Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for what we have. But it is also a time for families to cook feasts and exchange family recipes. Here are some old family recipes to turn that bland turkey dinner into a fabulous thanksgiving feast.

Great-Grandma Eva’s Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

2 Eggs
1 ½ C sugar
½ C vegetable oil
½ C water
1 C pumpkin
1 ¾ C flour
¼ t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
½ t cloves
½ t cinnamon

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix your dry ingredients together first, then add the rest. Pour into a bread pan and bake at 350 degrees. After 45 minutes check it to see if it’s done (you can touch the top to see if it bounces back and stick a toothpick in it to see if it comes back out clean). It may need up to another 30 minutes to completely bake. Keep checking it every 10-15 minutes or so until done.

Grandma Nina’s Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:

1 Pie Crust
Chocolate filling:
3 egg yolks (use the yolks for the filling and the whites for the meringue)
¾ C sugar
3 T cornstarch
2 C evaporated milk
4 T cocoa
1 T vanilla
1 T butter
Meringue:
3 egg whites
2 T sugar

Directions:

Bake the bottom layer of the pie crust according to its directions.

Pour evaporated milk into a saucepan and mix in the cornstarch with a whisk.  Be sure to get rid of any clumps.  Add the remaining ingredients and turn the stove on medium heat.  Stir the mixture until it is thick.  Once it is thick pour the mixture into the baked pie crust.

Now make your meringue by placing your egg whites in a mixing bowl, add your sugar and beat the mixture with an electric mixer until fluffy.  Spoon the fluff onto the top of the chocolate filling and put your oven on broil.  Place the pie in the oven on the top rack but leave the door open slightly and keep an eye on it!  Don’t walk away!  Allow the meringue to brown but pull the pie out before it burns.
Be sure to refrigerate this pie if you do not eat it all!!!