Mandatory Thanksgiving Fare!

I am the designated Sweet Potato Casserole guru of our family. It is my job to supply this delicacy to our Thanksgiving feast. I've shared the recipe with my sister in laws but they all say they can't make it like mine. (yeah right) The secret to this recipe is to use fresh potatoes, you cannot used canned ones, well you can, but it won't taste the same. And do not go anywhere near this recipe with a marshmallow.

The big secret?

Boil the potatoes in their peeling, do not peel and cook, do not bake.

Here's the recipe!

6 to 7 large sweet potatoes

3 eggs

1 cup of sugar (or more depending on how sweet you like it) taste, then taste again, maybe one more taste, then adjuster sugar to your liking

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 stick of butter.

Boil sweet potatoes (in peeling) until soft. Let cool just until you can hold them. Peel and put in large mixer bowl. Beat potatoes with mixer until well mashed.

add butter, sugar, vanilla, beat well, (this will cool down potatoes before you add the eggs)

then add eggs and beat it it, just beat it. (sorry)

Pour into greased 13 x 9 pan.

Topping:

1 box dark brown sugar

1 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

1/2 cup melted butter.

Mix and spread over top of potatoes.

Bake at 350 until middle is puffed and topping is gooey. About 45 minutes.

Let cool, it will be hard to do but a necessity if you value the roof of your mouth, serve and fight over the leftovers!

Yep it's that easy and so worth it!

Super Easy Halloween Craft

This is the kind of project I like, cheap and easy, but still cute. From Better Home & Gardens.com

Tin Can Luminarias
Light up the night Halloween-style with orange and black luminarias. Even young trick-or-treaters can make these cheerful lights with some adult help.

Materials
Tracing paper
Permanent marker
Clean empty tin cans
Hammer and large nail
Spray paint: orange and black
Wire
Tea-light candles

Instructions
Using tracing paper, trace the pumpkin face or bat patterns (download below), or make your own design. Transfer the pattern of your choice to a clean tin can; go over the transferred pattern with a permanent marker. Fill the tin can with water; place it in the freezer. When the water in the can is frozen, remove the can from the freezer.
Use a hammer and nail to puncture the design in the can. Punch two holes in the rim of the can on opposite sides, centering the design between the two holes. Let the ice melt; allow the can to dry completely.
Cut a 16-inch length of wire. Insert one end of the wire into a hole in the rim; twist the end of the wire around the wire length. Insert the other wire end through the other hole in the rim, securing the wire in the same manner.
Spray paint the pumpkin can orange and the bat can black. Let the paint dry. Place a tea-light candle inside the can and hang securely from a branch or garden hook.
Patterns

Bright Star Lemon Pie

There is a restaurant in Bessemer, Al. called the Bright Star. It's been around all of my life (a lot of years), that people travel from all corners of Alabama to eat at. One of the main attractions are their desserts! The lemon pie is one of the favorites and at long last, they've shared the recipe with us!

The Bright Star's Lemon Icebox Pie

4 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk, chilled
4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, chilled
2 9-inch graham-cracker pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
1 can whipped cream (for topping)

In a bowl, mix together sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks. In a steady stream while whisking, add lemon juice to mixture until well blended.(Note: mixture will thicken.) Pour mixture into pie crusts. Refrigerate at least one hour. Before serving, top pie with whipped cream. (Makes two 9-inch pies)

I made them this weekend for the hubby, who couldn't wait. They are fabulous. You must give this one a try!

Melinda

Homemade Linen Sprays

What a great idea for Teachers Gifts!!!!

from www.hallmark.com, comes a very simple, but elegant gift idea.

I can't wait to try this one.

Homemade linen sprays are such a luxurious yet simple gift that you’ll want to mix an extra bottle for yourself. By Amy Palanjian

SPRITZ A LITTLE on your sheets, or into the air of your bedroom, and breathe deeply. When it’s time to retreat indoors, a quick-to-concoct handmade linen spray can infuse your every day with the lighthearted scents of summer. And unlike pricey store-bought sprays that can be overly perfumed, all three of these unique combinations are fresh-smelling. With just four easy-to-find ingredients and these free Hallmark Magazine custom labels, you can create a thoughtful and personalized present.

JASMINE BERGAMOT A heady combination of potent floral and clean citrus, this is a gift for your most romantic and flower-loving friends.

LAVENDER SANDALWOOD Help soothe stress with the relaxing scent of lavender, rooted in the earthiness of sandalwood.

VANILLA GINGER Give the comforting aroma of vanilla, spiced up with a hint of ginger, to welcome the chilly weather.

The RecipeMakes 1 liter of linen spray2 tablespoons 100 proof vodka1 teaspoon jasmine oil and ½ teaspoon bergamot oilor1 teaspoon lavender oil and ½ teaspoon sandalwood oilor 1 teaspoon vanilla oil and 2 drops ginger oil 16- or 32-ounce bottle and sprayer Distilled water Mix the vodka and desired oils in a bottle. Add the distilled water until just full, screw on cap and shake to combine. (The alcohol helps disperse the oils evenly throughout the liquid.) Shake lightly before each use.

Oils: .5-ounce oils, $10–$47, frontiercoop.com.Madera Bottle: $.52 and Fine Mist Sprayer, $37; containerandpackaging.com; Boston Round Bottle, $1.50 and Metal Cap $.61; freundcontainer.com. NOTE: Both sites charge a $10–$15 processing fee on small orders.

A day we will never forget. A day we don't want to repeat.

God Bless America!

God bless those who are serving our country to protect us!