As we prepare for our Thanksgiving Day feasts, there’s always one thing besides the turkey (of course) that we look forward to dressing our tables with every year. For some of us, it’s pumpkin pie with whipped topping, or Grandma’s famous stuffing. For others, it’s the tart and tangy apple pie and vanilla ice cream, or the rich creamy comfort of green bean casserole.
In my family, there’s been one glorious dessert that’s been topping off our holiday meals since I was a kid. No one can ever seem to get enough. And when it’s gone in the blink of an eye, all of us our thankful for having tasted a little piece of heaven. I’m proud to say this mouthwatering masterpiece – with its sinfully delicious concoction of chocolate and peanut butter melded together with cream cheese and whipped topping – was passed down from my Grandma Mabel and we’ve been singing her praises for sharing the recipe ever since. My grandma is no longer with us, but her recipe lives on, making its way to a few family gatherings every year.
I’m thankful to say, I’ll be bringing the Peanut Butter Torte to Thanksgiving in a few days, or as my family affectionately calls it, Mabel’s Torte. It’s been missing at our table for the past few occasions so I know it will be a welcome treat and I’m sure the first of the desserts to be wiped clean from our plates.
It’s that good.
If you’re in charge of bringing a dessert for Thanksgiving, come with this knock-their-socks-off creation. I guarantee your family will be asking for it for years to come. Just tell them you got it from Mabel. It’s a simple recipe that you can make ahead of time and leave in the refrigerator until you’re ready to go.
Give thanks for all that you’ve been blessed with this year…..like this recipe!
Peanut Butter Torte
Crust:
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup margarine
1 cup flour
Beat sugar, peanut butter and margarine until fluffy. Add flour to mixture. Pat into 9” x 13” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Let crust cool completely.
Topping:
8 oz. whipped topping (thawed)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
½ cup sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips
Beat first 5 ingredients until smooth. Beat eggs separately then add to mixture. Pour mixture onto cooled crust. Melt chocolate chips. Drizzle thinly over mixture and marbleize with a knife. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours. (It also freezes well).
Happy Thanksgiving!
What's your favorite holiday recipe!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Health is a Battlefield
I’m struggling, people! I’m on Week 2 of defending myself from the cold that attacked Jaisa and Ella, and I’m this close to letting my guard down. Trying to stay healthy can be exhausting! I’ve been popping everything that Mother Nature has to offer, from vitamin C to echinacea, vitamin D and lots of OJ. But more important than anything, I know I need my sleep…something that was not had last night on account of my youngest, Jaisa, crying in the night. Normally she’s a superb sleeper, but naturally, the one night when my defenses have been compromised to dangerously low levels, THE ONE NIGHT I REALLY NEEDED A GOOD SLEEP, Jaisa had other plans.
So today, I’m upping my game. I got some exercise in and I’m gulping down obscene amounts of water to help flush out the bad mojo. I used to be a rockstar water drinker—getting my required eight, 8-ounce glasses a day without pulling a muscle. Now it seems I can’t find the time. Sounds ridiculous, I know. How much time can it take to guzzle water? But somehow I found a way to make it difficult, and I flat out forget to drink. (Maybe I should write myself a Post-It.)
It reminds me of my morning coffee ritual that’s gone awry. I love coffee. There’s nothing better than starting my day with a nice hot cup of joe. But in my hurried state of getting both of the girls their breakfast in the morning (because once they’re seated at that table, food better not be far behind), I make a pot, pour a cup, and by noon I see that sad little cup of caffeinated goodness sitting on the counter cold, with only a few sips taken. I think I need a lesson in time management. But that’s another topic, another day…if I have time.
Today I have to kick this cold to the curb for good because it’s already inched its way into my system and left me with a scratchy throat. I know the full-blown effects won’t be far behind. There’s never a good time to get a cold, but this week REALLY is no good for me. It’s Homecoming Week at Matt’s school and he’s the teacher in charge. Every year, this week brings a little stress to my life as I put on my single-parent hat. Thank goodness I don’t have to wear this hat a lot. Those of you who do, I applaud you. Thankfully, come Sunday I get my husband back and hopefully a little R&R.
