Mah’s Neighborhood

CINNAMON SWEET POTATOES WITH VANILLA

3 lbs. sweet potatoes

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

Cook sweet potatoes in salted water until tender.  Cool slightly, then peel.  Place sweet potatoes in bowl of blender with other ingredients.  Process until smooth.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Adapted from a recipe in the November 2009 edition of Prevention. 

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CREAMY TURKEY AND NOODLES

1 large onion, chopped

3 celery ribs, sliced

1 cup baby carrots, sliced

6 tbsp butter

6 tbsp flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp each dried thyme and parsley flakes

2 cups milk

4 cups cubed cooked turkey

4 cups turkey broth

1 cup frozen peas

4 oz dry egg noodles

In a large saucepan, saute onion, celery, and carrots in butter until tender, about 10 minutes.  Stir in flour and seasonings.  Gradually add milk.  Bring to boil and cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until thinkened.  Add turkey and noodles.  Add broth.  Stir.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add peas and continue heating until noodles and vegetables are tender. 

Adapted from recipe found at www.tasteofhome.com. 

SARAH'S POTATO SOUP

2 cups water

4 cups raw diced potatoes

1/2 cup diced celery

1 cup diced onion

1 cup milk

3 tsp. chicken soup base or bouillion cubes

1 cup half & half

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 tbsp flour

Cook potatoes, celery, and onion in water for 20 minutes, or until tender.  Add milk.  Mix together sour cream, flour, and half & half.  Add some warm soup to sour cream mixture.  Return to pan, and heat until thick.  Do not boil. 

FRENCH BREAD STUFFING

1 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cups chopped celery

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

10 cups French bread cubes

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp sage

1 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup chicken broth (if needed)

Preheat oven to 325.

In large skillet, cook and stir onion and celery in better until onion in tender.  Stir in about 1/3 of the bread cubes.  Add seasonings and stir.  Turn into bowl with rest of bread cubes and toss.  If stuffing appears to be too dry, add chicken broth and toss.

Turn stuffing into buttered 9 x 13 inch glass dish.  Cover with foil.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for 15 minutes. 

To make ahead of time, take out of oven after 30 minutes.  Vent foil and let cool.  Refrigerate.  Remove foil and finish baking prior to serving. 

CREAMY LEMON CHEESECAKE

2 pkgs (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

2 eggs

1 graham cracker pie crust

Preheat oven to 375.  Beat cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.  Add sugar; beat until well blended.  Add sour cream, lemon juice, and lemon peel.  Mix well.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. 

Pour mixture into pie crust.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. 

I found this recipe on the back of the Honey Maid graham pie crust.  I tried it for the first time on Saturday, and liked it so well that I made another one on Monday afternoon.  That one was gone by the time I got home from work on Tuesday.  Glad I ate a piece for breakfast! 

APPLESAUCE SALAD

3 cups applesauce

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

6 oz strawberry or cherry jello (1 large package)

2 cups water

1 tbsp lemon juice

Combine applesauce, sugar, and cinnamon in saucepan.  Heat to boiling, stirring frequently.  Add jello and stir until dissolved.  Add water and lemon juice.  Pour into pretty clear dish.  Chill until set. 

Looks pretty on the holiday table or buffet.  Good for carry-ins.  Nice for those who don't like cranberries. 

We had time to make extra cakes yesterday for the cake case and to put in the freezer to save for the weekend.  I'm on a roll making holiday cakes for some reason.  But what else are you going to do this time of year?  Here's a few of my examples from yesterday. 

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This is a photo I took of the back of my youngest daughter's Christmas card showing off her "babies".  Our Texas daughter created the card.  If you are interested in more than just the usual photo Christmas card, take a look at her web site, www.sentimentsbysarah.com.  She has examples of cards she has created, including the invitation she created for our 40th wedding anniversary. 

Tuesday night:

FD rolls over in bed.

Mr FD : Be careful!

FD: What?

Mr FD : Be careful of the chicks!

FD: Chicks? We have chicks in our beds?

Mr FD : Penguin chicks.

FD: How many penguin chicks are in our bed?

Mr FD : Lots - 8 to 12 at least.

FD : We have 8 to12 chicks sleeping in our bed with us?

Mr FD : Yes, so be careful when you move.

FD: If they poop on the sheets I won't be happy

Mr FD : Oh they won't do that, they have diapers.

FD : Of course they would! How long are these chicks staying with us in our bed

Mr FD: I don't know, awhile. Until their parents come back for them.

FD: And where are their parents?

Mr FD; On holiday.

FD: You are making them breakfast. 

Wednesday night

Mr FD : I am going public

FD: Going public about what?

Mr FD : Tiger Woods and I.

FD : You've had an affair with Tiger too?

Mr FD: Yes. I feel so used now.

FD: Where did you meet him?

Mr FD : In the valley [night area].

FD: What were you wearing?

Mr FD : A tight little number. Blue, orange, a splash of red.

FD: Did you wear heels?

Mr FD: Oh course! And sequins. It was kind of a jumpsuit thing.

FD: Do you think you will recover?

Mr FD : I feel sooooo used...sigh 

Tonight should be a full moon according to the calendar, but it was almost full last night when I got home from work about 9:00 pm.  I usually don't have any luck at all taking photos of the moon, but I thought this one was pretty good.  There was a big hazy cloud around the moon.  I don't remember seeing it look like that before.

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