The Dessert to be Thankful For...

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!

The Solid Truth: Tales of the Short-order Cook

As a baby, Ella had been a good eater. Not at all what I’d define as picky (except for her aversion to strained peas, but who can blame her?) But once she was old enough to eat what my husband Matt and I were having, mealtime took a turn. It all began with a splat of chicken casserole on our dining room floor. Ella flat out refused to eat it, with her lips buttoned up like a fortress. So what did I do? I ran to the fridge to fix something she would eat. A grilled cheese sandwich? Chicken nuggets? (Gulp) A hot dog? They all seemed like lousy options in comparison to my wholesome meal.

At that moment, I became a sucker…and a short-order cook no less—a big no-no in most parenting magazines. In my defense, I just wanted to make sure my little girl was getting all her essential nutrients.

Fruit fanatic!
Since her first introduction, the one thing that continues to astound us is Ella’s infatuation with fruit. She’ll jam-pack her mouth full of grapes and gobble down a banana like she’s being timed to break a world record. Stand back Joey Chestnut! Veggies don’t go down so bad either. Weird kid but she loves lima beans and we’re soon finding out that our little one-year-old Jaisa loves them too. Weird kids. Matt and I hate ‘em so if they show up in a veggie mix, we pile Ella’s plate with our rejects. Childish? Maybe. But someone might as well enjoy them.

No meat? That might be Mom’s fault.
I’m not a big meat eater, much to Matt’s dismay, so we tend to stick with chicken and ground turkey at our house, along with plenty of vegetarian dishes. Since we’re not fans of fish either, Matt and I have created monsters when it comes to polishing off protein. Ella and Jaisa either tolerate a few bites or, it hits the floor, thanks to our youngest.

If all else fails, try a bribe.
When it comes to table-time wars, a parent has to pick her battles. And sometimes that means using the occasional bribe.

”Take two more bites and you can watch Dora.”

“Just one more spoonful and you can have a treat.”

It can be exhausting coming up with new ideas.

Filling the nutritional gaps
Since no two days are alike, I’ve made one thing constant – a multivitamin. Since Ella turned two, I’ve been giving her a kids’ chewable multivitamin daily. I pick one that’s low in sugar and chock-full of essential nutrients she may be missing from her diet. Ella loves them and some days even begs for more (which of course I don’t give her). If only she’d show such enthusiasm for chicken casserole.

So, what will it be tonight? Penne pasta bake or a ham sandwich. Either way, this Mom will be prepared (I really am a sucker).


Got a picky eater? Have helpful ideas for dinner-time bribes?
I’d love to hear them.