So if you are bored.....

I really was looking for Black Friday Internet deals...honestly...and happened on this fun list of time killing games...and yes I killed time...time that will I will never get back...but what a hoot! So fun! I Loved it...no membership, no ads, just some fun games! The letters one you play against others and they steal your letters...like scrabble but there is stealing...the sand one is fun building sandy things....Go See!

http://www.web100.com/lists/7-sites-to-kill-time-and-have-fun-too

Cheers to Happy  !!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving

I am grateful for all of you!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Sweet Potato Pie...

Years ago I used to go to a restaurant named Southern Kitchen. The owners name was Lessie. She made the best Sweet Potato Pie....It was so flavorful and had an orange, nutmeg flavor. Lessie's recipe was a guarded secret....I tried every time I went in there to get the recipe....She passed away taking the recipe with her...This recipe is so close to Lessie's...I am sure she would be tickled and proud for you all to make this pie and think of Lessie!

Sweet Potato Pie
1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs
Bake the sweet potato until tender and soft and cool until warm....roughly mash the cooked sweet potato and 3 tablespoons of butter and then...In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sweet potato puree with the sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, combine the heavy cream with the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the cream and egg mixture to the sweet potato mixture and stir to blend. Pour the batter into the prepared pie shell and place the pie on a sheet pan. Bake until the center is set and the tart is golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes at 375....

bake 1 and 1/2 pounds of sweet potatoes....

after they are cooked, peel and chunk up and add the butter and mash...

you can use beaters, like I did, or a food processor, or just a masher...

add the sugar and maple syrup...

add the spices and stir thoroughly...

in a separate bowl, mix your eggs...and...

and pour in your cream...

slowly start stirring and mix.....

all together thoroughly......

pour into prepared crust and bake.....Let cool and serve!

This is a perfect desert for any party! It is rustic and flavorful and orangey, and nutmegy (I am sure it is a word) You will love this!!!!

Cheers To Happy  !!

.

Fresh Cran-Raspberry Sauce...

This looks more like Christmas that Thanksgiving but it is good for any holiday...I love the two flavors together...This is so simple to make and takes no time at all...there is no reason to buy already made cranberries...this can be done the few days prior to your dinner...
Cran-Raspberry Sauce
2 cups of zest of one fresh cranberries
2 cups of frozen raspberry's
1/2 cup of sugar
zest of one orange

put your cranberries in the pan and add ...

1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and zest of the orange and turn the heat on  to medium....

the add 1 cup of the frozen raspberries.....bring this to a boil and boil until thickened, about 10 minutes...once it has started to boil turn down to a simmer....it spits if it boils to hard.....

once it is a that thick stage turn off the heat and add the last one cup of frozen raspberries...

cool and refrigerate....

You will love this, I will save you some!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Trip to Ikea...

I went to Ikea today....I usually don't tell you all where I go, but today I must...because I want you to go there...I went to get a spice rack...I knew it would be busy on a Saturday, so I just thought I would pop in and get the rack...hah!....I had no cart just going to get the one thing...this is not a possibility at Ikea...I found so many cool things, my arms were so full, I am sure I looked ridiculous...oh well....just look at the fun stuff I found....(and yes, I did find a spice rack)

this is the fun food items I found.....

these fun sour starfish.....they are so cute!

they are going to be fun to make something for Christmas with....

this is also going to be used in many recipes...

I am not sure if you can tell....it is Swedish Pearl Sugar and it is large sugar chunks and it is not shiny like sugar...it appears like snow...it will be fun to decorate cupcakes or cookies with for the holidays...

these are called Polka mints....not sure if they are peppermint or not...

they look great!

this is Cloudberry Jam...I will have fun using this jam...

this is Toffee ropes...they are thin and I will find something fun for these...

I had to buy this...Swedish pancakes or waffles...aren't those polar opposites?

