Turkey Centerpiece with Fruit

Thanksgiving edible centerpiece is fun to make. Let the family create it with you.

Use a melon and flatten the bottom, use a pear for head.
The child can do all the "feathers" with skewers of grapes and cheese.
Another option is to skewer apples and berries for "feathers". 

Thanks to  "Lizzie's everyday tips for living" for this great idea.

Cheese Ball Turkey

Here is a very attractive appetizer cheese ball. Ingredients are your favorite cheese ball with pretzel stick tail. Cheeseball recipe below.

But what should the head be made of? Beef jerkey head and neck?  Colby cheese beak with pimento? Green olive eyes? Get creative and make your own family tradition.

Find many more appetizer recipes in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

CHEESEBALL

Ingredients:
1 pound bacon
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 green onion, chopped
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a large skillet fry the bacon. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Chop or break the cooled bacon into small pieces.
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, bacon, mayonnaise, and green onions. When mixed well, form 2 balls out of the mixture. Cover and refrigerate 3 to 4 hours, or overnight.
Before serving, roll the cheese balls in the chopped pecans.

Thanks to RecipesFilledWithLove for this great idea.

ArtFest Booth this weekend

Carolyn Mendoza and her Historical League volunteers will have a booth at ArtFest in Scottsdale this weekend. With more than 200 artists working in many media from across the country, there is something for everyone. The Historical League will be selling Tastes & Treasures Cookbook, League aprons and Arizona Recollections and Reflections Commemorative Book.

Saturday-Sunday, Nov 17-18 from 10 am to 5 pm.
at Civic Center Plaza 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale, AZ

Mud Hen Bars from Kay North

Originally found in a 1964 Good Housekeeping magazine article with Lady Bird Johnson, Kay has made these delicious treats many times. Renaming them Roadrunner Bars of Arizona, she brought them to the Children's Holiday Party meeting.

This 30th Annual Event will be held Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Tickets and info at www.HistoricalLeague.org

Base layer: Cream ½ cup shortening and 1 cup sugar in large bowl.  Beat in 1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks.
Combine 1½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt. Combine with first mixture. Grease or use cooking spray on 9 x 13 inch pan and spread batter. 

Sprinkle over batter: 1 cup chopped nuts, 1 cup mini marshmallows, ½ cup chocolate chips. 

Meringue: In clean mixing bowl, beat 2 egg whites until stiff. Fold  in 1 cup brown sugar. Spread over bars.
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes. Watch carefully.
Makes 24 bars 

Cilantro Pesto

Served at Membership Open House Oct 23 at the historic home of Scott and Mary Crozier, this flavorful pesto is outstanding. Chef Leslie Christiansen shared her recipe since we all asked for it. Tastes & Treasures Cookbook also has a recipe for Halibut with Penne and Basil Pesto on page 89. The Basil Pesto is from historic Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe.

CILANTRO PESTO

Ingredients:
1¾-2¾ cups cilantro
¼ cup parsley
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 Tablespoons pine nuts
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Cotija cheese
3 Tablespoons lime juice
1-2 small chipotle chiles in adobo, w/o seeds (optional)
¼ cup canola oil or EVOO
S&P to taste

Directions:
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a Food Processor and process until smooth. 
Season to taste with S&P.

"48 Women: Arizona's Most Intriguing Women" Exhibit extended

“48 Women: Arizona’s Most Intriguing Women” exhibit in Tempe extended until December 31, 2012
AHS Museum at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone: 480-929-9499.
The Museum at Papago Park is hosting a guest-curated exhibit by the 48 Women Group. This centennial legacy project identifies the most intriguing women leaders throughout the state whose leadership, accomplishments, and dedication have positively impacted not only Arizona, but the nation.

Several of these women have also been honored as Arizona Historymakers by the Historical League.

Exhibition included with general museum admission: $5.00; Ages 60+ and Ages 12-18: $4.00; Ages 11 and younger and all AHS members: Free. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays; 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays and state holidays. Free parking at the museum.

Lemon Coconut Squares from Pam Stevenson

Lots of sugar but lots of goodness in these yummy bars. Pam adds 3/4 cup coconut to the filling for an unique flavor.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients for Crust:     

2 cups flour

1 cup butter

½ cup powdered sugar

Combine and press into greased 9” X 13” pan. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Ingredients for Filling:

4 eggs

4 tablespoons lemon juice

½ cup flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon rind

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder



Directions for Filling:
Mix well and pour over previous layer. Bake again 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Ingredients for Glaze:

4 tablespoon lemon juice

1 ½ cup powdered sugar


Directions for Glaze:
Mix and pour over previous layer soon after removing from oven. Cool and cut into squares.



Pam Stevenson baked these for the Historical League meeting. They were almost gone by the time I took her photo.