I have yet to be asked to host my family’s Thanksgiving. I don’t think it’s that anyone doubts my capabilities but rather my mom still relishes having all of us “kids” home again for the holiday. I really wouldn’t have it any other way for many reasons, the top two being: one, I still like to let my mom take care of me from time to time; and two, my condo sadly isn’t suited for sit down family dinners.
In order to contribute, I need to think of something new to bring to the table. My mom handles the turkey and trimmings, my Grandma L. brings the homemade cranberries and pumpkin pie and my Grandma H. is famous for her buns. What’s missing I asked myself? And perhaps I’ve been married to T. too long because the answer that came to me was Pumpkin Cheesecake. You can never have too much dessert, right?
I was inspired by a recipe from the SweetMama Thanksgiving Guide and decided to do a practice run before debuting my dessert. I am so glad I did! The cheesecake was delicious, and frankly might be worth a change in tradition from time to time – that is if you aren’t lucky enough to have a pie-making Grandma like me.
Here are my top four reasons why Thanksgiving hosts might want to consider cheesecake over pie this year:
Crust Comparison: Don’t get me wrong, I love a flaky pie crust but making pastry takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re a beginner pie-maker like me. Cheesecake on the other hand, just mix graham crackers, sugar and butter and press into the pan. Voila!
Fill ‘Er Up: Not all pumpkin pie filling is created equal. Have you ever had a stringy pumpkin pie? Icky. I’m not talking about my Grandma’s pie here but bad filling does happen to good people so be careful. Using canned pumpkin with cream cheese for your cake almost guarantees a smooth and rich texture every time.
Make-Ahead: Pie is always best fresh from the oven, while cheesecake can be made up to two days ahead of time. That’s right, one less thing to do the day of your dinner. Halleluiah!
Alternatives are Good: If you’re guests are like me, they probably have more than one turkey feast to attend. Offering up a break from tradition will probably be a welcome change and nice surprise.
Here’s hoping I’ve helped to make your Thanksgiving hosting a little easier this year because less time in the kitchen is always (well, in most families) something to be thankful for.
What are you going to be cooking this Thanksgiving? Leave me a comment below. You can also share advice, tips or recipe suggestions for what you'd like me to try next. I can't wait to hear from you!
WIN a cookbook library!
Read Sarah's Space every Tuesday in the month of October, leave a comment and you'll be entered to WIN this cookbook library valued at more than $100:
Everyone Can Cook for Celebrations by Eric Akis,
The Provencal Cookbook by Guy Gedda,
The Best of Chef at Home by Michael Smith and
Cooking From Above: Asia by Jody Vassallo.
Click here for full contest details including rules and regulations.