I need to find out....

this is a fun book filled with Swedish recipes....I read cookbooks like novels...love it!

this I will show you.....Shhhh! ..  it is a gift that I found there...it is the biggest bowl I have ever seen....it is as big as my kitchen island.....

it is brushed on the outside and shiny on the inside...and very heavy...so nice.....

this cute little thing I bought just for me....it is small and cute and enamel ware....I will take it to work and put it on my desk and keep fresh flowers in it...it will make me happy every day!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding...

Bread pudding...there is nothing, that says comfort food better than... bread pudding....and pumpkin bread pudding is even better....My mother makes the best bread pudding in this country...hands down! but adding pumpkin is the best, most flavorful dessert there is......(outside of mom's)

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Butter for the pan
8 slices of white sandwich bread
2 cups of pumpkin puree
2 tablespoon of maple syrup
1/3 cup of golden raisins
4 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups of milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1/8 tsp of cloves
1/8 tsp of ginger
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
freshly grated nutmeg about 1/8 tsp...
1. Preheat oven to 325. Generously butter a 5x10x3 inch bread pan...remove crusts from bread and cut in 1 inch cubes...
2. Mix the pumpkin puree with the spices, raisins, syrup...set aside
3. Mix the egg yolks with the sugar and the milk and heavy cream...
4. Layer 1/3 of the bread cubes in the pan....next half of the pumpkin mixture, evenly..then next 1/3 bread and the last of the puree the the last of the bread cubes....pour the milk mixture over the top and sprinkle a little more cinnamon over the top and fresh nutmeg....bake for 1 hour and cool at least 20 minutes before serving...serve on a bed of maple syrup or Carmel sauce...top with whip cream if desired....

here are the ingredients all gathered together.....

the pumpkin puree, maple syrup. and spices.....

farm fresh eggs....

add the sugar and milk and cream and whisk......

start your layering....then......

pour the milk mixture over the top, place in your oven and....

bake and enjoy!

This smells so great!

So good, I served it in a pool of Carmel sauce and topped with real whipped cream...hmmmmm......it is soft and flavorful....the layers of bread pudding and pumpkin are so wonderful! As I am writing this I am watching Pioneer woman and Bobby Flay do a Thanksgiving throwdown on the food network and he is making Pumpkin Bread Pudding! Hah! I would like to challenge you to a throwdown Bobby!...you can't beat this!!!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Butternut Squash-Sweet Potato Au Gratin

You know you are old when you LOVE squash...when you willingly cook it and eat it....and sweet potatoes in the same sentence! Oh my! I remember as a child hiding my squash in my napkin and then excusing myself and taking it to the bathroom garbage...(sorry Mom).....I actually vowed when I grew up I would never eat squash again! Hah! That is so funny to me now! I love squash! Love it! This is a wonderful side dish...it would be great for the holiday, but just as good with a baked chicken or pork roast.....

Butternut Squash-Sweet Potato AuGratin

Ingredients (serves 6)
14 oz butternut squash
14 oz  sweet potatoes
1 onion, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup half and half
1 tbsp butter
pinch of nutmeg
3 oz of cheddar or jack cheese, shredded
3 sprig of parsley, chopped
salt and pepper
Preheat the oven at 350ºF
Butter a baking dish, round or square.
Peel the squash and sweet potatoes then cut them into 1/8 inch slices....
Heat the olive oil in a pan and saute the onion
Add the squash and sweet potatoes and saute 10 min, stirring frequently. They should stay firm. Season with salt and pepper and transfer into the baking dish.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, cream and nutmeg. Add half the cheese. Pour over the squash and sweet potatoes.
Top with remaining cheese and Bake 35 min then after taking out top with chopped parsley.

prepare your vegetables.....

cook in a saute pan....

until half done....

mix the eggs and half and half and half the cheese....and nutmeg...very important to the flavor....

put vegetables in a baking dish and pour over the cream and the sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top....

put in the oven for 35 minutes and then take out.....

top with the parsley....

oh so good and flavorful!!!!!

Enjoy!!!

Cheers to Happy  !!