Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salth
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 lbs. sweet potatoes

Directions:
*Place sweet potatoes in saucepot; cover with cold water.
*Cover pot and heat to boiling.
*Partially uncover; reduce heat and simmer until just tender (20-30 min depending on thickness of sweet potatoes).
*Drain; cool slightly.
*Peel and cut into 1/2" thick ovals.
*Combine olive oil and spices to make a spiced oil.
*Brush each side of ovals lightly with spiced oil and grill on medium-high heat 3 minutes per side, brushing with more oil as desired. (I use a grill pan on the stove and it's a super easy and tasty side dish!)

Serves: 8

Source:  Good Housekeeping.
Submitted by:  Michelle Meadows Turner

Orange Glazed Apple Pie

Ingredients:

PIE:
¾ cup sugar
2 T flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
6 cups sliced, peeled, tart apples (about 5 medium)
1/3 c raisins
Pastry for double crust pie (9 inches)
3 T butter (or a little more)
2 T orange juice

GLAZE:
½ c confectioners sugar
4- ½ tsps orange juice
½ tsp grated orange peel

Directions:
*In large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.
*Add apples and raisins, toss to coat.
*Line a 9” pie plate with bottom pastry, trim to 1” beyond edge of plate.
*Spoon apple mixture into crust.
*Dot with butter
*Sprinkle with orange juice.
*Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie.
*Cut slits in top; place over filling and trim.
*Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden.
*In a small bowl, whisk glaze ingredients and blend.
*Spread over warm pie.
*Cool on wire rack.

Submitted by: Katie Nikolai

Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake

*Note: double the recipe if you want to use a Bundt cake/ring mold - you won't end up using all the batter, but if you don't double it, it won't fill up the mold enough.


Ingredients for topping:
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp salt
6 Tbsp cold butter in pieces
1 and 2/3 cups chopped walnuts

Ingredients for cake filling:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk

Ingredients for icing:
1 cup confectioners sugar
1-2 Tbsp milk

Directions:
*Heat the oven to 350 F

**For the topping:
*Mix the first five dry ingredients together, then cut butter into the dry mixture, and stir in walnuts

**For the cake:
*Mix together the first five dry ingredients, set aside.
*Beat butter and both sugars until creamy and blended.
*Beat in eggs
*Add vanilla
*Beat until smooth.
*On low speed, beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk.
*Spoon half of batter into prepared pan
*Sprinkle half of topping over batter
*Put rest of batter in, then the rest of topping on last.
**Note: If using a Bundt cake/ring mold, only fill the mold 2/3 full to let it rise. Can also make in any cake pan or casserole dish)

*Bake for 50-60 min until cake tester inserted is clean

*Cool on wire rack


**For the Icing:
*In a small bowl, mix confectioners sugar with enough milk to make it drizzly.
*Pour in a light drizzle over the finished cake while barely warm

Source: "My Momma"


Submitted by: Michelle Meadows Turner

Peanut Blossoms

Ingredients:
48 Hershey's Kisses
1/2 C shortening
3/4 C peanut butter
1/3 C granulated sugar
1/3 C packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tbls milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 & 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Granulated sugar

Directions:
*Heat oven to 375 F.
*Remove wrappers from chocolate.
*Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended.
*Add 1/3 C granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
*Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.
*Stir together flour, baking soda and salt
*Gradually beat flour mixture into peanut butter mixture.
*Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
*Roll in granulated sugar
*Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
*Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
*Immediately press a chocolate piece into center of each cookie
*Cookie will crack around the edges.
*Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
*Cool completely.

Makes 4 dozen.

Prep time: approx. 15 mins.

Bake time: approx 8 mins

Submitted by:  Heather Dufresne

Apple Dump Cake

Ingredients:
1 LARGE can or 2 REGULAR size cans Apple Pie Filling
1 cup brown sugar
1 package spice cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans or pecan halves
2 sticks butter (sliced into bits)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 325*
*Layer all ingredients in the order provided above, ending with slices of butter scattered around the top
*Bake 1 hour
*Serve warm with vanilla ice cream (if desired)

Submitted by:  DeAnne Anderson

Pumpkin Lasagna

Ingredients:

1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms (I didn't add these)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
Dash pepper
9 no-cook lasagna noodles
1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
*In a small skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt in oil until tender; set aside.
*In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, cream, sage, pepper and remaining salt.
*Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce in an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
*Top with three noodles (noodles will overlap slightly).
*Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce to edges of noodles.
*Top with half of mushroom mixture, 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. *Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and sauce.
*Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes.
*Uncover; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
*Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Serves: 6

Submitted by: Kelly Birckett

Campbell's Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can (10 & 3/4 oz.) Campbell's brand Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 C milk
1 tsp soy sauce
dash pepper
4 C cooked cut green beans
1 & 1/3 C French's brand French Fried Onions

Directions:
*Mix soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper and 2/3 C onions in 1 & 1/2 quart casserole.
*Bake at 350 for 25 mins or until hot. Stir.
*Sprinkle with remaining onions and bake for 5 more minutes.

