The New Thanksgiving Table

Pumpkin pie may be the traditional finish on Thanksgiving, but it's not my favorite dessert. Doesn't a food-centric holiday deserve something more spectacular than humble old-fashioned pumpkin pie?! Since it's the last thing your guests are going to eat, why not take the time to make a dish that's truly memorable?

This cranberry chocolate cheesecake is sure to stun and impress. It's absolutely amazing. The crust consists of crushed chocolate wafer cookies that are laced with cinnamon, the filling is a classic and incredibly creamy vanilla cheesecake, and the topping is a fruity, tart, and sweet cranberry syrup. If you're a cheesecake lover, this dessert is a must make. Get the make-in-advance recipe after the jump.

As much as I love experimenting with alternative pumpkin desserts like pumpkin layer cake and mini baklava pumpkin tarts, sometimes nothing is better than the beloved standby, classic pumpkin pie. This year I tried out an old-fashioned style recipe.

The delicious crust is flaked with pecans, and the filling is a mixture of pumpkin puree, molasses, and sour cream. The resulting pie is silky with a rich pumpkin flavor that's not too sweet. Rum-spiked whipped cream is an ideal and necessary topping that takes this pie over the edge. To take a look at the recipe, read more

You know I'm a huge fan of dips and for my mom's recent birthday party, I decided to make her this insanely addictive crab dip. She was born in Maryland and loves crab, so when I found the recipe in The New Thanksgiving Table, I knew it would be the perfect start to a dinner that celebrated her. It would also make a nice beginning to any upcoming occasion be it Thanksgiving or a holiday cocktail party. Unlike some crab dips, the natural flavor of the crab is not overshadowed by cheese and mayonnaise. Although these are ingredients in the dip, they don't over power the shellfish, instead they subtly highlight and enhance the plump and meaty chunks of crab. The lemon panko topping adds a deliciously light and crunchy texture to the dip. I'll definitely be making this luscious and easy crab dip again. You should give it a try; get the recipe now and read more