MAPLE PECAN ICE CREAM

I’ll never forget the first time I was in charge of desserts for a Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, it’s not like I’m a grandma and it was over 50 years ago, but like I’ve mentioned before, I didn't fully get into baking until after college. In 2013, my Thanksgiving was very low-key that year and only consisted of me, my mom, my sister and her now-husband for dinner; a small get together but we had a really fun time nevertheless. Even though I knew it was going to be just the four of us, I went completely over the top with planning the desserts since it was my first time and ended up serving 4 (!!!) dishes.

The 4 dishes - a deep dish apple pie with a side of spiced caramel, chocolate chip cookies, cranberry hand pies, and today’s recipe of maple pecan ice cream - were a lot of work. But I remember being so happy and excited to feed my family that day that I didn’t care if I was in way over my head. Every night of the week leading up to the big day, I prepped and worked on different components of the 4 dishes (while also helping my mom with the main meal) and despite being told that I didn’t need to put so much effort into it because it was only going to be “us”, I kept my head down and finished what I started. And everything honestly came out great, surprisingly! The high I felt from accomplishing something like that was 100% worth it all.

Every Thanksgiving since then, I’ve calmed down a bit on the quantity of desserts and have shifted my focus on making a couple of really, really good dishes. Besides returning year after year to the pumpkin cheesecake recipe I gave you earlier this week, I sometimes opt to re-make the maple pecan ice cream that I first tried in 2013.

Not that many people think to make homemade ice cream for Thanksgiving. Of course, this is because it’s just another thing that would need to be added to an already long to-do list and not everyone has the time. The norm for most people, and trust me, my family does this as well, is to buy a big ole tub of vanilla ice cream for anyone that may want a scoop with their slice of pie. And chances are, only about a 1/3 of the party will want some, whereas another 1/3 would prefer whipped cream, and the remaining would prefer nothing. But l wholeheartedly believe that this maple pecan ice cream will be requested by EVERYONE at the dinner table. Unless you have nut allergies, and if you do, I apologize because you are missing out!

First of all, the flavor alone is pretty unique and something that you wouldn’t be able to find in the freezer section of your local grocery store. There is of course the ever so popular “Butter Pecan” flavor that most people are familiar with, but this ice cream is definitely on a whole different level, largely due to the maple syrup aspect. The ice cream base is only sweetened by pure maple syrup (the good stuff, not Aunt Jemima’s) and in fact, the only “sugar sugar” found in this recipe belongs to the candied pecans that are folded in with the maple ice cream after it’s churned. And speaking of those candied pecans - that are simply cooked with butter and brown sugar - they add such an incredible flavor and crunch to the ice cream that it makes it unbelievably addicting. There’s a full cup of pecans in this recipe and that’s because I want you to get pecans with every bite.

This ice cream is custard based - the best ice creams are - and so this means that you’ll have to temper the eggs when making the base. But besides that little step, everything else is fairly simple! And what’s most important is that you can make this days (but no more than a week) before Thanksgiving and thus have more time to give to your turkey, stuffing, and other desserts.

I say give this maple pecan ice cream for Thanksgiving a try and you’ll see how your guests (or hosts) go completely insane over it. And for those who still take the whipped cream over the ice cream: they will never know what they’re missing.

Maple Pecan Ice Cream

Yields a little less than a quart

Recipe adapted from Closet Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw pecans, roughly chopped

• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter

• 2 tbsp. brown sugar, light or dark

• 1 cup whole milk

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup (Grade A or B works)

• Pinch of salt

• 4 large egg yolks

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the chopped pecans and toss to coat with butter. Sprinkle in the brown sugar, and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the pecans are candied. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool completely.

2. Warm the milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks together. Just as the milk mixture is beginning to simmer, gradually add some of it to the bowl of egg yolks, whisking constantly as to not scramble the eggs (this is called tempering). Once the egg yolk mixture temperature has raised, pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens and coats the back of your spatula or spoon.

3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl set over an ice bath for about an hour before moving to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

4. Churn the ice cream in your maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and mix in the candied pecans. Freeze until solid.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

It feels kind of insane to sit here and give you a cheesecake recipe with everything that is going on in my home state of California. With a mass shooting and 3 deadly fires that are far from being contained, California has been through a lot this week. I grew up in Oak Park and Agoura Hills (where the Woolsey fire is wreaking havoc) and my grandma and dad both still live in the area. Although my family members are okay, I’ve been sick to my stomach thinking about those who were less fortunate and what they had to endure this past week. It’s devastating to think how many people will not have a home to celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays this year. When natural disasters happen like this, I feel absolutely powerless to make the situation better; I wish I could put an end to the pain that they’ve all suffered. If you’re wanting to help out in any way, there is always the option to donate to organizations that will support those who lost their homes, businesses, etc. and of course aid those who are risking their lives to end these fires. The New York Times has a great article that outlines how you can help out; it should lead you in the right direction. And please just be thankful for what you have every.single.day and not just on Thanksgiving.

