Saturday, November 21, 2009

Decadent Cajun Desserts!

Oh yes, it's time to start the baking for Thanksgiving! If I don't start now, I'll end up at Poupart's Bakery, buying everything in sight, at this divine little bakery shop! Which wouldn't be such a bad idea, except that Thanksgiving is about family and tradition, and I love to make my family's faves and make some of the cherished holiday recipes of my dear mother and grandmother. It is an annual ritual to bake on the weekend before Thanksgiving, and I thought that I would share a few of the desserts that I'm serving.

It doesn't get any better than this for easy and decadent!
Mais cher, I could eat a whole one of these!


Marguerite's Pecan Pie

1 (9 inch) prepared or homemade pie crust
1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbs.'s butter
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
3 lightly beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt

In saucepan, combine corn syrup, sugar, and butter, and bring to a gentle boil, and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.

Place pecans in bottom of pie shell. Combine eggs and vanilla with mixture and pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Heaven!



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Next is one of my all time favorites, at the holidays or on any day, this luscious bread pudding is a wonderful addition to your holiday dinner table or buffet.

Chocolate Bread Pudding w/ Praline Sauce

1 stick butter
1 loaf french bread, torn into small pieces
1 large can Pet milk
4 semi-sweet chocolate squares, chopped
4 large eggs, beaten
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. almond extract  

Melt butter in large heavy pot on medium heat. Add bread, and stir constantly until golden. Place mixture in a buttered 13x9 inch baking dish and set aside. Bring milk to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate and blend till smooth. Add eggs, brown sugar,and almond extract. Mix well and pour mixture over bread mixture, blend gently and let stand for 15 minutes. Cover with vented foil and bake at 325 degrees, for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Let cool and serve with warm praline sauce. Serves 8

Praline Sauce
 
1 cup light brown sugar
1 small can Pet milk
3 tbs.'s butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Combine brown sugar, milk, vanilla, and butter in heavy saucepan. Cook on low heat until smooth. Stir in pecans and vanilla. Serve warm over bread pudding. Enjoy!



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 And for those of you who missed my Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, I've decided to post it, again here, because it definitely smacks holiday and Thanksgiving! Sinfully good!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 (15 oz.) can or 2 cups fresh pumpkin, strained
1 (1/2) cups graham cracker crumbs, (crushed fine)
5 tbs.'s melted butter
2 tbs.'s sugar
2 (8 oz.) pkg.'s cream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp.'s pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs, lightly beaten

Crust

In large bowl, stir together, graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 2 tbs.'s sugar. Mix well and press mixture onto bottom and about 1 inch up sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Bake 5 minutes @ 350 degrees, then set aside to cool. Then chill until ready to use.
Note* I have also used chocolate graham crackers for this recipe.

Filling

In large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until well blended and smooth. Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth. Mix in pumpkin, flour, pumpkin pie spice, and continue mixing until well blended. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well, after each one. Scrape bowl and beat in vanilla extract. Pour filling into pie crust and sprinkle evenly with topping and place springform pan on a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes @ 350 degrees. Lower heat to 325 degrees and continue to bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

Topping

1/2 cup pecan pieces
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tbs.'s brown sugar

Mix together and sprinkle over top of the filling before baking.


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And what would any holiday be without a few batches of these sinfully delicious brownies? This great recipe is from the "Something To Talk About" cookbook, compiled by the Junior League of Lafayette. So easy to make and worth the calories, I assure you, cher!

Kahlua Fudge Brownies

2/3 cup butter
3 1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate
3 eggs
1 - 2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup Kahlua
1 -1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Combine butter and chocolate in a microwavable safe bowl. Microwave on low until melted, stirring frequently. In large bowl, combine eggs and sugar in and mix well. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Add the Kahlua and stir. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix well. Pour into a greased 10x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 23 minutes. Center will be moist. Cool and cut into squares. Serves 12.

Divine, cher! Absolutely, divine! Bon appetit!
Happy Baking, Ya'll!

23 comments:

judi/Gmj said...

Sounds wonderful, all. 'specially that pecan pie, and the cheese cake is happening at my house on Wednesday fursure.

John said...

Too decadent by half.

Boozy Tooth said...

Crap... I am so not a good baker. I would love to try the Pumpkin Cheesecake even though I couldn't afford the calories and my husband doesn't like cheesecake. So what would be the point? Unless, of course, YOU made it and Fed Exed it to me. So what time should I be waiting at the door in the morning?? Hmm?

Jeni said...

That chocolate bread pudding sounds luscious! (The others don't sound bad either, come to think of it! LOL)
I found a recipe for a pumpkin cheesecake a few years ago that was super easy and very good too but now, can't find it so I will have to give your recipe a shot as it sounds fairly similar to the one I had. Maybe, if I am lucky, it will turn out to be the same recipe, huh?
Peace -and Happy Thanksgiving (a tad early, but I tend to forget a lot of stuff, like sharing greetings, at times.)

Joanne said...

All the treats are worth the calories this thankful week! May the baking begin ...

Cathy said...

Those kahlua brownies look to die for! Actually, it all looks good! I love pecan anything and that pie looks great.

Kathryn Magendie said...

OHHHH - so hungry! This all looks so GOOD! can't wait for Thanksgiving desserts! I make a pecan pie every year ....


Hey, have you ever tried putting a little dried espresso powder in your brownies? It really brings out the chocolate taste and makes it so rich~!

Eddie Bluelights said...

I'd just love some of your Pecan Pie, Marguerite - sounds great and would taste much better because you made it ~ Eddie x

Maggie May said...

I like the look of the pecan pie. Everyone in USA is talking about pumpkin pie. I would like to try that too.

