Pumpkin Cheesecake

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Ingredients 

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar 

 Cheesecake:

• 3 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz can) NESTLÉ® CARNATION Evaporated Milk
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:

• 1 container (16 oz.) sour cream, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. For crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (do not allow to brown). Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
3. For cheesecake filling: Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and evaporated milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat well. Pour into crust.
4. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly. 
5. For topping: Combine sour cream, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan. 

Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup raisins, chocolate chip, nuts, or other dried fruit (optional)

 Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla (and desired mix-in). Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Cranberry Harvest Muffins

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cranberries
• 3/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 18 standard-size muffin cups with paper liners. 
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in a large bowl. Make a well in the center pf the mixture and add the milk, eggs, and melted butter. Stir quickly just to combine. 
3. Add the cranberries, hazelnuts, and both sugars and stir just to distribute the fruits, nuts, and sugar evenly throughout the batter.
4. Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each one to the top. Bake for about 20 minutes, until browned on the top and a toothpick comes out clean.

Easy Calzone

Ingredients

• 1 tube Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crust
• 3-4 Tbsp. pizza sauce
• 4-6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
• Desired pizza toppings

Directions

1. Unroll refrigerated pizza crust into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface or parchment paper. Stretch out the crust slightly.
2. Spread out sauce, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all four sides of the crust.
3. Sprinkle the cheese on the the pizza. Add desired pizza toppings.
4. Fold the pizza in half, lengthwise. Pinch the borders closed with your fingers (like a calzone) and make slits on top for ventilation.
5. Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes, or until crust is golden-brown to brown. Using a serrated knife or pizza cutter, cut the "calzone" into 6-8 triangles.

Chicken Laffy Daffy

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 chicken breasts, boneless
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. Monterey Jack shredded cheese
• 3-4 cups Peppridge Farm stuffing cubes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place chicken in a 13x9-inch baking dish. Drizzle oil over chicken and season with salt and pepper. Bake in oven for 20 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink, but still moist.
3. Cut chicken into small pieces. Add soups, mayonnaise, milk, stuffing cubes, and cheese. 
4. Bake casserole in preheated oven, covered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.