Prep time 10 mins.  Cook time 30 mins

Serves: 6

Source: Campbell's

Submitted by: Heather Dufresne

Potatoes Au Gratin

Ingredients:
2 lbs. potatoes (Yukon Gold preferably), peeled and thinly sliced
Salt & pepper to taste
4 Tbsp butter, divided
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream/whipping cream
6 oz. grated gruyere cheese
4 large leeks, thinly slice white part only
1 clove garlic minced

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 F.
*Rub garlic all over 8x12" casserole dish, grease with 1 Tbsp butter.
*Melt 2 Tbsp butter with the leeks in the microwave.
*Heat milk and cream until hot, not boiling.
*Put potatoes and leeks in the dish; add salt and pepper to taste.
*Sprinkle the top with cheese (a little bit in between the potato slices is good too!) and then pour the milk mixture over.
*Put the rest of the butter pats over the top.
*Bake for 45-50 min or until potatoes are tender when poked with a fork.

Source: my momma, who makes this at every Thanksgiving and Christmas - it's one of my favorite all time holiday dishes!


Submitted by: Michelle Turner

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 tsp lemon juice
2 TBSP confectioners' sugar

Filling Ingredients: (Or just use pre-made cream cheese frosting)
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375.
*Grease and flour a 9-13 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.
*In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda and pumpkin pie spice.
*Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice.
*Pour mixture into prepared pan.
*Spread the mixture evenly and bake at 375 for 15 minutes.
*Lay a damp kitchen towel on the counter, sprinkle it with confectioners' sugar and turn the cake onto the towel.
*Carefully roll the towel up with the cake in it.
*Place the towel on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.
*Mix the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar in a medium sized bowl with an electric mixer.
*Unroll the cake and spread the filling evenly on the cake.
*Immediately re-roll the cake (without the towel) and wrap it in plastic wrap.
*Keep the cake refrigerated.
*Before serving, cut the cake into slices

Submitted by: Missy Crabb

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1 c. sugar
1 cup+ of pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
*Cream shortening & sugar together.
*Add 1 cup pumpkin & 1 tsp vanilla.
*Mix dry ingredients together: flour, soda, baking powder, salt & cinnamon (can add a pinch of clove, nutmeg & ginger if desired).
*Combine with wet ingredients and mix well.
*Bake at 350F or 200C for 8-10 minutes.
*Cool on wire rack completely and frost with cream cheese frosting. (Can sprinkle/decorate if desired)

***Personal Notes:  This is my childhood neighbor Robin’s recipe. My sisters and I always crossed our fingers during the fall season in hopes that she’d bring some over!

Submitted by: Annie Lehmann

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
*Stir flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and baking soda into medium bowl.
*Beat brown sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
*Beat in egg and vanilla.
*Add pumpkin; beat at low speed until blended.
*Beat in flour mixture just until blended.
*Add oats; mix well.
*Stir in cranberries, if desired.
*Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.
*Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown.
*Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets.
*Remove from cookie sheets and cool completely on wire racks

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Submitted by: Cherrill Beaudoin

Sausage Balls

Ingredients:
1 lb hot bulk sausage
3 1/2 cups bisquick
10 oz package grated sharp cheese

Directions:
*Combine all ingredients and shape into bite size balls.
*Bake at 350 F for 15-20 minutes.

Makes ~100 balls
 
Personal note: To be enjoyed by all at Ellie's upcoming baby shower!!!
 
Submitted by: Susan Bellamy

Hot and Spicy Deviled Eggs

Ingredients: 6 eggs, hard boiled, cooled, and peeled
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon finely chopped chives
Hot pepper sauce
Paprika
Salt and pepper
Variation: add 1 teaspoon chopped canned jalapeno peppers

Directions:
*Place the cooked egg yolks in a bowl.
*Using a fork, work the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, chives, and salt and pepper into the yolks to form a smooth paste. Taste.
*Place 1/2 of this mixture in a small pastry bag with a large star tip.
*To the remaining mixture, add the jalapenos and season with Hot pepper sauce.
*Fill 6 of the egg halves with the basic filling.
*Fill the pastry bag with the jalapeno filling.
*Fill the remaining egg white halves.
*Top with paprika.

Submitted by:  Kelly Birckett

*Personal Notes:  A nice way to Spice up deviled eggs! Yummy!

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:
2 C buttermilk,
4 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter
1 C raisins

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Soak raising in bowl of warm water.
*Sift dry ingredients together into a bowl.
*Add buttermilk and blend well.
*Drain raisins and stir into mixture.
*Pour into greased pan and bake 50-60 min or until knife comes out clean.
*Once cooled, slice and spread with butter or fruit preserves.

This makes 2 loaves or one 8X8 square pan.

Source: My great-aunt, Ellen Higgins, has made this recipe for every St. Patrick's Day since my dad was a baby.

Submitted by:  Tara Morrissey

*Personal Notes: Anyone who knows me well knows that St. