Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe was altered from the Pioneer Woman recipe found here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/if_you_think_you_dont_like_sweet_potatoesthink_again/

Feeds: 20 people for a Brubaker Cabin Thanksgiving 2016

Prep time: 45 minutes; I did mine in stages. I baked and peeled the potatoes the day before.

Cook time: around 30 minutes or until the topping is browned and crunchy

Ingredients

Casserole Portion

6 - 8 large sweet potatoes

1 - 2 cups of white sugar (depending on how sweet you want it and how many potatoes you use)

2 cups of milk (I used skim)

4 whole eggs

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of salt

Topping

1 - 2 cups of brown sugar

1 - 2 cups of granola

1 cup of flour

1 1/2 sticks of butter chilled and cut into small squares

Directions

Step 1: Wash medium sweet potatoes and bake them in a 375-degree oven until fork tender, about 30-35 minutes.

Step 2: When they are finished cooking slice them open and scrape out the flesh into a large bowl. I did this while they were still hot so that they could slide right out of the skins. I held the hot potatoes with a silicone hot pad.

Step 3: Cut up the potatoes into chunks and the start mashing them.

Step 4: Add 1 cup of (regular granulated) sugar, 1 cup of milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of salt. With a potato masher, mash them up just enough—you don’t want to be perfectly smooth.

Step 5: In a separate bowl, add brown sugar, granola, flour, and 1 1/2 stick of butter. With a pastry cutter or fork, mash together until thoroughly combined.

Spread the sweet potato mixture into a regular baking dish and sprinkle the crumb mixture all over the top.

Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Pumpkin Gingerbread

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar - can substitute Sucanat
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree - or puree from fresh sugar pumpkin http://homecooking.about.com/od/vegetablerecipes/r/blv314.htm
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large mixing, combine sugar, oil and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, allspice cinnamon, and clove.
3. In medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between prepared pans.
4. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 263 | Total Fat: 10.2g | Cholesterol: 35mg

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I thought it was time to put some Thanksgiving recipes up.  Here is my tried and true garlic mashed potatoes that you ask me to make every year.  I do have a couple of things I throw in them at home (when not trying to please a broad variety of tastes).  The essential ingredients are in bold.
Yield: 10 Servings

Ingredients:
5 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes (about 9 large) peeled
2 T butter, softened
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice (I don't do this for Thanksgiving, I just add 1 cup cheap grated parmesan cheese) - but it is seriously yummy with cheddar
6 ounces of cream cheese - I use reduced fat
4 T of garlic (about 8 cloves, crushed and salted, or use the stuff from Costco)
Up to 1 1/4 cup milk (food storage baby -use the powdered stuff if you don't use whole milk)
2-3 strips of bacon crumbled up (another add on)
green onions sliced thin (another add on)
Salt and pepper to taste and add more butter to get the desired flavor and texture
Sometimes I add more garlic salt as well.

STEP ONE: peel potatoes & cut into chunks - smaller cook faster
STEP TWO: cover with water in a large pot and bring to a boil (unless you have Aunt Alice's pressure cooker), then let sit for 20 minutes or until tender - ok, it's usually much longer, but the original recipe says 20 minutes - maybe they have Aunt Alice's pressure cooker!
STEP THREE: Drain
STEP FOUR: If your pot is an old beater like mine, then leave the potatoes in it for this next part - if not - In a large mixing bowl, use beaters to mash potatoes and add butter,  cream cheese, milk and garlic, and anything else you decide to add.

To Freeze and Serve Later:
Cool and freeze in 2 cup portions in sandwich freezer bags or freezer containers - good for up to 2 months.
Thaw in either fridge or defrost in microwave.  Obviously heat them up, because that would be gross!