Celebrating Thanksgiving with the 'other' family

More than my friends, more than my family - the people I spend the most time with (for better or for worse) is my team at work. So, when the opportunity came up to celebrate Thanksgiving with them - it felt appropriate. There probably was less drama then if I'd actually been back in the States, Rugby and X-Factor replaced Football and American Idol, and while I'd orchestrated a menu that ticked all of the traditional boxes - it was my first Thanksgiving with home-made veggie samosas.

Hosted by AA & SC – I even had my fill of quirky 'relatives'. AK & AZ covered off the 'cousins' that you get on with really well, enjoy spending time with, but just don't get to see as often as you'd like. AA & YL, one the auntie and one the sister - both looking for just a little bit more gossip, EL - the brother to tease, and of course - no family dinner would be complete with out the 'crazy uncle' - the one that is just a little bit inappropriate - yep, that would be ZC..

Trick or Treat?

This week London seemed to skip over fall (there was snow and freezing temperatures) and land flat on her ass into winter. Never one to get her favourite season shortened by crap weather – I baked up some Pumpkin Cookies with Penuche frosting.

These little gems were simple to make and easy on the palate (4 different people thinking they tasted like mini carrot cakes). Funny how something orange and smelling of cinnamon can do that for some people? All of this aside, they were - without a doubt - the ugliest looking baked good ever.

I reduced the amount of flour in the recipe which resulted in a super duper moist cake-like cookie. However, the Penuche frosting was so rich that while initially holding its own like a little cookie yarmulke, by the time I transported them on the tube to eagerly awaiting friends – they’d become little blobs of goo. Luckily the smell was so enticing that everyone dove right in and snatched them up anyway – even managing to eat 4 or 5 at a time. There were certainly a few jokey comments of what they looked like, and I won't deny it – they did. I'm just happy no one was turned off by their appearance because really there would only have been one thing left to do. Eat them myself of course.

With the recipe I used, I reduced the flour by ½ cup but would recommend only doing so by ¼ cup. Also, be careful with the frosting – I ended up adding a ridiculous amount of sugar trying to get the consistency right (which might be necessary in order to get it to spreading consistency). Luckily the cookies aren’t too sweet so they make a nice pairing with the frosting.