Sweet Potato Casserole

Friends have asked and I'm sharing  my "go-to" recipe for sweet potatoes.

For many years, I never really was a Sweet Potato Casserole fan until I found and tried this recipe and immediately fell in love.  It is awesomeness in a casserole dish!

Prior to finding the recipe, I relied on the ever popular candied sweet potatoes, minus the marshmallows. Gasp!  Yes, no marshmallows for me, it was just too sweet.

To change things up, give this recipe a try for your next holiday gathering.  Nah, don't wait, you really don't need a reason, just try it and you'll be hooked.

Whole Wheat Banana Bread

This banana bread is true to the name "quick bread".  I don't know about you, but I never eat the entire bunch of bananas, so this is the answer to your overripe banana problem.  It is also fat free...except for that butter or cream cheese you choose to slather on.

Loaded Potato Cakes

Tonight I am getting ready to go out of town for a few days.  I'm busy and don't really want to cook, but there are leftovers in the fridge.  What do I do....not enough for a real meal.  I open the door to the fridge and look at what is there.  My eyes come to rest on the bowl containing the leftover mashed potatoes.  There isn't much, maybe a cup.    I pull them out, open the dish and debate, do I throw them away, or....then inspiration struck!

Potato Cakes.  I haven't had potato cakes in a long long time.  So I grabbed the ingredients and went to work.

Since there wasn't much to accompany them, I thought why not spiff them up a bit. I have bacon, onion, cheese...so let's load 'em up!

Since I just pulled these together on the fly, I don't have a recipe, but will do my best to describe my steps so you can make your own loaded potato cakes.

Caramel Pecan Bars

Who likes caramel and pecans?  Yes!  I can envision the hands in the air.  Combine that with a buttery crust and you have a wonderful bar that will make you do back flips with each and every bite.

These bars remind me of pecan pie...sort of,  but just not quite.
This is a nice alternative to pecan pie for those of you who break out in a sweat at the thought of having to bake a pie or make pie crust.  Fear no more.  The crust for these bars does not require a rolling pin.  You pat the crust into the pan with your fingers.  How simple is that! 

I have gotta warn you though, you will need to bust out your stretchy waistband pants or loosen your belt a notch because these babies will blow you diet!  They are loaded with butter, brown sugar, cream....you get the picture. Do not skimp on the ingredients, use real butter and real cream.  You'll be glad you did. 

Although I didn't try it, I believe that the topping mixture would be amazing served warm over vanilla bean ice cream. Yup, I sampled it. I admit it.  I intentionally left a little in the pan so I could indulge....hey, quality control right?

These bar cookies travel well and would be great for a Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering, a Cookie Exchange or to take to work for Goodie Day.  If you have new neighbors, they would make a great housewarming gift.  I'll likely whip of a batch of these this winter for the neighbor who clears my driveway with his snow blower (please oh, please let there be that much snow this year)!