Sweet Potato Casserole

With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I'd share one of my favorite recipes that I've made for years. I've never been big on sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and this is a yummy, easy alternative. We don't usually put the pecans on (at my husband's request), but we love the sweet topping. Most of the time I do about 3 large sweet potatoes, which I know is over two pounds, but it still tastes fabulous without changing the other ingredients. We make it for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Printable Recipe

Sweet Potato Casserole

(from Better Homes and Gardens)

3 medium to large sweet potatoes
1/2 cup  sugar
1/4 cup  butter, melted
1/4 cup  milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon  vanilla

Topping:

1/2 cup  packed brown sugar
1/4 cup  all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon  butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Wash and peel sweet potatoes. Cut off woody portions and ends. Cut into quarters.

In a large saucepan, cook potatoes, covered, in enough boiling salted water to cover for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender; drain.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Transfer potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Mash lightly. 

Stir in sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, milk, egg, and vanilla. Transfer sweet potato mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish.

In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, pecans, flour, and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture.

Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. 

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Pecan Pie

This is a recipe from my grandmother. We've been making this version as long as I can remember. The few times I've tried something else, it's been a disaster, and we always run back to this one. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

 Pecan Pie

3 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 tsp. salt
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup dark corn syrup (or light, for a slightly less sweet pie)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pecan halves
1 9-inch pie crust


Beat eggs well.

Add sugar, salt, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Add pecans. Pour into pie crust.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between outside and center of filling comes out clean.

Cool before serving.

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving is almost here, and I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet. By far my favorite pumpkin pie recipe. It always turns out well and is very light and creamy. This is Paula Deen's recipe, but I can't believe there's only half a stick of butter! :)

Printable Recipe

Pumpkin Pie

from Food Network

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

1 cup half-and-half

1/4 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional

1 piece pre-made pie dough

Whipped cream, for topping


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern.

Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up.

Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. (I don't have pie weights, so usually I just prick holes in the crust, put the foil on, and don't worry about weighing it down.)

Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights, and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer.

Add the pumpkin and beat until combined.

Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined.

Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined.

Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set.

Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.