Aunt Jan's Sweet Potatoes

I got this recipe from friend, Heather, several years ago and can not say enough about it. It's actually her aunt's recipe. It's wonderful, delish, a heart attack in a casserole, but ohhhhh, so tasty! Since I'm making three double batches of these for the family party tonight and realized that I'd never posted it here on the cooking blog, it is time! One suggestion. Read through the recipe before you make it so that you get it right! I always double this recipe and put it in a 9x13" pan..

3 cups cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
1/4 c. sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 c. flour

Combine potatoes, sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, salt, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, milk and vanilla. Place in buttered 2-quart casserole pan. Combine remaining butter, brown sugar, nuts and flour. Spoon over potatoes. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Zucchini Patties

Of all the zucchini recipes I've ever made, I think that these are right up there at the top!  Well... except for a nice chocolatey Zuchinni Cake...well, there's no comparison.  But, seriously, these were a huge hit and are quite simple to make!  I came up with the recipe using what I had in the kitchen instead.  Try them!

2 eight - ten inch zucchini, shredded and drained (about 7-8 cups shredded)
2 cups Herb Seasoned Pepperidge Farms Stuffing Crumbs
2 cups shredded ColbyJack cheese
2 large eggs
1 heaping tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper (or more!) 

Drain the shredded zucchini by squeezing it in between paper towels.  Mix all of the ingredients well.  Cover the bottom of a frypan with olive oil.  When it is very hot, drop 1/3 cup scoops of zucchini mixture and flatten like very thick pancakes in the pan.  Cook about 3-4 minutes and turn over like a pancake.  Cook another 3-4 minutes.  Serve hot!  I served with homemade ranch dressing as a dip on the side.  OH MY!  Enjoy!

Cilantro-Peanut Pesto Pasta

I also made this tasty pasta.  Friend, Hayley had pinned it as I was just walking out the door to Lee's Marketplace.  So, I thought I'd pick up the two things that I still needed.  I tried it and OH MY!  SO SO GOOD.  Here's my version...I did make a few adjustments to the recipe and here's how we loved it.

1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)

1 clove garlic, smashed, peeled, and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 chopped red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
zest and juice from one fresh lime (about 2 tsp zest and 2 Tbs juice)
1/4 cup roasted peanuts (plus more for serving, if desired)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
16 oz linguine, cooked according to box instructions

Cook pasta as directed on the box.  While it's cooking, in a food processor, combine everything except soy sauce. Chop until everything is quite fine.  Season with soy sauce and pulse to combine.  In a large bowl, toss pesto with hot pasta.  Roughly chop additional peanuts and sprinkle over pasta along with extra cilantro leaves and lime wedges if desired.  Serve immediately.  (If you’re prepping and not quite ready to eat yet, wait to toss with the pasta for the best flavor and the pesto dries quite quickly on the pasta.  We added a bit more soy sauce onto the pasta after serving.)  Serves 4 main dish or 6-8 small sides.  SO SO GOOD!  

Baked Cheesy Veggies

Carol made this last year and I'd forgotten all about them until yesterday. Oh, how glad I am that she made them again so that I can keep the recipe for good! This is so simple and so dang good! (Sorry, it's a stock photo because I didn't think to take my camera over last night. I'll photograph this dish when I make it, for sure!)

Boil or steam fresh carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. Use enough to fill a 9x13" casserole dish. Layer the veggies in the pan and then top with fresh sliced mushrooms. (I imagine you could use whatever fresh veggies you'd like.

Then, mix:

One stick of butter

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

8 oz velvetta

Melt the above ingredients together. Pour over top of the mushrooms and bake 350 for 30-40 minutes. Carol said that if you make this ahead, refrigerate it and then bake it before serving, it takes the full 30-40 minutes. But, if you make the veggies and pour the sauce over the top just before serving, you only need to bake it until the sauce is hot. I'll be adding fresh garlic to the veggies, some salt and lots of pepper too. Enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Stuffing

This is one recipe that I've never recorded before because I've never really measured what goes in it. This morning, I took note of what I was using. It makes a TON of stuffing, but I use it for a casserole with leftover turkey. Besides that, stuffing is one of the best things to snitch a piece of all weekend, right? Especially with cranberry salad for a snack! This recipe could be cut in half or thirds, but here's what I make each Thanksgiving, whether we are having 30 people or 2. It does freeze well, but we never have any left after a few days. It's not diet stuffing!

3 - 12oz. bags of Pepperidge Farms Herb Flavored Stuffing croutons or crumbs

1 large bunch of celery

2 large onions

2 cans sliced mushrooms or 1 large package of fresh mushrooms

1 pound of butter (told ya!)

6 eggs

about 6- 8 cups water

1 Tbsp. poultry seasoning

2 regular size cans of chicken broth

salt and pepper

Finely chop the celery, onions and mushrooms. Saute the veggies in 2 sticks of butter until cooked well. In a very large bowl (the large FixNMix Tupperware bowl), pour the sauteed veggies over the bread crumbs and cubes. In a separate large mixing bowl, mix the eggs, poultry seasoning and water and also two more sticks of melted butter. Pour over the bread. Also pour the chicken broth over the bread and veggies. Mix well. Add more water, if desired, to get the bread mixture to the desired moistness and texture. We like it very moist. Pour and spread into three large baking sheets. (I use the Pampered Chef deep baking sheets.) Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until cooked through.

I usually make this stuffing the day before Thanksgiving. Keep it sealed tightly with the foil and reheat. before serving. Cut into squares or scoop into a bowl after reheating to serve. Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Spanish Rice

This is a great rice that's tastier than any packaged Spanish Rice, almost as simple and much less expensive than a little box that has two servings in it!

3 cups rice
6 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1 tbs[. Taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups salsa
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in a 9x13" pan and cover tightly. Bake for one hour at 375. Season to taste, fluff and serve. You may also top with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream and a little more salsa just before serving. Enjoy!