Thanksgiving Desserts

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We went to my friends house in Brooklyn for a Chinese Thanksgiving. Yes, there was a Turkey, but it was for us, Americanized Chinese. My friend's parents orders a Turkey from ChinaTown, they even roast it for you, so all you have to do is pick it up on Thanksgiving Day. But the main food is Chinese Hot Pot (I have heard it being called Mongolian Hot Pot). The Japanese calls it Shabu Shabu, but they serve different foods for the hot pot. We have a spread of Chinese vegetables, tofu, assorted Chinese noodles, thinly sliced meats (chicken, beef, lamb, pork), and seafood. My friend's dad always makes fabulous wontons stuffed with shrimp. And we all are standing around a huge pot of boiling broth to cook our choice of foods in individual mesh ladles.

I am in charge of desserts. I have been going to my friend's house for Thanksgiving for the last 6 years I have lived in New York and it's become a tradition for me to bring the baked goods. I try to vary it every year with new recipes, but there always has to be a apple pie and pumpkin pie. The last 2 years, my friend's sister has been making the pumpkin pie, so I don't have to do that anymore. I used to show up with 4 pies!

This year I made 3 French Apple Tarts, a Pumpkin Cheesecake (Above Photo) and special chocolate chip cookies. One apple tart was for me and DH, and I brought 2 for Thanksgiving. The chocolate chips cookies have been requested for the last few years. They have hazelnuts and crush toffee candy along with chocolate chips in it. There is a little boy that loves them so I make sure to make that.