a slice of you at the conclusion of their Thanksgiving dinner. And (now hear me out) maybe the best way to reconcile this feud would be to marry these two stars, and bake this pecan streusel pumpkin pie recipe for your guests. That way everybody wins!

Related Reading: 13 Delicious Twists on Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Or, let’s be real, more likely nobody wins, since we can all be pretty stubborn about our favorite traditions. So, I take it back: pumpkin pie it shall be.

Related Video: How to Make an Easy Pumpkin Pie



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Our Favorite Jarred Tomato Sauce

Overwhelmed with the sheer number of pasta sauces at the grocery store? Wondering which one is truly the best? The Simply team has you covered! We tested some of the top brands, and we're excited to share our favorites with you!

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Banana Cream Pie

This Banana Cream Pie is made extra special with sliced bananas layered between easy-to-make homemade pudding dotted with specks of vanilla! Whipped cream swirls and more bananas take this cream pie over the top delicious!

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Keto Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes for a Low-Stress, Low-Carb Celebration

If you were worried that adhering to a keto diet would prevent you from feasting on Thanksgiving, fear not. With these low-carb alternatives to the holiday’s must-eats, you can indulge in a full-on decadent meal (turkey, sides, and even dessert) while maintaining a state of ketosis. As an added bonus, the recipes we’ve compiled below can all be prepared in an Instant Pot so carb intake as well as cooking time and overall kitchen stress can be kept at a minimum.

Related Reading: The Best Keto Costco Buys

The Sides

Low-Carb Cranberry Sauce

Cyndi Monaghan/Getty Images

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a side of cranberry sauce, and Life Made Sweeter’s quick and easy recipe is suitable for a keto diet. All it takes is four ingredients (fresh cranberries, powdered monk fruit sweetener, lemon juice, and cinnamon) and five minutes to prepare this low-carb version of what many consider to be the highlight of the Turkey Day meal.

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Mashed Cauliflower with Garlic and Chives

High-carb potatoes are a keto no-no but thankfully cauliflower is a delicious substitute for the all-important Thanksgiving mash. Loaded with butter, sour cream, Parmesan, chives, and garlic, this scrumptious side is lighter than its tuber-based brethren but still packs plenty of flavor. Make ahead (it only takes a few minutes to prepare) and store up to three days.

Keto Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a retro favorite that can hold its own amongst the murderers’ row of Thanksgiving sides. This version earns its keto cred by swapping out traditional carb-heavy ingredients—onions are sauteed instead of fried, canned soup is replaced by a combo of heavy cream, cream cheese, and mushrooms. A layer of bubbly mozzarella adds a final touch to this inevitable crowd pleaser.

Easy Keto Low-Carb Instant Pot Garlic Creamed Spinach

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KETO LOW-CARB CREAMED SPINACH ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So…..you don't have to always have to dress it up and make it real and hit the steakhouse with bae for this side dish. You can make it at home! It's super easy to make and even easier to do with an Instant Pot. Don't have an Instant Pot? I have instructions here: https://www.staysnatched.com/creamed-spinach/(but, seriously…get one!) IP Instructions: https://www.staysnatched.com/instant-pot-creamed-spinach/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ingredients 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 3-4 garlic cloves, minced 16 oz frozen chopped spinach I prefer to use the frozen spinach that comes in a bag instead of the boxed frozen spinach. 1/2 cup broth I used chicken broth 6 oz cream cheese 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese Instructions Note: I prefer to use frozen chopped spinach that comes in a bag because it isn't frozen in a block like the frozen spinach that comes in a box. If you use block frozen spinach, I recommend you defrost and drain the water first. If you don't, the recipe will likely turn out soupy because of the excess water. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You can also use an equal amount of fresh spinach if you wish. The cook time will remain the same. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Place the Instant Pot on the saute function. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Add the olive oil, garlic, and onions to the pot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions become fragrant and translucent. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Add the frozen chopped spinach, cream cheese, chicken broth, and sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to the pot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Cook for 5 minutes on Manual > High-Pressure Cooking. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When the pot indicates it has finished, quick release the steam. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Open the lid and add the parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has melted. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Serve.

