When we were in South Carolina this past week we had this terrific sweet potato casserole. I came home and wanted to find a recipe that tasted just like it. I found this one on the internet and it was pretty close. I used sliced almonds instead of pecans because I didn't have any. I also put tiny marshmallows on top and browned them under the broiler. Yum!

Also, Walmart has their sweet potatoes on sale for .50 a pound. Bonus!

Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

3 large sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 stick butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

***Crunch Topping***

1/3 cup melted butter

1/3 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Boil potatoes until tender. Remove skins when cooled. Put into a large bowl and whip them until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased casserole and top with the Crunch Topping. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes.

Rocky Road Fudge, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!, adapted from Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

12 ounce package chocolate chips (I used Hershey’s Special Dark chips)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (I used the Borden’s Eagle Brand fat free one)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups dry roasted peanuts

Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with foil, enough to overhang on the edges. Spray lightly with cooking spray (or use non-stick foil).

In a large saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, butter and condensed milk over medium heat until it is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the peanuts and marshmallows. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Refrigerate for a couple hours. Remove the fudge by lifting it with the foil edges. Pull the foil off the fudge and set it on a cutting board. Slice into desired sized pieces.

Pumpkin Dessert

This is one of my favorites from my grandma Helen

Mix: 29 oz. can pumpkin

3 eggs

4 t. pumpkin spice

1 c. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 can milk

Place in 9x12 greased glass dish. Sprinkle 1 box yellow cake mix on top then add 1 c. chopped nuts on top. 1 1/2 square butter on top. Bake 1 hour at 350. Top with ice-cream or whipped cream.

Heavenly Pumpkin Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

4 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter, melted

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

In large mixing bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs well, add in sugar and butter, mix well. Add pumpkin and vanilla and mix. Add flour and spices and mix well. Spread in 9x13” greased pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

Frosting

3 ounces cream cheese softened

½ cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

(Maple extract can be substituted for vanilla)

After frosting, drizzle melted milk chocolate chips over top and sprinkle with toffee chips or nuts.

from Jennifer Bjornestad

Tomato Soup

With all the tomatoes I have been getting from my garden I thought I would try my hand at making tomato soup. It was delish! Here is the recipe.


8 tomatoes peeled and seeded
1 lg can tomato juice (the big one, I think it was 64 oz.)
Fresh Basil (I used the whole fresh package you buy in the produce department)
1 cube butter
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Salt
Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

I simmered the tomatoes, tomato juice, and basil for 30 minutes then added the other ingredients and let simmer for another 30 minutes. If you have one of those nifty blenders you put in the pot you can puree the soup. I tried my hand held mixer and it didn't do much so the soup was a little chunky. The family loved it!

Grandma Beck's Rolls

2 c warm milk
4 T dry yeast
6-8 T sugar or honey
1 T salt
1 cube butter
1 3/4 c warm water
7 1/2 c flour
Mix on high for about 3 min.
Dump into a greased bowl and let sit for about 30 min or until double in size
Cut rolls out and place on baking sheet and let rise. Bake at 375 until golden brown.

Bonnie's Wonton Soup

5 cans chicken stock
1 T sesame dressing or sesame oil
1/2 c sugar
potstickers
snow peas
mushrooms sliced
BBQ pork from Costco
green onions
shredded carrots
sliced water chestnuts
soy sauce

Boil until potstickers and veggies are done