Ok, back to the blog.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the upcoming recipes I’ll be giving you will not only be perfect for the big day, but also for the rest of the holiday season. These desserts are actually what I plan on making for either the Friendsgiving party I’ll be attending this weekend, or for Thanksgiving itself next week. So since I’m making these myself, I can promise you that they are all tried-and-true recipes that I firmly stand behind and have made countless times.

Growing up, cheesecake was never really my thing. I liked it just fine, but always felt like it was too rich and I could never eat more than one or two bites. My sister on the other hand could probably polish off an entire cake to herself if she was in the right mood. Her cheesecake obsession is what led me to making pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving about 3 or 4 years ago when she texted me asking (aka demanding) that I make it. I obliged and in the end, I was left with an incredible dessert that not only made my sister happy, but led me to finally become a huge cheesecake fan.

The thing with cheesecakes is that they can be a bit intimidating to make due to the time and patience that goes into baking each one, especially if you don’t want to end up with the dreaded cheesecake cracks. Below are my tips for cheesecake success.

• The ingredients - cream cheese, sour cream, eggs - all need to be at room temperature, which I suggest pulling out of the fridge 4-5 hours before you plan on baking.

• When making the batter, more attention is needed in order not to over mix it. This is a given for most recipes like cakes and cookies, but especially important with cheesecakes because if you over mix and add too much air, the cheesecake will rise too quickly in the oven and then fall… and crack. Not good!

• A water bath needs to be prepared - this is optional, but I strongly recommend it. The first time I made cheesecake with a water bath was also the first time I didn’t have a crack in my cheesecake. That alone was enough for me to convert to this method, but it offers much more than making your cheesecake more attractive. A water bath ensures even baking and gives the cheesecake the creamiest, most amazing texture. Essentially, the cheesecake is enjoying a day at the spa and comes out of the oven smooth and moist.

• And lastly, the baked cheesecake needs to cool properly, which in this case means gradually. This entails having the cheesecake sit in the oven with the door cracked and the heat turned off for one hour, then sitting at room temperature until completely cooled, and then finally, refrigerated for at least 4 hours before even cutting into it.

Pretty much, if someone shows up to Thanksgiving or any party for that matter, with a homemade cheesecake, please give them a big hug and say “thank you”. The good news is that cheesecakes can be made days in advance (4-5 days) and can be left, covered, in the refrigerator. This is why it’s perfect for Thanksgiving, because you can check off dessert days before worrying about the turkey or sides.

Let’s go back to the water bath method for a minute. If you’re having trouble visualizing exactly what it’s supposed to look like, here’s a video that should give you some clarity. And if you’re like me and worried about water getting into your springform pan despite having the foil wrapped around it, there’s the option of using slow cooker liners. You simply wrap the liner around the springform pan, tie the excess bag in a knot, and then wrap foil around it. I got this idea from the blog, Life, Love and Sugar, and if you click here, you’ll see step-by-step photos on how to do it.

I know this all sounds stressful, and believe me, I get it, but if you follow the tips and steps I provided, baking a cheesecake isn’t all that bad. And if you do get a massive crack in your cheesecake, just cover the dang thing with a ton of whipped cream and no one will care, I promise.

P.S. If you also want to decorate your cheesecake with sugared cranberries like I did, simply dip the cranberries in egg whites (pasteurized if you’re nervous about raw egg) and then gently roll them in granulated sugar. Try to get one even coating of sugar so that you can still see the color of the cranberries. It’s easiest to do one at a time.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Recipe adapted from Paula Deen

Yields (1) 9 or 10 inch cheesecake

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

• 3 tbsp. light brown sugar

• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

• 3 (8 oz.) packages of full-fat cream cheese, room temperature

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 (15 oz.) can of pumpkin puree, I prefer Libby’s brand

• 1/4 cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (sold at grocery stores, or you can make your own)

• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

• 3 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk, room temperature

Directions

Make the crust:

1. Move the oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom of a 9” or 10” springform pan and line with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter and transfer to the pan. Using the back of a measuring cup, firmly press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan as well as the sides. Try to get the crust as evenly spread as possible. If the sides aren’t perfect, no worries.

3. Bake in the oven for 9-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool while preparing the filling.

Make the filling:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a hand mixer) beat the cream cheese on medium speed for 2 minutes, and then add in the sugar and cream together until no lumps remain. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

2. Add the pumpkin puree, sour cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and flour. Slowly mix together on low, and begin to gradually add the eggs, one at a time. Once the eggs are incorporated, turn the stand mixer/hand mixer off. Finish mixing the filling using a spatula, making sure to get anything that may be down at the bottom of the bowl (this area usually gets left untouched when using a mixer). Pour the cheesecake filling into the pan and spread it evenly.

Prepare the springform/water bath

1. Boil a full kettle of water for the water bath. While the water is heating up, carefully place the springform pan in the slow cooker liner (this is an optional step, but if partaking, I provided a link above that has a visual for this), and then finally, tightly wrap the pan in 1-2 pieces of foil. Place the wrapped springform pan inside of a roasting pan. Once the water is boiled, you can either 1) pour in the water while the roasting pan is in the oven or 2) pour in the water with the roasting pan out of the oven. Either works, just try not to have the oven door open for too long if you choose option 1.