Here’s my plan of attack…
Sleep: If that means missing Glee tonight (gulp), then so be it. (Thank goodness for DVRs.) Studies show that if you get less than seven hours of sleep a night, you’re three times more likely to catch the common cold, since sleep deprivation has been shown to impair immune function. And if you sleep poorly, you’re five times more susceptible to one as well. Sandman, it’s time to help a mother out.
Hand Washing: It’s something I harp at Matt about regularly. When he gets home from work “Did you wash your hands?” Before he fixes the girls a snack, “Did you wash your hands?” And believe it or not, after he uses the bathroom, “Did you wash your hands?”
To make things easier for everyone, I now house a canister of sanitizing wipes near our kitchen sink as a reminder to keep it clean, at the very least, before we eat—no excuses.
Healthy Eating: I’ve been upping my intake of fruits and vegetables…again something I’ve been lacking lately. There’s nothing like fresh, natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals to ramp up the immune system.
Family Time: Carrying my healthier habits over to my family helps us all stay healthy and stops the vicious sickness cycle. So if it means I have to keep asking…
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
…That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
What’s your secret to keeping your superpowers intact?
So today, I’m upping my game. I got some exercise in and I’m gulping down obscene amounts of water to help flush out the bad mojo. I used to be a rockstar water drinker—getting my required eight, 8-ounce glasses a day without pulling a muscle. Now it seems I can’t find the time. Sounds ridiculous, I know. How much time can it take to guzzle water? But somehow I found a way to make it difficult, and I flat out forget to drink. (Maybe I should write myself a Post-It.)
It reminds me of my morning coffee ritual that’s gone awry. I love coffee. There’s nothing better than starting my day with a nice hot cup of joe. But in my hurried state of getting both of the girls their breakfast in the morning (because once they’re seated at that table, food better not be far behind), I make a pot, pour a cup, and by noon I see that sad little cup of caffeinated goodness sitting on the counter cold, with only a few sips taken. I think I need a lesson in time management. But that’s another topic, another day…if I have time.
Today I have to kick this cold to the curb for good because it’s already inched its way into my system and left me with a scratchy throat. I know the full-blown effects won’t be far behind. There’s never a good time to get a cold, but this week REALLY is no good for me. It’s Homecoming Week at Matt’s school and he’s the teacher in charge. Every year, this week brings a little stress to my life as I put on my single-parent hat. Thank goodness I don’t have to wear this hat a lot. Those of you who do, I applaud you. Thankfully, come Sunday I get my husband back and hopefully a little R&R.
Here’s my plan of attack…
Sleep: If that means missing Glee tonight (gulp), then so be it. (Thank goodness for DVRs.) Studies show that if you get less than seven hours of sleep a night, you’re three times more likely to catch the common cold, since sleep deprivation has been shown to impair immune function. And if you sleep poorly, you’re five times more susceptible to one as well. Sandman, it’s time to help a mother out.
Hand Washing: It’s something I harp at Matt about regularly. When he gets home from work “Did you wash your hands?” Before he fixes the girls a snack, “Did you wash your hands?” And believe it or not, after he uses the bathroom, “Did you wash your hands?”
To make things easier for everyone, I now house a canister of sanitizing wipes near our kitchen sink as a reminder to keep it clean, at the very least, before we eat—no excuses.
Healthy Eating: I’ve been upping my intake of fruits and vegetables…again something I’ve been lacking lately. There’s nothing like fresh, natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals to ramp up the immune system.
Family Time: Carrying my healthier habits over to my family helps us all stay healthy and stops the vicious sickness cycle. So if it means I have to keep asking…
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
…That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
What’s your secret to keeping your superpowers intact?
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