Hello Friends!
You know we’re officially into the Holiday Season when American Thanksgiving is here (and gone). I hope all my American friends had a fabulous Thanksgiving! Since our Thanksgiving was over a month ago, I decided to make a Sweet Potato pie…to help you guys celebrate, of course. (See bottom of post for my American Thanksgiving Tribute pie. It’s really ‘corn-y’!)
Now that ya’ll have had your fill of pumpkin or sweet potato pie (is that even possible?) how about something new and different to kick off the holiday season?
I’m thinking this lovely Cranberry Pie with a Cinnamon Gingersnap Crust might do the trick.
Recipe below post.
If this pie doesn’t help make your spirits merry and bright, I don’t know what else will.
The colour is so vibrant and the filling is super creamy and tangy. It’s similar to a lemon curd (aka Lemon Meringue Pie), but with cranberries added for a little extra zip and colour. If you like lemon tart, you’ll love this pie.
With American Thanksgiving just recently, it reminded me that I haven’t even shared my New England trip from last fall with you guys yet. So this post is long overdue.
Note: you might want to go grab yourself a coffee as you could be here awhile (surprise surprise).
Before we commence with the road trip festivities, I just wanted to thank you all for reading my blog. A few people recently told me that they enjoy my posts and even look forward to them (!??!). Made my day!! I also really appreciate the comments on my posts as well. I love hearing from you guys and the feedback reassures me that someone is reading my ramblings and it’s not just stalkers reading it either (HA!). SO now I’m inspired to write more often, I just gotta work on shorter posts (um…maybe next time? haha).
So without further ado, let’s head to the Thanksgiving Capital of the World shall we? Because it’s not every year I get to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. Boo ya!
Last Fall, Billy and I were on the East Coast visiting family and en route home we took a detour through New England as we still had a few days left of our vacation. We decided to head to Plymouth as we’d been to Boston and Cape Cod before but neither of us had been to Plymouth. And since it was close to American Thanksgiving, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend it than in the spot where it all began: Plymouth Rock.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (hee hee), you probably know that Plymouth Rock is the site of the very first harvest feast (aka Thanksgiving) shared by the Pilgrim settlers & Wampanoag peoples back in 1620. While Historians disagree about some of the details of what really happened over 400 years ago on the shores of Plymouth & Cape Cod, it’s still pretty amazing to be standing on the same shore where the Mayflower first landed on American soil (although they first arrived in nearby Provincetown, apparently). Since I’m a bit of a history buff, I couldn’t wait to check out the rock in the, er…. flesh.
Let’s hit the Open Road. Hello, New England!
We left Saint John after a nice lunch with Billy’s parents and then we were on our way toward the border. After crossing at St. Stephen’s we were finally in beautiful Maine. We stopped several times for obscure roadside attractions and, of course, I had to take plenty of photos.
If you haven’t been to New England in the Fall yet, you need to see what you’re missing. The spectacular show that the trees put on for us at this time of year is beyond stunning. And we do get our fair share of pretty fall colours in Ontario so it takes a lot to impress me (foliage-wise, anyway).
I was speechless–which rarely happens. Let’s just say Billy really enjoyed a quieter drive for a change 🙂
Not too surprisingly, it’s busier here in New England during the Fall than in the summer. So if you’re thinking about coming to check out the leaves sometime, you’ll need to plan your trip a little in advance (we may or may not know this from experience). Hotels and B&B’s are booked solid on weekends from September right through to Christmas, especially in Vermont. I might write a post on my fall New England trip to (hopefully) inspire you to come check it out. If you’ve never been here in the Fall before, you are in for a treat.
As we got closer to Portland, it was starting to rain quite heavily. Since we’d been on the road for almost 8 hours by that point, we decided it was time to stop for dinner. We also wanted to find a hotel for the night as we’d originally planned to camp at the KOA. But neither of us were overly excited about camping in the rain at all.
