Yam Praline Crunch

My SIL Sara's classic sweet potato casserole with the delicious topping my husband asks for every year at Thanksgiving.  Super delicious.  

Photo Source:Bakers Royale

Recipe Source from my SIL at ReddHotRecipes

YAM PRALINE CRUNCH-Sara

• Yams:
• 28 oz. Can yams, drained and mashed
• ¼ t. salt
• ¼ c. butter
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• In 8 x 8 inch casserole dish, mix all ingredients well. Sprinkle with topping. Microwave on high 8 minutes or bake @ 350 for 25 minutes (until bubbly)
• Topping:
• 3 T. butter
• 3 T. flour
• ¾ c. dark brown sugar
• ¾-1 c. pecans, chopped
• ½ c. sugar
• ½ t. cinnamon
• 1 t. vanilla
• Mix all ingredients in separate bowl until all butter is mixed in thoroughly. Sprinkle over yams.
• *This is a must have at all Thanksgiving feasts (you may want to half the topping to make it less of a dessert and more of a side...but your family might complain! It's SO good!

Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

This is a hearty recipe and makes a good amount of food (heavy pan). Its a great improvement from the one time I tried to make an overnight breakfast casserole in the crockpot that had too much salt in it. My husband woke up in the middle of the night thinking the house was on fire from the cheese burning to the sides of the crock pot. He graciously faked his way eating through a bowl of it so I wouldn't feel bad. Then I tried it myself and threw the whole thing in the garbage. It was terrible…and so funny….after the fact! This recipe is much improved and a keeper! :)


Recipe Source: My SIL Heather
Photo Source: The Kitchn

Makes 1 9x13-inch casserole

Prep 10 mins

COOK 55 mins

READY IN 1 hr 15 mins


1 pound sliced bacon, diced 1 sweet onion, chopped 4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed 9 eggs, lightly beaten 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese 1 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese  

Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir bacon and onion until bacon is evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain. Transfer bacon and onion to a large bowl. 

Stir in potatoes, eggs, Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and Swiss cheese. 
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until eggs are set and cheese is melted, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Yummy Alfredo Sauce

1/4 c butter
4 oz cream cheese

In a medium sauce pan, melt above ingredients and add 2-3 TBSP flour to thicken.  Cook for 1 minute or so oner medium heat.

Add and stir:
2-3 c milk (can use half cream and half milk if desired)

Add and stir:
1/2-3/4 c parmesan cheese

Add and stir:
garlic powder and salt to taste

Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat, stirring until thick and bubbly.  Delicious served over pasta and with blackened chicken.

Recipe Source: My SIL Charity
Photo Source: Tasty Kitchen

Marshmallow Yams

Classic yam recipe for Thanksgiving!  

 For an 8x8 pan.  Double recipe below for a 9x13 pan.
1 29 oz can yams
1/3 c butter
2/3 c brown sugar
2/3 c syrup from the yams can
1/2 tsp salt
1tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2-1 c pecans (optional)
marshmallows


Combine yam syrup, butter, sugar and salt.  Bring it to a boil to thicken.  Add cinnamon and nutmeg; bring to a simmer.  Add pecans to mixture.  Put the drained yams into a pan.  Cut them into bite-sized pieces.  Pour the liquid mixture over the yams.  Bake yams in a 350 degree oven, basting frequently, for 20-30 minutes (I didn't baste them last time and they were fine).  About 5 minutes before serving, sprinkle marshmallows on top until they are toasted golden brown.


Recipe Source: from a can of yams about 10 years ago!
Photo Source: Recipe Girl

The Best Breadsticks

Mel's Kitchen Cafe has done it again!  These breadsticks are amazing and incredibly fast to make.  Below you will find Mel's directions from Mel's Kitchen Cafe but I did things a little differently.  I sprayed the pan with pam instead of butter.  I also baked them plain, without any seasoning.  I buttered the breadsticks and seasoned with garlic salt and asiago cheese after they were done baking.  i then placed them back in the oven for a minute so the cheese would melt.  my whole family loved them!  they would go well with any kind of soup or spaghetti.  I have also made this recipe and wrapped them around hotdogs to make "mummy dogs" for halloween or "pigs in a blanket" for a regular meal.  its no wonder I can't lose the last 5 pounds of pregnancy weight! enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 ½ cups flour (I usually use a combination of unbleached all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour but use whatever you have on hand!)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of choice (I vary this depending on my mood but it usually consists of rosemary, basil, or thyme in some form and crushed finely) and parmesan cheese.
2. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Picture and Recipe Source: Mels Kitchen Cafe

Kim Chee Dip

Dip for veggies or crackers.  Its definitely an Asian-type of dip.   I only know what the ingredients are because I live in Hawaii!  My husband loved it.


Ingredients:
Won Bok Kim Chee, chopped small, about 1 cup after liquid is squeezed out
Fish cake-about 1/2 of oblong block
green onions, chopped fine
mayonnaise-about 1/2 cups or until creamy.


1.  Chop kim chee, squeeze out liquid with hands.
2.  Grate fishcake fine.  Chop if desired for a more fine texture.
3.  Chop green onions.  Mix mayo with ingredients.
4.  Add salt and pepper if desired (I had it without and it was fine).    Chill.
5.  Serve with Ritz crackers or raw veggies.

Recipe Source: Keolu Ward Activity Night-Brenda V.
Photo Source: Serious Eats

Dill Pickle Dip

1 c chopped dill pickles (squeeze out liquid)
1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz carton sour cream

1.  In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream with electric mixer until fluffy.  Add in dill pickles.  Chill.

2.  Serve with vegetable dippers, crackers or chips.

Creamy Onion Dip: prepare as above, except omit dill pickles and stir in 2 TBSP regular onion soup mix into beaten cream cheese mixture.


Recipe Source:  Brenda V from the Keolu Ward
Photo Source: Oregon Live

Cinnamon 'n' Spice Fruit Dip

I got this recipe from a Relief Society activity night, which I later found on the Taste of Home website.  The unique thing about this recipe is it is SOOOO easy.  Too easy.  And still really good.


Makes 2 cups

2 cups whipped topping (Cool Whip)
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/8-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
assorted fresh fruit

1.  In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
2.  Serve with fresh fruit.


Recipe and Photo Source: Taste of Home