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Graphic created using Canva by Savannah Hayes.
Graphic created using Canva by Savannah Hayes.
Savannah Hayes

The Trail’s Thanksgiving Day Cookbook

The staff’s favorite fall foods
Categories:
Pumpkin pie graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva.
Pumpkin pie recipe

Ingredients:

-2 cans pumpkin puree

-premade pie crust

-pumpkin pie seasoning

-sugar

-cinnamon

-sweetened condensed milk

– secret ingredient (not necessary for a good pie)

Steps:

1.preheat oven and follow instructions on pie crust container

2.mix other ingredients together in a bowl and season to your liking.

3. pour pumpkin mixture into pie crust

4.sprinkle a small amount of sugar on top of finished pie

5. bake according to pie crust instructions

6. let cool and serve with a side of whipped cream.

 

 

Pumpkin pie graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva. (Savannah Hayes)
Pecan Pie graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Recipe for pecan pie

Ingredients:
-1 cup granulated sugar
-3 tbsp. brown sugar
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1 c. corn syrup
-1/3 c melted butter
-3 whole eggs
-3/4 tsp. vanilla
-1 c. chopped pecans
Steps:
1.Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2.In a bowl, beat eggs.
3.In a larger bowl, stir together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, butter, eggs, and vanilla.
4.Pour the chopped pecans into the bottom of the unbaked pie shell. Pour the syrup mixture over the top of the pecans.
5.Cover the top and crust with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. 6.Remove the foil, then continue baking for 20 minutes, being careful not to burn the crust or pecans.
7.Continue baking for up to 20 more minutes if the middle has not set.

Allow to cool and serve.

Pecan Pie graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lulu)
Collard greens and smoked turkey graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva.
Collard greens with smoked turkey

Ingredients:

-Collard greens

-Onion -Butter

-Garlic cloves

-Smoked turkey leg

-Chicken broth

-Red pepper flakes

-Apple cider vinegar

-Old Bay: Hot Honey Old Bay Wings

-Brown sugar

-Chicken broth paste

Steps:

1. Add all the ingredients (except the collard greens and salt) to the bottom of the pressure cooker pot.

2. Pack the collard greens on top of the meat, onions, and other ingredients.

3. Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. Remove the turkey drum and pick off the meat.

4. Add the meat to the collard greens, stir, and salt to taste

Collard greens and smoked turkey graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva. (Savannah Hayes)
Cookie dough recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
My Gammy’s/Nanny’s Cookie Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

-1 cup of brown sugar

-1/4 cup granulated sugar

-1 cup unsalted butter

-2 1/2 cups vanilla extract

-1 teaspoon salt

-2 cups flour (any flour)

-2 1/2 tablespoons milk

-1 cup mini chocolate chips

Steps

1. Heat treat your flour by placing it in a microwave safe mixing bowl and heat on high for 50-60 seconds until the internal temperature reaches 166°F.

2. In a large bowl using an electric mixer or stand mixer, cream together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter. Beat until fluffy and light in color, about 1 minute. Beat in the vanilla and salt until combined.

3. Beat in heat-treated flour until just combined. Add milk one tablespoon at at time and beat until dough starts to come together. Stir in the miniature chocolate chips with rubber spatula.

Cookie dough recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lu)
Pecan Brie Bake graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva with photo taken by Robin Smith.
Pecan brie bake

Ingredients:
-Brie bake
-1/2 cup of brown sugar
-1/2 cup of pecans
-1/4 cup Kahlua
– 18 ounce brie round
-Puff pastry
Steps:
1. Preheat oven at 425 or convect 400 Mix, brown sugar, pecans, and Kahlua in a bowl
2. Line a 7” dish with the puff pastry (be sure to leave enough excess to fold over the top of brie and filling)
3.Cut the top of the brie off Place brie into the dish
4.Cover with the pecan mix
5. Fold the edges of the puff pastry overtop leaving a small hole in the middle to vent
6.Bake for 30- 35 minutes (until golden brown)

Pecan Brie Bake graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva with photo taken by Robin Smith. (Robin)
Brie Cheese Graphic Illustration via Canva by Lulu Vitulo
Brie Cheese

Ingredients:

-Brie Cheese

-Crackers

-Honey

-Cranberry Salad

 

Instructions:

Combine any mix of cheese, crackers and toppings.

Brie Cheese Graphic Illustration via Canva by Lulu Vitulo (Lu)
Sweet potatoes recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Sweet potatoes

Ingredients:

-2 cans of sweet potatoes

-¾ cup all-purpose flour

-½ cup sugar

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

-1 pinch salt

-½ cup margarine

-1 ½ cups of marshmallows

Steps:

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2. place sweet potatoes in a 6×10-inch baking dish or pan or something.

3. mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl until combined. cut in margarine until it resembles. then sprinkle over sweet potatoes.

4. bake for around 30 minutes.

Sweet potatoes recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lulu Vitulo)
Stuffing recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Stuffing

Ingredients:

-5 loafs of white bread

-1+ box of chicken/turkey stock (box or homeade)

-poultry seasoning

-salt and pepper to taste

-1 head of celery

-1 L or 2 Med onions

-1 stick (8 Tbls) butter

Steps:

1.Toast the bread, cut each slice into 16 pieces, the night before and air dry overnight.

2.Melt the stick of butter in a fry pan, chop celery and onion to small dice.