We parked on Main Street in Downtown Portland and enjoyed a walk along the old cobblestone streets of this beautiful historic town. After wandering around for awhile we found a great little brew pub (Sea Dog Brewery) for dinner. We had a delicious meal and tried a couple of local brews as well. It was so nice to relax after being on the road for most of the day.
Before getting back on the road, we stopped at the Dunkin’ Donuts to grab a coffee. I also wanted to get online briefly to check out hotels. Since we were going to arrive in Plymouth fairly late, I wanted to book a room for that night–especially since we needed one that allows dogs. Traveling with your pooch requires a wee bit more planning than the road trip style that we’re used to (aka ‘winging it’). Camping is often a great option when you’re travelling with your dog, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate at this time of year.
We found a Hampton Inn in Plymouth that not only had great reviews, it was pet-friendly as well. Their pet fee was quite a bit higher ($35 per day) than the usual rate ($20-25) that we’ve paid at other hotels, even within the same chain. You know you’re in Cape Cod when….
We were back on the road and in a few hours we arrived in Plymouth! We checked into our hotel, unpacked the car and then took Mittan for a walk to stretch her legs as she’d been cooped up in the car all day. When we got back to the hotel I decided to do some research online to find out what there is to see and do here in Plymouth (besides the rock, of course) since we hadn’t planned to come here at all.
The next morning was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining and it was almost 22 C at 9am! Not bad…for late October.
I had a coffee while catching up on emails and weather news and then I decided to feed the kook (no, not Billy) before taking her out for a stroll. She wasn’t really hungry but since it’s easier to feed here in the hotel room than, say, at the beach or in the car, we insisted she ate a little something first.
How’s this for breakfast in bed? haha #notspoiledatall
Since we arrived here after dark, I couldn’t wait to see what the town looked like during the day. It’s hard to get a sense of a place when you arrive in the middle of the night and it’s pouring rain.
As soon as we stepped foot outside and took a look around Billy and I agreed this place looked an awful lot like Cape Cod (we were there a few years ago). Plymouth isn’t technically part of the Cape, but it’s one of the last towns you go through before heading over the bridge to Cape Cod. Close enough, at least topographically.
You would never know you were on hotel property here. The trail behind the hotel was beautiful and it looked like we were out in the country. Mittan enjoyed the walk and letting all the other guest dogs know that she was here.
We just did a short walk since it was already warm and we had planned to be outside for a the entire day. Our little pup over heats quickly with all her fur (it’s similar to that of a golden retriever) so we didn’t want to overdo it. Who knew that it’d be this hot in early November? We headed back to the hotel to pack and then we were on our way to Downtown Plymouth.
The pretty seaside town of Plymouth is just south of Boston (about 70km—or about a 45-50 min drive) and is named after Plymouth, England where the Mayflower set sail for America in the 17th century. The biggest draw here, of course, is that famous chunk of granite that sits on the shore of Cape Cod Bay. But even aside from Plymouth rock, it is a gorgeous little town and definitely worth checking out.
I don’t blame them. This place sure is a sight for sore eyes.
It wasn’t easy getting to the beach area as there were quite a few rocks blocking the shoreline and no easy access, really. But Mittan was so desperate to get to the water that she wasn’t letting them get in the way–and almost fell down the rocks in the process. Silly dog. Billy then picked her up and carried her down to the shore so she could finally go for a swim.
By the way, that’s not a life-preserver she’s wearing. It’s a cooling jacket which helps keep her from overheating on a hot summer day. Or, late Fall in Massachusetts.
We tried to go into one of the restaurants but they didn’t allow dogs on their patio so we just got take-out sandwiches and sat outside the bakery. Billy and Mittan snagged a table in front of the bakery while I went inside to “check things out”.
It was a perfect spot for lunch (and cupcakes)
As a baker, I always enjoy stopping at bakeries while on the road (for “research purposes”) but I often can’t have too many offerings because of my severe gluten intolerance. Unless it’s a specific GF shop, most bakeries don’t carry anything gluten-free either. So you can probably imagine my excitement when I discovered that Charlie’s has not just one, but a few GF offerings. Oh happy day!
