Sweet Potato Casserole

 Casserole Ingredients 

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup cold milk

1 40-ounce can drained yams

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 dash cinnamon

Topping Ingredients 

1 cup corn flakes, crushed

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the corn starch in the milk. 

In a separate bowl, mash the ends with a fork. 

Add the yams, butter, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon to the corn starch and milk and mix well.

Pour into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, makes the topping ingredients over low heat until combined. Set aside until Casserole has completed the 20-minute bake time.

Carefully spread/sprinkle the topping over the casserole and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the topping begins to brown slightly.  Serve warm.

Not Grandma's Potato Salad

As you can see by the title, this is not Grandma's recipe. But a few years ago I found one that was similar, and I've tweeked it a little each time I make it. One thing that Grandma does differently: she adds the potatoes while they're still somewhat warm. I think that's because they absorb the flavors a little more. But you have to be careful if you do it that way, because it's even harder to stir them without mashing them.

not Grandma’s Potato Salad

5 pounds red potatoes

1 large onion, chopped

2 1/2 cups mayo

1/4 cup prepared yellow mustard

6 hard-cooked eggs, diced

salt and pepper to taste

Place the potatoes in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until tender enough to pierce with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. Remove the peels and cut into cubes. Set aside to cool completely.

In a large bowl, mix together the onion, mayo, and mustard. Stir in the hard-cooked eggs and cooled potatoes. Try not to mash the potatoes very much. Season with salt and pepper.

Marie Callender's Cornbread

Recipe from TopSecretRecipes.com.

1 1/4 cups AP flour
3/4 cups cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg

Honey Butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup honey

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the milk, shortening and egg and mix only until the ingredients are well combined.

Pour the batter into a greased 8x8-inch pan.

Bake for 25 to 20 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown. Let the cornbread cool slightly before slicing it with a sharp knife into 9 pieces.

For the honey butter, use a mixer on high speed to whip the butter and honey together until smooth and fluffy.

Funeral Potatoes

There are plenty of great recipes out there for "cheesy potatoes." This is the one I asked sisters to make for funerals when I served as the Compassionate Service Leader.

1 small-medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp. butter
1 28-oz. bag shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 c. sour cream
1 10-oz. can cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom) soup
2 1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350.  In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.  Remove from heat.  Add the thawed hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, chee se, salt, and pepper and combine well.  Add additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Spread the mixture into a 9×13″ dish and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the casserole is hot in the center and the cheese is bubbly throughout.  Serve as a main dish with a salad and fruit or alongside roasted ham, turkey, chicken, or beef.  Makes 6-8 main dish or 10-12 side dish servings.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Casserole:
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup milk, cold
1 40-ounce can drained yams
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 dash cinnamon

Topping:
1 cup corn flakes, crushed
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 cup coconut

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the milk.
In a separate bowl, mash the yams with a fork.
Add the yams, butter, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon to the cornstarch and milk and mix well.
Pour into a 9x13 glass baking dish.
Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
In the meantime, mix the topping ingredients over low heat until combined.
Set aside until casserole has completed the 20-minute bake time.
Then carefully spread/sprinkle the topping over the casserole and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the topping begins to brown slightly.

Baked Zucchini Fries

About 1 pound zucchini

1/2 cup Italian-seasoned panko bread cumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (the crumbly stuff, not shreds)

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Whisk 2 eggs together in a shallow pie plate and set aside.

Cut the ends off the zucchini and then cut the zucchini in half so you have two short, stubby pieces. Set one piece on its end and cut it in half lengthwise. Cut that half in half, making 2 planks. Repeat with the remaining halves (so you'll get 16 planks per zucchini).

Stack 2 planks on top of each other and cut into strips. Thicker strips will yield "meatier" fries with more zucchini flavor while thin strips will be crispy and taste virtually nothing like zucchini. When all the fries are cut, blot the pieces with a paper towel.

