Jodie's Sweet Potato Casserole

Now we all know that I'm not a fan of 95% of the vegetables to be found in the world, yams and sweet potatoes being on that list. But this recipe is different. It's not like a vegetable, it's more like warm pumpkin pie without the crust. I made it for Thanksgiving dinner and my niece was excited that I brought it because it's her favorite. Guaranteed, I will never make any other form of sweet potato. Or yam.

Jodie's Sweet Potato Casserole- serves 12
3 c. cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. milk
Mix all of these ingredients in a bowl with a mixer until smooth. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Top with:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Cut sugar, flour and butter together until crumbly. Add pecans, sprinkle on top of potato mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until set.
*Do not use canned pumpkin for this recipe. It will never set. Trust me.

Photo Tutorial!

First, we cut up the Taters! (The day before Thanksgiving was a very sunny day.)

Then we boil 'em. (Boil 'em, mash 'em, put 'em in a stew! Name that movie.)

Then we mash 'em a bit, but not too much. Look! My 1983 hand mixer! Still going strong!

Here are the rest of the filling ingredients, waiting for the taters.

All mixed up, nice and smooth, ready for the pan.

The Topping. Yum.

 Ready for the oven!

 Really, you need to try these.

A Update On The Update

The house updating is coming along nicely now, especially since the new carpet has come. We're starting to put a few things back on the walls (very scary!) and we're hanging blinds and such.

Here's the kitchen. All we need to do here is install the new suspended chairs at the counter. This involves painting the old gold fittings with new nickel-colored paint that smells to high heaven, but it will be worth having a headache for a few hours.

Here's a peek at the washroom, with my Gotham City clock and new organization center. Funny thing- magnets don't stick to the front of my new fridge, so this spot is more important than ever.

It's coming...

The Best Thing About Boots

Wearing boots to church is awesome.

 But the best thing about wearing boots?

Not shaving your legs for church.

The Three Amigos

Little Missionary is back, and he's found some new friends, courtesy of Disneyland.

Shannon and Dad were given these little freak shows on last week's FAM trip. Funny how neither of them wants to start a collection! There are plenty of people who do:

It's nice to know that there's at least one Disney collectible I don't want want at my house!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Here's an extremely yummy, non-traditional cake that everyone should try at least once in their life. It only takes 1 and 1/2 c. of butter, but who's counting? It gets the honor of being the first recipe photographed in my new and improved kitchen.

Cinnamon Roll Cake- 9x13 pan
Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted
 Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbs. flour
1 Tbs. cinnamon
Mix all cake ingredients together except butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and our into a greased 9x13 pan. For the topping, mix all ingredients until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.
Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Drizzle glaze over warm cake.

Photo Tutorial! A thank you to Shannon, who actually made the cake while I took pictures. It's so much easier, not juggling the camera while stirring with one hand!

Cake ingredients, ready to go!

All of the dry ingredients:

In go the eggs!

Mmmm- melted butter...

The cake batter is pretty thick:

Topping ingredients:

Mixed topping going onto cake. Cinnamon-y goodness:

It's fun to swirl!

The cake's all done and ready to glaze:

Spooning on the glaze:

We used this as Ben's birthday cake. We bought trick candles that were supposed to spark and never go out. They didn't work. Worst 98 cents I've ever spent.

I think Ben liked it anyway.

A Laid-Back Thanksgiving Dinner

At least it was laid-back for me! Bruce and I went to his sister Nancy's house for dinner. There were only 8 of us there, total. My cute nieces and nephew were there:

Nancy had gone all out- even polishing the fancy silver and making cute candy acorns. We started dinner with our traditional Stratford Fruit Cocktail, served in Great Grandma Stratford's special cocktail glasses.

Best moment for me- when Bruce realized that he'd just put giblet gravy on his jello salad:

Thanksgiving Day

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!!

A Thanksgiving Recipe To Try

If you're looking for something a little different to make for Thanksgiving, you might consider this:

For starters, take all of the bones out of a chicken, a duck and a turkey.

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put it inside the duck.

Wrap the duck in bacon and out it inside the turkey.

Wrap the turkey in bacon and roast till it's all done.

Yeah, give it a try and tell me how it goes.

Battalion Visitors

 I got this picture in an e-mail from Bruce and Shannon while they were in San Diego this week. That cute girl they're with is my niece, Camille, who is serving a mission at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. How awesome is that?

Jumping The Holiday Gun

Pet Peeve #22: People who turn on their Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.

And Yet Another Birthday!

Yes, another birthday. This one belongs to my next-older sister, who is not all that much older than me, just 18 months. Sometime we'll have to discuss the feelings I felt when I realized that I was probably an "accidental" little sister.

Anyway, here we are together in our younger days:

She's probably saying something sassy to whoever is taking the picture.

Here she is, sharpening her photo skills over the summer:

My sister is honest, completely family-oriented, can cry at will, is amazingly musically talented, puts 100% into anything she does and is a good person to have next to you in a bar fight. What I'm really trying to say is:

 

Unless you've broken something. That would be bad, and I wouldn't laugh then, but I would give you a ride to the hospital.

I love you forever, Sis!

Sage Advice

Whahhh?

Who thought this would be a good idea?

Spaghetti Tacos. Ewww.

Migliori Photo Shoot

This is the 3rd year that I've taken pictures of the Migliori family from our ward. They have a new addition, who was more than willing to grin for me- thank goodness. It was kind of neat to have Autumn leaves and fresh snow in the same pictures...

First Big Snow

Yuck and double-yuck.

I might be in denial about the approaching Winter...

Another Birthday!

There's another birthday in our family this week! Guess who this cute boy is:

Yes, it's Brian! Now he's all grown up!

Happy Birthday to Brian! I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'm holding your present hostage.

That's Right.