Billy told me to surprise him so I got him a chocolate cupcake. He’s a hardcore chocoholic so I was pretty sure this would do the trick. He inhaled it rather quickly so I’m pretty sure he liked it.
I was so inspired by this lemon bar that as soon as we got home from this trip I made these lemon raspberry bars, which are very similar to this one and super tasty, too.
The little pooch got her own chair which allowed her to easily mind-meld with Billy–in hopes of getting a bite of his sandwich, of course. Someone was hungry and was not taking “no” for an answer.
She knows he’s gonna cave… eventually. Or she’ll just have to get closer.
HEY….Bad Dog!!
Gimme some of that sandwich, human!!!
She sat with me for a bit too, that way she could keep an eye on her human slave (and his sandwich). This little dog isn’t spoiled in the least.
After finishing lunch, it was time to check out the biggest draw to this little town. Yep, that famous rock.
We headed back to the waterfront and wandered over to Pilgrim Memorial State Park where the historical landmark is located. I knew this was the place because why else would there be ginormous Greek columns sitting by the seashore?
As soon as we walked over to the display and my eyes fell upon the famous landmark I uttered an incredulous:
“That’s it?” I felt bad even thinking that, but this was not what I was expecting.
But it IS an important part of American History and it attracts more than 1 million visitors each year. As you all probably know, this world famous monument marks the place where the Mayflower pilgrims arrived in America (well, after they stopped in Cape Cod first) and eventually formed Plymouth Colony. This was also the very first permanent European settlement in New England.
I loved the beautiful columns that surround the rock. Now these are impressive!
He also gave us some fun trivia tidbits as well. For instance, do you know why the rock is so much smaller than what people expect? It used to be much bigger but a few years ago the rock broke into two chunks while it was being moved. Also, back in the day tourists used to be allowed to carve off a chunk of the rock to take home as a souvenir!! Um, maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.
It’s a good thing the rock finally being preserved and behind an iron fence because if that was still happening today, the rock would be the size of a marble.
After checking out the rock, we decided to go look for the Mayflower II. But we suddenly heard the tourist guide tell someone that it was undergoing restoration and won’t be back in Plymouth until 2019. Darn.
But we DID end up seeing it in the end because a few days later, while in Mystic, Connecticut (yeah, we took an even longer route home in the end haha), we saw the famous shop docked at the Mystic Seaport! Yep, that’s where it’s being restored. How lucky is that?
We couldn’t see it in all its glory as it was getting fixed up and was partially covered, but it was pretty neat to see nonetheless.
After checking out Plymouth Rock, we took a few more pics and then headed back to the water because our little furry pal was getting hot again and wanted another swim.
Soon after, it started to cloud over and rain lightly so we figured this was the perfect time to check out an indoor attraction: the museum! I’m a huge history buff so learning about the history of a town is one of the highlights of travel for me. You’d have to drag me to a theatre or an art gallery most of the time, but I will happily go to a museum. And I couldn’t wait to check out the oldest public museum in America….
The Pilgrim Hall Museum.
With the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival coming up, I figured this would be a great way to learn more about America’s colourful past.
The museum had tons of great displays, lots of info about the Pilgrims and several artifacts from that time period as well. I was very impressed.
There was also a special ‘Wedding exhibit’ being shown at the time which was pretty neat to check out. I loved seeing some of the wedding dresses & outfits from back in those days.
There were also several recipe cards of wedding cakes from that time period as well.
Oooh, baked goods? Now we’re talking.
Did you know that fruit cake was the most popular type of wedding cake back in those days? It was actually far more popular than vanilla or chocolate until about 30-40 years ago. My favourite Aunt, who’s in her 80s, talks about the fruit cakes she’s had at weddings when she was young. I don’t think I’ve ever had a piece of fruit cake at a wedding….thank the lord (HA!)