Working with a small handful at a time, dip the zucchini sticks in the egg, shake them to remove any excess, and then roll them in about 2-3 tablespoons of bread crumbs at a time, adding more as needed; you just don't want to work with all the bread crumbs at once because they'll soak up moisture from the egg and won'mt stick to the zucchini.

Place the coated strips of the prepared baking sheet and repeat until all the zucchini strips have been coated.

Bake for 10-12 minutes in the prepared oven then remove from oven, flip the fries, and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the zucchini is not soggy and the coating is crisp and golden brown. Serve immediately with pizza sauce or buttermilk ranch dressing. Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

Penne with Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Mozzarella

from Real Simple

Total Time: 30 minutes

1/2 pound penne

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium eggplant (about 1 1/4 pounds), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cloves garlic, sliced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant and cook, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic, red pepper, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and cook, tossing, until the tomatoes soften, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Add the tomato mixture to the pasta, along with the mozzarella and reserved cooking water, and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the mint. Serves 4.

Baked Beans

Dice and Saute:
1 medium onion
1 green pepper
2 pieces celery
1 slice ham
When tender add:
1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
Add:
60 ounces canned baked beans, liquid at top skimmed off
1 cup grated cheese

Mix in a large slow cooker and cook on low for approximately four hours, stirring occasionally.

Phoebe's Mexican Rice

1 cup rice
1 tablespoon oil
1-3 green onions
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 cubes chicken bullion
Salt, to taste

Heat oil in large skillet or wok. Start boiling 2 cups water. Add rice and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until golden brown. Add green onions and garlic, cook for a couple of minutes to bring out flavors. Add 1 cup cold water along with bullion and salt.

When liquid is nearly gone, add boiling water and simmer, covered, until rice is done.

Makes enough for about 6 people.

Spanish Rice

2 cups rice
4 cups water
1 large can diced tomatoes
3 cubes chicken bouillon
1 8-ounces tomato sauce
1 large onion, in wedges
1 can diced green chiles (optional)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Lime wedges (optional)

Heat olive oil (use a large pan with a lid). Add rice and onion, cook until onion is tender. Add water and bouillon until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil. Cover, simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until water is absorbed. Serve with lime wedges.

Makes 10-12 servings.

Garlic Creamed Spinach

3 tablespoons salted butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup half-and-half
2 10-ounce boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for about 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and heat for about 1 minute. Whisk in half-and-half.
Squeeze water out of the thawed spinach and add the spinach to the saucepan. Add salt, nutmeg and black pepper and simmer for 20 minutes on medium/low heat. Spinach will be tender when done. Serves 4.

Chili Cheddar Penne

1-1/3 cups uncooked penne pasta

4 teaspoons butter

4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

4 teaspoons taco seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup frozen corn, thawed

2/3 cup chopped fresh tomatoes

1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained

Sliced avocado, optional

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk.

Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the cheese, taco seasoning and salt. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Drain pasta; stir into cheese sauce. Cook and stir for 3 minutes or until heated through.

Stir in the corn, tomatoes and chilies just until combined. Garnish with avocado if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Resort Fruit Salad

8 ounces can chunk pineapple
11 ounce can mandarin oranges
2 bananas, sliced
2 cups halved strawberries
1 1/2 cups halved green grapes
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
3.5 ounce box instant vanilla pudding

This fruit salad is really yummy-and great for a fancy dinner.

Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving liquid to combine with pudding mix in small bowl. Combine fruit in a large bowl. Fold in the pudding/juice mixture.

Squash and Pepper Medley

Source: Curves Member Guide
Prep Time: 30 minutes

1 pound zucchini or yellow squash
1 red bell pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Cut squash and pepper into julienne strips. Heat olive oil in skillet. Add chives and saute briefly. Add squash and pepper to skillet, with salt and pepper, and saute 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour over lemon juice and parmesan cheese and toss to coat well.
Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving: calories: 115, fat 9 g, saturated fat 2.5 g, protein 3 g, carbohydrates 6 g, fiber 1 g, cholesterol 6 mg, sodium 376 mg