Nuts in May

Marguerite said...

Judi- Thanks, cher! I've been baking for two days! Hope your guests like the cheesecake.

John- Cest bon, cher! Cest tout! Hope you are safe and not in the floods!

Alix- Imagine the gooey mess in that package! lol At least try the brownies, cher. Thanks for coming by and congrats on your Sunday Roast!

Jeni- It just might be your lucky day! Thanks for trying it and bon appetit, cher! And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family, too!

Joanne- You are right about that! It has begun and continues. Going to make the rolls, muffins, and cornbread, next. Thanks for coming by, cher!

Owen said...

*********

Memo : 22 Nov., 2009

From : Louisiana State Board of Correctional Investigations

New Orleans Parrish Investigative Division

To : Cajun Delights / Blogger.com

To whom it may concern : Be it known that on this 22nd day of November in the year of our Law 2009; a sealed set of instructions has been handed to a grand jury now in session authorizing the complete and thorough investigation into charges of utter decadence and debauchery concernig a blog known as Cajun Delights. It would appear that a series of desserts has been presented to the public eye which might entice, encourage, and contribute to the furthered deliquency and dereliction of those who may have no choice but to consume such desserts, to wit Pumpkin Cheesecake and brownies of dastardly description, containing certainly entirely too much chocolate. Not only will the investigation focus on the corruption of tastebuds and the disruption of diets, but a second series of charges concerning brutal temptation of distant souls who can in no realistic manner envisage actually partaking in such excesses, and who must look on from afar, hopelessly glued to their computer screens, helplessly gazing with heartbreakingly longing looks at those brownies, at the cheesecake, and the other truly-scrumptious looking creations. All of these felonious charges and more no doubt that the grand jury will add once the full scope of this evil-doing has been investigated, photographed, taste-tested, and digested. Please be advised that all articles having been photographed for this blog are hereby immediately confiscated as evidence by the State of Louisiana, however, if any of them have already been consumed, please do not consider regurgitating them for our benefit, as should that occur, further charges of assault with a partially digested dessert could also be forthcoming...

=====================

Marguerite, The above document was leaked by unknown sources to a press outlet which then published it yesterday, in a place where I saw it, I though you should know if you have not already received the summons from the grand jury...

Good luck in resolving these delicate legal issues ! Cher !

Marguerite said...

Cathy- Thanks, the brownies are sinful and the pecan pie, well, sinful, again. Try them, you'll be glad you did! It's not a week for counting calories!

Kathryn- Thanks, cher! I know I don't have to tell you how good these South Louisiana versions of desserts are! And thanks for the idea, sounds delicious.

Eddie- Merci, cher! The only problem is that I scorched the first Pecan Pie, (I was on the phone), and have to make another one. I'll save you a piece!

Maggie- If you've never tried pumpkin or pecan pie, you're in for a real treat! They are both easy to make and I hope you'll try them. Thanks for coming by!

Owen- LOL, you are a riot! Merci for the fabulous comment! I plead guilty to all charges, but thankfully, the Louisiana courts are very lenient. I am going to nominate you for "comment of the year" on a friend's blog, and I'm sure that you will win! Cheers, cher!

Mandy said...

Oh, I'm going to try those brownies. Why have I never thought of adding alcohol in them before???? Sheesh, and I call myself a Cajun! I wish my husband liked pecans but he doesn't eat nuts (even though he is a nut and is married to one! :-) I did however just post a healthier dessert/breakfast recipe on my blog though. So you can add that to your recipe list - easy apple burritos. They turned out great! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I hear you, time to get the flour out and get started with the baking. My family HAS to have pumpkin pie. My son is making pumpkin ice cream and I am baking a maple pecan pie and something chocolate for the chocolate lovers (haven't decided what to make yet.) Happy Thanksgiving!

Nancy said...

Oh my, there is trouble in this post :-)

Kora Bruce [Dixie Lust] said...

I've been so MIA when it comes to commenting my dear!

But trust that I'm back!

Those Kahlua brownies are calling my name!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

you are killing me with the kahlua brownies!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Chocolate! Bread! Pudding!

Oh my gawd! That looks amazing! Thanks a million. It looks like it's worth a month on the treadmill.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Edie and Gus said...

Oh. My. Gosh! Your recipes look like they would warm up the coldest Alaskan night. The desserts look unbelievably wonderful, and I am also interested in trying your cornbread dressing. I may just whip it up this weekend. Of course, I'll have to defend it from Gus the crazy bloodhound...

Happy Thanksgiving from Alaska!
Edie

Velva said...

Oh my! These Thanksgiving desserts especially your pecan pie is just to die for! Visiting your blog has been like eye candy with all of your holiday dishes. Please keep them coming!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Marguerite said...

Mandy- Well, some but not all Cajuns put alcohol in everything! lol Your apple burritos sound really good. Hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving in your new home! Cheers, cher!

Elizabeth- I'm making a pumpkin pie, also, since my family must have it, too. Your maple Pecan Pie sounds scrumptious! Have a great holiday!

Nancy- Double trouble! Believe me when I tell you that I don't bake this way, except for holidays! But I've been on my veggie diet for a while and I might just sample everything just to make sure that it's all good. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Kora- So nice to hear from you, cher! Thought you might like these, they are rather sinfully delicious! Happy Turkey Day!

Dave- Guess you'll have to make them! They are "to die for"!! Your Turducken was awesome! Happy Thanksgiving!

K. said...

Running errands on a cold and wet northwest day when Jo-El Sonnier's "La Valse de Cher Bebe" pops up on my iPod. That's the stuff!

Carol Murdock said...

Even though I swore off cooking for at least a week, I'm jest gon haf to make some of yer Bread Pudding Cher!