Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Travel Checklist

  • Pajamas - check!
  • Toothbrush - check!
  • Knitting paraphernalia - check!
  • A.'s shorts so he doesn't walk around naked - check!
  • Three days worth of dog food and appropriate amount of J-E-R-K-Y - check!
  • Puppy-proofed car - check!
  • "Fun" book to read in the car* - check!
  • "Thesis" book to read to reassure the parents that yes, I will indeed finish The Thesis someday - check!
  • Laptop for A.'s papers and *wink* my work on The Thesis *wink* - check!
  • Prerequisite winter storm with snowy, icy roads, blowing snow to obstruct driver's vision and general travel shitiness - check!
  • Snow boots, just in case - check!

A. and I are all packed up and ready to drive about four and a half hours across the state to see my folks for the holiday. I like Thanksgiving with my folks, step-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. They are good people. They drink whiskey throughout the day to increase the cheer. Woo woo!

I am not bringing my favorite Thanksgiving Potluck Dish - cranberry pie. Noni always makes so much food, and there are some picky eaters, so I chose to save myself the disappointment.

I really love this pie, though. Maybe I'll make it when A. and I get back home. It is such an easy, easy pie to make and is so yummy. A designer friend of mine from DC gave me this recipe. It is perfect for the holidays and travels well. It almost has a cake-like consistency in the middle. So yummy!

RB's Cranberry Surprise Pie

Line 10" pie pan with unbaked pie crust (I usually just buy a pie crust. Works out pretty well!)
Put 2 l/2 cups whole cranberries on crust (I plopped frozen cranberries on the crust and they bake up fine.)
Add l/2 cup chopped pecans (I never add these as A. would FREAK OUT, and then MOPE AROUND because there are nuts in his baked goods. It is much more pleasant to just leave out the damn nuts already.)
Sprinkle l/2 cup sugar over this

In a bowl mix:
l cup sugar, l cup flour, 2 eggs, l stick melted
butter or Land of Lakes margarine. (I ALWAYS use BUTTER!)
Mix well and pour over cranberry nut filling and right to crust edges. This will be the pie cover.
(This will be kind of thick and sticky so I use a spatula to smoosh it to the edges of the underneath pie crust.)

It is thick. Bake 400 degrees for about one hour or longer.
The crust edges often get too brown, after the top has cooked a little and isn't sticky, you can add a rim of foil.


Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I wish you safe travels, lots of quality time curled up on the couch watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and plenty of leftovers!

* Can you read in the car? I can read while riding in a car upside-down. I used to do that when I was a kid! If A. so much as looks at me reading in the car he turns a little green around the edges.

9 comments:

  1. Great recipe! You're totally right to make that pie later--who says Thanksgiving recipes are only for Thanksgiving? And no, I can't read in a car, but I can finally, FINALLY read in the Metro (took me over a year to get my sea legs).

    Have a safe trip and a great holiday!

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  2. Mmm. That pie sounds really good. We always make a big meal after Thanksgiving and Christmas, just because the main event is hosted elsewhere.

    I can read in the car, but much prefer to do a crossword puzzle so I can keep checking on the road. Oh, you mean as the passenger? Yes, I can.

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  3. Yummy pie! I think the car is the perfect place to read.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  4. Also, I just read your comment at LoriD's and did you know that I know someone with your name? It's true!

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  5. Have a good trip. Just reading about reading in a car makes me want to hurl.

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  6. I'm like A. I have to be either asleep or sitting in front, fully concentrating on the road, in order not to get viciously nauseated. I'm very jealous of those who can read on the bus. But I have found that I can knit on the bus. Haven't tried it in a car, though.

    Have a great Thanksgiving Day and a great trip!

    And I want a knitting update when you get back.

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  7. Have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving! No, I can't read in the car but when I was commuting years back did a lot of books on tape and CD. Then you could knit and read at the same time! Am going to try your cranberry pie recipe. No one but me eats cranberries so I'll freeze half and just eat the other half slowly to allow the butter to adhere firmly to my thighs. Have a safe trip and great holiday!

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  8. I vomit everywhere if I read in the car. Strangely enough, I'm okay reading on the train. THANK GOD.

    But good for you if you can, though! lol

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  9. I'm like you, can read twisted upside down in the car riding down twisty roads and up and down hills. I don't know how I'd make it through any car trip over three hours without a good book, or at least a magazine.

    Hope you had a great one!

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