3.Add celery to fry pan with butter, cook 5 min till softened, add onion, cook till translucent, cool.

4.Add cooled veggies to the bread cubes, seasonings and stock until the taste is to your liking.

5.The easiest way to determine this is to butter a dish, add a spoonful of stuffing and microwave for a few minutes.

 

Stuffing recipe graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lu)
Turkey graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva.
Turkey

Ingredients

-some sort of fat like butter or baste

-seasoning is up to you

Steps:

1. get a 12 to 14 pound turkey

2.choose your seasoning

3.cook for 3 hours

4. baste it throughout the cooking

Turkey graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva. (Savannah Hayes)
Sausage stuffing graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Sausage stuffing

Ingredients:

-One loaf of bread

-1 1/2 cups chopped onion

-1 cup carrots

-1 cup celery

-1 lb mild sausage

-1/2 cup butter

-1.5 tablespoon sage

-1 tablespoon rosemary

-1 teaspoon thyme

-1/2 teaspoon pepper

-1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

-1 large beaten egg

-2 – 3 cups chicken broth

-2 cloves garlic

Steps:

1.Break up bread into 1” cubes and toast on 200 for 20 minutes

2.Preheat oven to 350

3.grease pan with butter

4. melt butter over low heat in pan, then add veggies until softened then add to bread

5.cook sausage and break up into small pieces, then add to bread mixture

6.add egg, broth, and spices to bread and mix

7.add to pan

8.cook for approx 45-55 minutes uncovered until top is golden and crisp

Sausage stuffing graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lu)
Ham recipe graphic created by Savannah Hayes and Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Ham

Ingredients:

-spiral sliced ham

-real maple syrup

-Jeff’s original rub

-Toothpicks

-1 Ham

Steps:

Prep Time: 10 minutes 2 Cook Time: 3 hours at 300 degrees 3 Smoker Temp: 225°F 4 Meat Finish Temp: 120°F

Ham recipe graphic created by Savannah Hayes and Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lu)
Mashed potatoes graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva.
Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:
-1 /2 cup milk
– 3 lbs yukon potatoes or russet potatoes (peeled and quartered)
-8 tbsp butter softened
-1/2 cup sour cream plus additional
-3 tbsp salt and pepper for taste
Steps:
1. Add the peeled and quartered potatoes to a large pot. Fill the pot up with just enough cold water to cover the potatoes.
2.Set the stove to medium high heat.
3.Cook until the potatoes are soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.
4.Drain. Place the potatoes back into the pot and cover the potatoes for about 5 mins.
5.Heat up the milk until it’s hot. Pour half of the hot milk (see notes), softened butter and sour cream into the pot and mash until you get your desired consistency.
6.If the mash is too thick, add a bit more milk until you get your desired consistency.
7.Season with salt and pepper. Serve with pats of butter.

Also, do not add all the milk at once. Add slowly then stir then add more as needed. Adding too much will make runny potatoes.

Mashed potatoes graphic created by Lulu Vitulo using Canva. (Lulu )
Grits graphic created by Lulu Vitulo and Savannah Hayes using Canva.
Creamy Grits Recipe

Ingredients:

-3 cups water

-1 cup heavy cream

-1 cup half n half

-1 cup 5-minute grits

-4 Tablespoons butter

-salt

-pepper

Steps:

1.Add water, heavy cream and half n half to a pot.

2.Bring to a boil

3.Slowly add in the grits while whisking steadily.

4.Reduce heat to low and cover.

5.Cook for 5-7 minutes, whisking frequently.

6.Remove from heat

7.Add Butter and salt and pepper to taste

8. Serve immediately

Grits graphic created by Lulu Vitulo and Savannah Hayes using Canva. (Lu)
Flan recipe graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva.
My abuelita’s flan

The recipe has been kept in the family for the past four generations, with a pot being passed down along with the recipe to every woman married into the family.

Flan recipe graphic created by Savannah Hayes using Canva. (Sava)
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About the Contributor
Savannah Hayes
Savannah Hayes, News Editor
McIntosh High School senior Savannah Hayes is serving her second year as the McIntosh Trail’s news editor. Hayes has been on the Trail staff since 2021 and has enjoyed every moment of working with the staff. Just this past school year, Hayes won three awards for her writing given to her by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA). Hayes won superior writing for In-Depth News, Features and Social Media Storytelling. She can not wait for another marvelous year on the Trail staff. Hayes has received countless accolades throughout both high school and middle school. Hayes has been a part of National Honor Society (NHS) since 2023, Science National Honor Society (SNHS) since 2023, Beta Club since 2021, National English Honor Society (NEHS) since 2021 and National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) since 2022. In middle school, Hayes was in Jr. Beta Club and received the Silver Service Hour Award in eighth grade and the Bronze Service Hour Award in seventh grade. Every semester since her freshman year, Hayes has been on the Gold Honor Roll. Outside of the Trail, Hayes works as a volunteer intern at Zoo Atlanta. She took AP Biology and is currently taking Anatomy and Physiology at McIntosh to help achieve her goal of majoring in Animal Science. Hayes is currently the High Brass Section Leader of the Spirit of McIntosh Marching Band, of which she has been a member since 2020. Hayes has played the trumpet in various concert bands since 2017. As a Dual Enrollment, Student Hayes is currently attending Clayton State and has been a part of the program since 2022.
Donate to The Trail - The Student News Site of McIntosh High School
$550
$750
Contributed
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