Lora's Sweet Potatoes

These were a big hit at our latest Thanksgiving dinner, and a special request from a particular guy in the congregation, so here you go, Aaron! Lora is currently dairy-free (due to baby A) so she includes notes on substitutions.

Lora Price's Sweet Potato Casserole

I make it dairy-free by substituting almond milk (unsweetened) and dairy-free butter.

3 c. cooked mashed sweet potatoes (3 med. sized potatoes, skinned)
1/2 stick melted margarine
1/2 cup sugar (1/4 cup is still plenty sweet if you're watching sugar)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Mix all ingredients together and put in a greased baking dish.

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 stick melted margarine
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix all ingredients together and crumble over potato mixture.  Bake at 350 for 35 - 40 minutes.
Enjoy!

Holiday Rum Cake

by Ronica Skarphol Brownson

This cake was made famous by the Bacardi company, and has become a popular one for the holidays. My husband's Grandma Mitzi made it every year, and it wouldn't be Christmas in our house without it! It stays moist and delicious for a long time due to the preservative qualities of the rum and butter glaze, and stays nice in the refrigerator or the freezer. It is one you can mail or give as a gift, and it's always a popular dessert. You can cook the glaze longer to make sure to rid it of the alcohol if you like, but it won't be as tasty or stay quite as moist if you do. I say leave it in. 

• ---Cake---
• 1 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts
• 1 18-1/2 ounce yellow cake mix
• one 3.4 ounce package (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix  

If your cake mix has pudding in it, you can skip the added pudding and reduce the number of eggs to 3 and the amount of oil to 1/3 cup.

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup Bacardi dark or gold rum

• ---Glaze---
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Bacardi dark or gold rum

Preparation:

Cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt or tube pan. (Or use Wilton Cake Release. I love that stuff! Works on my most intricate pans.) Sprinkle nuts on bottom of pan. Combine all cake ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes on high with electric mixer. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Invert on serving plate. Prick top with fork or knife. Drizzle glaze (recipe follows) over top of the cake. Use brush or spoon to put extra dripping back on cake. Easiest to slice with a serrated knife.

Glaze: Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Note: The rum will cause steam. Be careful not to burn yourself. 

Fruit Dip

by Kathy Brasier Sikorski

This was light, creamy and delicious! And with fruit, you can convince yourself it's healthy, too!

Fruit Dip
16 oz container vanilla yogurt
8 oz container Cool Whip
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Mix together using a whisk. Serve with fruit, vanilla wafers, or graham crackers. (Warning, it makes a lot!
)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars

by Kathy Brasier Sikorski

Mmmm! Perfect for fall! These would be delicious as an alternative to pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner. Or with it. We don't judge.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
1 pkg yellow cake mix
2 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
5 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water

Filling:
1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin
¼ cup cream cheese
¼ cup milk
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
¼ cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and oats; set aside ½ cup for topping. Add butter, honey and water to
remaining cake mixture. Press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9 baking pan.

For filling, in a large bowl, beat pumpkin, cream cheese, milk, brown sugar, maple syrup and spices until
blended. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust.

In a small bowl, combine walnuts, butter and reserved cake mixtures; sprinkle over filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely
before cutting into bars. Yield: 2 dozen

Party Meatballs

by Kathy Sikorski Brasier

I may have gone back for seconds of these. And thirds. And maybe the one on my 2-year old's plate that she didn't eat, I ate. Just maybe.

Party Meatballs
Mix together:
2 eggs, beaten
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon pepper
Add and mix together:
3 lbs ground beef
Shape into 1-inch meatballs. Place into 3 greased 13x9 baking pans.

Sauce: 2 cups ketchup
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
½ cup chopped onion
Mix together; pour over meatballs. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until cooked through. Yield: about
7 dozen meatballs

Rice Krispie Squares/Scotcheroos

By Kathy Brasier Sikorski

She calls them Rice Krispie Squares, to me they are Scotcheroos. Either way, they are fantastic. Perfect with a cup of hot coffee (to wash the sticky off your teeth.) So good!

Rice Krispie Squares
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup (white)
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 pkg chocolate chips
1 pkg butterscotch chips

Combine sugar and corn syrup and large pan. Heat to rolling boil. Remove from heat; stir in peanut
butter. Add cereal. Press into 13x9 pan. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together. Spread over
cereal mixture. Cool completely.

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

By Kathy Brasier Sikorski

This was delicious--I could have stolen the whole bowl and eaten it for lunch. (Not saying I did, but I could have!)

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 pkg (10 oz eac) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet (coated with spray or small amount of oil), cook and stir onion until tender. Add spinach.
Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Reduce heat to low; stir in cream cheese and
sour cream. Add the artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Cook 1-2
minutes. Transfer to ungreased 1 ½ quart dish; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and microwave on
high 2-3 minutes, until cheese melts. Serve warm with melba toast or pita chips or crackers. Yield: 18
servings