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It only takes 15 minutes to pull off this low-carb version of an all-time Thanksgiving classic. Spinach (which in this case is of the chopped, bagged, frozen variety) gets the creamy treatment courtesy of Greek yogurt, Parmesan, and cream cheese. There’s no doubt that this is a dish that will be gobbled up instantly.

The Turkey

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Deep fried turkeys have become all the rage in recent years but the process can be cumbersome and a potential fire hazard. Thankfully you can use your Instant Pot to cook up a crispy-skinned, tender fleshed bird without the mess and worry of setting your property ablaze. Just be sure to purchase an air fryer attachment (you’ll get plenty of use out of it beyond Thanksgiving). No surprise, the Instant Pot can’t handle a full-sized turkey, but a four-pound, bone-in, skin-on breast will taste just fine and serve around 10 guests. Best of all, you can complete the evening’s main event in a mere hour.

Related Reading: Turn Your Instant Pot Into an Air Fryer with This Game-Changing Lid

No air fryer attachment? Try this Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Garlic Butter Gravy recipe instead.

Low-Carb Turkey Gravy

Eating turkey sans gravy is like peanut butter without jelly or Rick without Morty—the whole is undeniably greater than the sum of its parts. The good news for the keto faithful is you’ll be able to bathe your bird in delicious repurposed pan drippings without taking a cheat day. The key to this low-carb gravy is using xanthan gum as a thickening agent. It’s a keto cooking essential because unlike flour and cornstarch, the polysaccharide adds zero net carbs.

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The Desserts

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Enjoy a sweet end to Thanksgiving without packing in the carbs. Even the non-keto crowd will be pleased with this rich and creamy pecan pie cheesecake which gets an extra dose of nuttiness courtesy of an almond flour crust. And with a little Instant Pot magic, it can be finished in a fraction of the time it takes to prepare an oven-baked cheesecake, though keep in mind that you’ll need a 7 inch springform pan for best results.

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Crustless Pumpkin Pie Cups

You’ll be screaming “good gourd!” over these servings of pumpkin bliss with an added bonus on top. Each cup features the best part of pumpkin pie—the sweet, spiced up custard filling—and while the crust is left out of the equation, an extra special topping of torched low-carb marshmallow fluff more than makes up for its absence.



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Sunday, November 10, 2019

Crispy Hasselback Potatoes

Vertical slicing and an extra-long roast in the oven make these potatoes both beautiful and delicious. Look at all those crispy edges!

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Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Casserole

This Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Casserole is loaded with cheese, fresh sage, and roasted red peppers. This vegetarian casserole makes a rich, decadent main dish or the perfect vegetarian holiday side.

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The Unexpected Tool That Stands Between You & Perfectly Round Cookies

Isn’t it frustrating when you pull out a tray of warm cookies, only to discover that each one is mismatched? Some are too small; others, your high school geometry teacher would hesitate to call, well, circles

But that’s not a problem anymore: Dorie Greenspan, the queen of cookies, saves the day with one easy hack. The famed cookbook author has, after all, written extensively on the subject, including an entire book, aptly called “Dorie’s Cookies,” dedicated to the beloved dessert.

Related Reading: How to Make Perfectly Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

So it should hardly come as a shock that the baking connoisseur knows a thing or two about how to make the perfect cookie. And her biggest hack for making perfectly symmetrical cookies is thanks to an unassuming tool you’d be hard-pressed not to find in your kitchen: a muffin pan.

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When we visited her for Chowhound’s Open Kitchen shoot, she showed us her trusty tool was a humble 12-well muffin tin—the kind you often employ to make cupcakes or small muffins. Dorie reveals that the easiest way to get her sablés (French butter cookies) to be uniform is to actually bake each round of dough in a muffin tin. This hack actually prevents the cookies from spreading, guaranteeing they’ll all remain the same size (and make you look like a pro baker!). Plus, the rounded edges of the convex space provide the cookies with a bit of height, and the sides ultimately get caramelized and turn a wonderful golden-brown color.

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For more baking tips and tricks from Dorie, check out the debut episode of Chowhound’s Open Kitchen video series, where she shares her favorite baking tools and a recipe for French vanilla sablés.



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