Rich, creamy mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for any holiday meal. They are so quick and easy , you’ll want to enjoy them throughout the year. Sweet potatoes are as nutritious as they are delicious. They contain fewer calories and are higher in fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C than their white counterparts. See the infographic from Cleveland Clinic below for a quick comparison. You can peel and cut the sweet potatoes in small, uniform cubes before adding to water for boiling. Cook until sweet potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove from heat and drain. OR you can put whole, and thoroughly washed, sweet potatoes in a medium to large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook until sweet potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove from ... [Read More]
side dish
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms are a delicious, warm, cheesy and filling addition to an appetizer table. You can also serve them as a side dish at a pot luck. Sooo good. Unless you talk to someone like Bytes who can only mumble “fungus”. That’s okay – more for the rest of us. And they disappear quickly so don’t dally in loading your plate. Look for packages of larger baby bellas in your produce section. Larger mushrooms are easier to stuff and handle without breaking. When dicing the stems and cutting the spinach, make the pieces small so they will blend into the mixture evenly. Italian mix cheese is not available at every store; Kraft is the brand I find most often. If you don’t find it at your store, use shredded parmesan and romano. Bake until the cheese is golden ... [Read More]
Wicked Good Unusual Baked Corn Chowder
Last spring, my niece graduated college so we did the family thing and threw a day of eating to celebrate. Her dad (my brother) Gene, and wife Deb drove all the way from North Carolina to the middle of the Great Plains where we live. Deb dashed out to the local store and grabbed a bunch of groceries to put together their contribution to the celebration. Unusual Corn Chowder was one of the dishes she prepared. Now y’all know Deb is from New England. She said it’s also called Corn Pudding up in the northeastern corner of this big country. Here in the Great Plains it’s sometimes called Scalloped Corn. Although my elderly aunt once scoffed at that because “everyone knows if you scallop something, it’s got crackers in it and this doesn’t”. She called it Corn Casserole. My sister Bee ... [Read More]
Ham and Cheese Mini Quiche
This crustless Ham and Cheese Mini Quiche is low on the carb scale – like 3 grams of carbs with 12 grams of protein. Healthy enough for every day and deliciously handsome and tasty enough for company! Ham and Cheese Mini Quiches work very well as a make ahead and freeze till needed dish. Great for overnight guests! Breakfast fit for royalty in a flash and no fuss. Or thaw one or two overnight and warm in the microwave for a quick breakfast before work or heading off to school. These cozy little quiches also make a nice dinner with a crisp salad on the side. Nutmeg is frequently used in Swedish cooking particularly. And often for custard type dishes in other cuisines. I’m always a little startled when I see it in a savory dish since I associate it with sweet desserts. And my ... [Read More]
Struessel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is good anytime of year . Dressed up, it’s the perfect accompaniment to any holiday meal. This sweet potato recipe has no marshmallows. Just a crunchy Struesel topping to contrast with the deep sweet potato flavor! No sweet, sticky marshmallows fans in our house :-) Cook and mash the sweet potatoes before measuring. If you are in a hurry (or can’t get fresh sweet potatoes, as they are not always available), use a 40 ounce can and drain before mashing. If you use yams, remember they are a bit sweeter than sweet potatoes so you might want to reduce the sugar a bit. You can add coconut to the topping of this traditional dish. I usually don't, but when I made this I had a bit of coconut hanging out and lonely in the pantry. So I added it. Baking time will vary a ... [Read More]
