Sweet Potato Casserole - October featured recipe

[Photo courtesy of allrecipes.com]

4 1/2 cups cooked adn mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup butter
1 cup chopped pecans

preheat oven to 350 degree, grease 9x13 baking dish. In Large bowl, mix together mashed sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup butter, milk, sugar, vanilla extract and eggs. Spread sweet potato mixture into prepared baking dish. In a small bowl mix together brown sugar and flour. Cut in 1/3 cup butter until mixture is crumbly then stir in pecans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the sweet potatoes. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven or until golden brown.

Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
1 cup sugar
1 cup finely shredded, peeled zucchini
1/4 cup cooking oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x4x2 in. loaf pan.

In medium bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder and nutmeg. Set aside.

In another medium bowl combine egg, sugar, shredded zucchini and oil. Add zucchini mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Batter will be lumpy. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Kim's Frosting

1 c solid white shortening

1 tsp Wilton Flavor (vanilla or butter)
2 tbl milk or water
1 lb or 4 cups powder sugar
1 tbl wilton meringue powder
pinch of salt

cream shortening flavoring and water, add dry ingredients on medium speed until all mixed together. add milk to soften more powdered sugar to thicken *Great for decorating or just eating with your fingers, yummm

*Chocolate Version

Add 3/4 cup cocoa or three 1 oz chocolate squares, melted and additional 1 to 2 tbl water to recipe. mix until well blended

courtesy of Wilton Cake Decorating and Kim Bates

Meghan's take on Funfetti Cake

1 box "Funfetti" cake mix

1 package white chocolate instant pudding mix

2 tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

1/2 cup butter

1 cup whole milk

mix all together until smooth and bake at 350 for approx 30 minutes until done

Tomato Brushetta

3 large vine ripe tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, diced (1/2c) *I use green onions
1 diced cucumber
6 green olives, minced *optional - dont bother if its not in your fridge
2 tbl olive oil
2 tbl balsamic vinegar
fresh chopped basil *I use dry
salt and pepper to taste
add 1/4 bread crumbs
toss and let sand for 30 min

enjoy on toasted french bread, we also enjoy sourdough buttered and broiled

Potato Soup - September featured recipe

1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes

1/3 cup diced celery

1/3 cup finely chopped 1onion

3/4 cup diced cooked ham

3 1/4 cups water

2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste

5 tablespoons butter

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups milk   

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

Diane's Award Winning Banana Cupcakes

1 1/2c sugar
1 square margarine
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
2C flour
1 tsp soda
3 ripe mashed bananas
1c. Sour cream
2 tsp vanilla

frosting:
8oz cream cheese
5 c. Powdered sugar
1/2c margarine or butter
2 tsp almond extract

combine the sugar, margarine, eggs, salt, flour, soda bananas, sour cream and vanilla (you can also add chocolate chips if you'd like) bake at 375° for 20 minutes.
beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, margarine and almond extract until smooth.