2. Bake the cheesecake for 55-70 minutes. The center of the cheesecake will still have a wiggle to it, but the outer edges will be set. Turn off the oven, crack the door slightly, and leave the cheesecake in there for one hour.

3. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a cooling rack before transferring it to the refrigerator. Chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours before eating it. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the springform pan piece. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel. Cheesecake will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator - just cover it with plastic wrap.

DARK CHOCOLATE HONEYCOMB BARK

I hope everyone had a fun and eventful Halloween! Last Saturday, Alex and I went to our good friends’ Halloween party here in Orange County, which we also helped with setting up and decorating. I made a bunch of Halloween treats: homemade peanut butter cups, brown butter toffee cookies, rice krispy treats, salsa, and my forever party go-to, sangria. Sounds like a lot, but the only thing that required baking were the cookies, whereas everything else was more about the prep. All the work was worth it in the end, and all the snacks were definitely appreciated by the tipsy party-goers.

On actual Halloween itself, we decided to stay in and take it easy. We made a delicious dinner of grilled steak with a corn/avocado/lime salad and watched two of our favorite horror films, The Shining and The Witch. While Jack Nicholson was busy losing his mind and breaking through a door with an axe, I was working on today’s recipe.

I don’t usually shop at Whole Foods, mostly due to the prices, but I go every once in a while to try out specialty items that my favorite grocery stores don’t carry. Every time I visit, I always make sure to walk by the fancy chocolate table that has stacks upon stacks of pieces of Valhrona chocolates, cocoa powders, and other interesting products like chocolate féves (the latter which I just might splurge on for an upcoming cookie recipe). Although I feel like Augustus Gloop from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory when I see this section, all of that happiness dissipates when I look at the prices and see that pretty much everything is $20.99/lb or higher. I usually walk away sad and empty-handed, but a couple of weeks ago I finally caved when I found a small (re: less expensive) piece of dark chocolate bark with honeycomb. I went home, had the bark for dessert, and even though I thought it was delicious, my immediate thought was that I could easily recreate this chocolate at home and save money in the process.

In order to make this bark, you’ll need to make your own honeycomb candy, also known as sponge toffee. With only 6 ingredients (2 of them being water and salt) that are most likely already in your pantry, honeycomb is definitely cheap to make and the whole process only takes about 10 minutes, plus about 30 minutes of cooling. Essentially, honeycomb candy is toffee but with baking soda added which creates bubbles and gives you the honeycomb look. The only tool that is vital to honeycomb candy success is owning a candy thermometer. The toffee needs to reach 300° F, also known as the “hard crack” phase, or else the candy won’t set correctly and you'll end up with a sticky texture. We’re looking for our candy to “shatter” easily.

After the honeycomb is hardened and you’ve shattered it into pieces (a super fun step by the way), it’s all smooth-sailing from there. All that’s left to do is melt a pound of chocolate, spread it over parchment paper, sprinkle with honeycomb pieces, and finish with flaky sea salt (optional). Easy peasy. And I strongly recommend buying the Trader Joe’s One Pound Plus Dark Chocolate bar for this recipe! This massive chocolate bar is only $4.99 for 17.6 ounces of a very high quality of chocolate. Side note: I had Alex do a comparison between my honeycomb bark and the one I bought from Whole Foods, and he genuinely liked my version so much more, and even said that the chocolate in mine was amazing. I win!

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m giving a candy recipe now that Halloween has come and gone, and I have a perfectly good reason for this! Making a batch of this honeycomb candy would be a perfect host/hostess gift for upcoming Thanksgiving and other holiday parties. It’s much more thoughtful than showing up with a bottle of wine or flowers, plus it’s a treat that anyone can enjoy.

Also, PLEASE GO VOTE ON TUESDAY. Or don’t forget to mail in your ballots! Please please please. I cannot stress enough how important these midterm elections are for us!

Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Bark

Recipe adapted from ZoëBakes

Ingredients for Honeycomb candy (sponge toffee)

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp. honey

• 1/2 cup light corn syrup

• 1/3 cup water

• 1 tbsp. baking soda, sifted (don’t skip this!)

• Pinch of sea salt

Directions for Honeycomb

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it near where you’ll be making the candy.

2. In a large saucepan, add the sugar, honey, corn syrup, and water. Without stirring the ingredients, cook over medium heat until the mixture reaches 300° F using a candy thermometer. Take off the heat and whisk in the baking soda. The mixture will be begin to rise quickly, so immediately pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet. Do not spread it out. Sprinkle on the sea salt.

3. Allow the honeycomb to cool for at least 30 minutes before breaking it up into smaller pieces.

Ingredients for Bark

• 1 pound/16 oz. dark chocolate

• Honeycomb candy

• Flaky sea salt

Directions for Bark

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate until smooth via a microwave or double boiler. Immediately transfer to the baking sheet and spread it out evenly with an offset spatula or butter knife. You can make the bark as thin or thick as you like.

2. While the chocolate is still melted, sprinkle honeycomb candy pieces of all shapes and sizes over the chocolate. Finish with flaky sea salt.

3. Allow the bark to set in the refrigerator until breaking it into pieces.