If you’re still here (woohoo) thanks for reading, guys! I really hope you enjoyed our day at Plymouth. There is a lot more to do here in this lovely town, but we were only here for a day so I can’t wait to come back to see more of this town another time. Hopefully my post gives you a nice taste of Plymouth and maybe you’ll even check it out next time you’re in the Boston area?
Okay, I promised….here’s the pie I made last weekend as a tribute to my American friends for their Thanksgiving. It’s Sweet Potato Pie with Reese’s Pieces Corn on the Cobs 🙂
Have a great rest of the week everyone! Don’t forget to make this vibrant and colourful pie (recipe below) to get your holidays started on the right foot. You won’t regret it.
Dana xo
A couple of questions for you:
1. Have you ever been to Plymouth? If so, what did you think of the famous rock?
2. What’s your favourite fall or thanksgiving-themed pie?
Please let me know in the comments, or even just say hello! xo
Cranberry Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream
Ingredients
Ingredients
For the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Gingersnap Crust
- 1 cup GF flour
- 1/2 cup walnuts crushed.
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger or finely grated fresh ginger or more if you like a stronger ginger flavour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Cranberry Curd Filling
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries can use frozen
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 Tablespoons water
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup salted butter room temperature
Garnish: Coconut, Regular Dairy or Marshmallow whipped cream & Sugared Cranberries
Instructions
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1.Preheat oven to 325F
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In medium bowl mix together flour, ground walnuts, sugar, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Mix well and then pour in melted butter or coconut oil (liquid).
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Scoop mix into an 8" pie plate and pat down so there aren't too many loose crumbs.
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Bake for 10 minutes and then remove from oven and allow to cool before adding cranberry curd filling.
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In medium saucepan, mix together cranberries, sugar, and water. Cook for about 10-15 minutes on medium heat until cranberries are cooked and they are easily broken with the side of a wooden spoon. Cool and puree in blender until it's a smooth mixture.
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Mix puree, eggs, yolks, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup and brown sugar in a large saucepan and cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly. After about 8 minutes, the mixture will have a pudding texture and will coat the back of a spoon. Cool for a few minutes and then add butter and mix vigorously with a wooden spoon or stand mixer until the butter is melted and the pudding is thick and fluffy.
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Pour cranberry curd into the baked (and cooled) pie shell and refrigerate overnight, or at least 3-4 hours. Do not cut into it any sooner or it'll be more pudding-like than a clean pie slice.
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Cut into slices and top with regular or coconut whipped cream. Enjoy!
Lenka says
Hi – lovely story, pictures and of course, pie.
Yes, American Thanksgiving did begin in Plymouth but the very first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Canada. Little known fact. 😄
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thanksgiving-day
Pies & Prejudice says
Thanks Lenka. I’ve read that, too and had debated about putting that in my story but since it was close to Thanksgiving in the US at the time and we were in Plymouth, I decided not to go into too much detail about the history of the holiday. My post was already too long as it was 😀 The first Thanksgiving feast took place in Newfoundland in 1758, over 40 years sooner than America’s first thanksgiving in Plymouth. We do celebrate Thanksgiving earlier than our US friends so that’s definitely a clue 😉
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I’m pretty obsessed with cranberries so I’m loving everything about this pie, especially the color!!
Pies & Prejudice says
me too, I love cranberries and they’re my favourite part of a thanksgiving dinner. So I thought it was time to make a pie with them. The curd is basically a lemon curd with cranberry puree added, SO good! And the vibrant colour is the best part. Thank you so much Amy! 😀
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I love that Mittan loves to swim! Cookie will not go NEAR the water–especially ocean, so I torture her by trying to get her to go a little closer every time we’re at the beach (which isn’t often anymore since we’re in Phoenix!). And all your tree pics! I lived in New York for a couple of years so I experienced their fall but I’ve never done fall in Massachusetts or anything and I really want to someday! All those vibrant colors almost make me miss seasons. Almost :). As for this pie–that color is as pretty as the trees! As always, your pie sounds incredible as well as being gorgeous! Have a great week, my dear!