We wish you the happiest, the happiest

So this year, my friend Anna had swine flu on Thanksgiving Day and she didn't get to go home to her family for the big meal. Her very nice husband Alan cooked her a Thanksgiving meal at home, because he's so nice, but Thanksgiving for two is just not the same in my opinion. So, I decided to make a Thanksgiving dinner for the four of us - Anna, Alan, Zack and me! Here we all are, very holiday spirited.


This was a wonderful opportunity to cook all the food that my family doesn't like that I didn't get to make on Thanksgiving. Cornbread stuffing! Turnip gratin! Brussels sprouts with pancetta! Plus, I got to break out all my new wedding presents - plates, champagne flutes, serving dishes, etc. Here is all the food I cooked.


Yes, I cooked that much food for four people. I think I have problems.

I figured that this would be a good time to break out some recipes! I'm starting with dessert. I got to use my new tart pan (thanks, Jaclyn!).


Mixed Berry Tart

1/2 recipe tart dough (you can buy it premade from the store - frozen pie crust or puff pastry - I won't tell. Or judge. I'm nice now)
8 oz marcarpone cheese
1/4 cup light cream
powdered sugar
Berries of your choice! I did a mix of blueberries and raspberries

Push your tart dough into a tart pan (or a pie pan, that's okay too). Cover the dough with tin foil or parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. This is so the dough won't bubble up when you bake it. Bake it at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Remove the weights and foil and bake it for another 5-7 minutes until it is golden brown. Let it cool completely.

Put your mascarpone (have you had this? It's like amazing Italian cream cheese) and cream in a bowl and whip it until it's stiff (insert your own joke here if you want). Add some powdered sugar to taste (that means add a lot if you want it sweet and less if you don't) and mix it in.

Spread the cream into the tart and place the berries on top. Sift some powdered sugar on top. If you have patience/time, put it in the fridge and let it set. If you don't (and God knows, I don't), just eat it!

Have a great holiday! If I have time, I'll put up some more holiday recipes fast!