Care Package #2: Thanksgiving

I will be the first to admit: I went a little overboard on this package. I wanted to include every component of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but obviously had to get a little creative with some items (in parenthesis is what the item is supposed to represent, in case it was a stretch).

The store-bought items include: turkey jerky and sausage, cheese and crackers, Stove Top stuffing mix, Snapea Crisps (peas), Craisins (cranberry sauce), Pringles (mashed potatoes), and pudding snack packs.



The homemade goodies included: sweet potato chips, corn muffins, applesauce (for apple pie, which would not have survived the trip), and pumpkin spice bread (pumpkin pie). I had a great time making these yummies, and I hope they keep better than the pretzels did last week!



Sweet Potato Chips

This was really simple, but I need to check the temperature on my oven: the chips cooked a lot faster than the recipe said they would, and several ended up a charred mess.



Slice the sweet potatoes (I used a cheese slicer, but a mandoline would probably have worked better). In a bowl, toss the slices with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary or thyme. Place in a single layer on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes at 350° (I think I'll try it again at 250° to see if I can prevent them from burning). Let cool.


Cheater Pumpkin Spice Bread
I got this idea from a co-worker, and it’s an easy way to get a yummy, moist quick-bread loaf.
1 Can Pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 Box Spice Cake mix (you can also use yellow or chocolate cake for a yummy variation)
2 TBS water

Pre-heat oven to 350° and grease a bread loaf pan. Empty pumpkin into a medium mixing bowl and stir in 2 TBS water. Add cake mix and stir just enough to thoroughly combine. Pour mixture into loaf pan and bake 20 – 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Moosewood Corn Bread
1 C cornmeal
1C flour
2 tsp baking powder
.5 tsp baking soda
.25 tsp salt
1 C buttermilk or yogurt
1 egg
3 TBS sugar or honey
3 TBS melted butter

Pre-heat oven to 350° and grease an 8-inch square pan with butter. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine the wet ingredients (including sugar or honey) separately. Stir the wet mixture into the dry, mixing just enough to thoroughly combine. Spread into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the center is firm to the touch.

Applesauce is so stupidly easy to make!

Wash and cut apples into small chunks. Coat the bottom of a large pot with a little canola oil. Add a splash of water and heat apples, stirring regularly, until soft. Process cooked apples through a food mill and return to the stovetop. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar (to help preserve). If you want, season to taste with sugar and cinnamon, but I usually leave these out. Then, follow proper canning proceedures.

Now that I know how easy this is, I refuse to buy applesauce. Of course, it's a lot more fun if you can go out and pick the apples yourself!