Family-Friendly Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Here’s another dish that’s great for family get-togethers that will have people clamoring for the recipe. A mix between savory and sweet, this double-duty casserole can be served as a side dish and also satisfies a sweet tooth. Also, if you feel like simplifying things, go ahead and use canned sweet potatoes/yams; it saves time and tastes just as good. After trying this, you’ll be racking your brains for more ways to use those delicious sweet potatoes!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

(Serves 10-12)

• 2 lbs. sweet potatoes, 5-6 medium sweet potatoes
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup evaporated milk (low-fat optional)
• 2 eggs
• 
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

For Topping: 

• 1 cup pecans
, chopped
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 2/3 cup brown sugar

• 1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
• 
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Butter a 9x13 baking dish
3. Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of water and boil until tender. Allow to cool and remove skin. Dice into 1-1 ½ inch cubes
4. In a large bowl, mix or mash potatoes and add sugars, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Mix well and pour into baking dish.
5. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all “Topping” ingredients. Mix well to make sure everything is incorporated. Spread topping evenly on top of sweet potato mixture.
6. Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy. Optional: place under broiler for 30 seconds until top is bubbling. Allow 10 minutes to cool and serve hot.

Tasty Bite-Sized Treats: Brown Sugar and Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

Are you ready for some easy entertaining? These Bacon-Wrapped Smokies (wrapped sausage, pork, chicken, beef…your choice) are so straightforward and an absolute crowd favorite! Great for children and adults alike, all you need are three ingredients to get the party started. If you have kids, this is the perfect cooking activity to engage your little helpers and then you’ll have the yummy treat to reward them for their help; if not, more savory, sweet goodness for you! Either way, you should probably try them out and see how simple and delicious it really is…

Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

(Makes 16 servings)

Ingredients 

1(16 oz) package of bacon, cut into thirds

1 (14 oz) package of mini sausages or cocktail wieners

3/4 cup brown sugar (for extra smokiness use dark brown sugar)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F and cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Cut bacon slices into thirds. It’s easier to wrap the smokies with cold bacon, so refrigerate majority of the slab when you start wrapping.
3. Take a piece of bacon (1/3 of full slice) and wrap it around your sausage. Secure it in place with a toothpick. Continue wrapping.
4. Place your finished smokies on the baking sheet and sprinkle them liberally with brown sugar.
5. Bake sausages for 40-45 minutes or until the sugar is bubbly and has melted and the bacon is crispy.