Anthony Bourdain’s Candied Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving, the Chef’s Holiday, is on it’s way.

My mom’s side has been doing an early Thanksgiving for 3 years now and honestly, it has been so nice! Way less pressure and no lines at the grocery store! What I love about Thanksgiving is all the sides, though the turkey is the main the side dishes are really the stars of the show! These sweet potatoes from Anthony Bourdain deserve their own recognition as one of the best. They feature apple cider and bourbon giving you a perfect taste of fall! A perfect addition to your Thanksgiving Day menu!

Ingredients

  • 3 LBS Sweet Potatoes, cut into quarters
  • 6 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Packed
  • 1/3 Cup Apple Cider
  • 1/4 Cup Bourbon
  • Pinch of Salt

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 375F

Place the sweet potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to HIGH simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes. At this point the sweet potatoes should be cooked through but offer some resistance to a fork. Drain and once they are cool enough to handle, peel the potoates and cut them into 1-inch chunks.

Use 1 TBSP of Butter to grease a roasting pan thats large enough to hold the sweet potatoes in a single layer, place the sweet potatoes in it.

In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 5 TBSP of Butter + 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, then whisk in 1/3 Cup Apple Cider + 1/4 Cup Bourbon + Pinch of Salt. Let bubble on the stove top for 1 minute, then remove and drizzle over the sweet potatoes, tossing gently to coat. Roast in the oven, stirring with a wooden spoon every 10 minute for about 40 minutes, until the sweet potoates are tender.

Serve with the rest of your delicious thanksgiving meal!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Recently, one of my coworkers asked when I would be bringing in dessert again. I love bringing in my baking creations to share with my teammates and so since it was requested I thought it would be prime time to make something that screams “AUTUMN”. What stood out to me the most from this recipe from Eating Well was the gingersnap crust. I love gingersnaps and I was so excited to try it out rather than the boring and bland graham cracker crust. I have to say this is going to now be my go-to crust, and maybe even my new Thanksgiving pie!

Ingredients

  • 8oz Gingersnap Cookies
  • 1/4 TSP Salt, divided
  • 3 TBSP Melted Butter
  • 3 8oz Packages Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
  • 4 Eggs
  • 15 oz Unseasoned Pumpkin Puree
  • 1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
  • 2 TSP Pumpkin Pie Spice (Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon)

Let’s Get Bakin’

Preheat the oven to 325F

Coat a 9in springform pan with butter. Tightly wrap the outside of the pan with foil, making sure to cover the bottom and sides.

Grab a small sauce pan and fill with water, bring to a boil.

In a food processor or blender, pulse the gingersnap cookies and 1/8 TSP of salt. Once finely ground, drizzle in the butter and scrape down the sides as needed. Make sure all the crumbs are all softened. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and about 1/2in up the sides. Place in the freezer.

Clean the food processor/blender and then combine the cream cheese + sugar + eggs + 1/8 TSP Salt and blend well until smooth. Remove 1/4 cup of the batter and reserve. Add in the pumpkin + vanilla + pie spices to the remaining mixture and process until smooth.

Pour the pumpkin batter into the chilled crust. Drizzle the reserved batter over the top and run a knife through the batters to swirl together.

Place the pan in a roasting pan [I used a baking sheet]. Pour in the boiling water to come up about 1in up the sides of the springform pan.

Bake the cheesebake until set around the edges but the center is slightly wiggly, about 1hr 30 min.

Remove from the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the wter bath for about 1hr.

Remove from the water bath and remove the foil, refridgerate for atleast 3 hours before serving.

Serve with whip cream if you desire & enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Cranberry Brie Bites

I love finger foods. They always look so appetizing. I know holiday parties are winding down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring these bites to your next get-together, or make them for yourself and enjoy them on the couch.

Ingredients

  • Store-bought puff pastry
  • 1 14oz can Whole Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 Wheel of Brie, cut into cubes
  • Zest of half a orange
  • 1 TSP Cinnamon

Let’s Get Cooking

Preheat the oven to 400F

Pour the cranberry sauce into a bowl and add in orange zest + cinnamon and stir.

Cut the puff pastry into squares, about 4×4 in, and place into muffin tins.

Place one of the brie cubes into the pastry and top with the cranberry sauce.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes and enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah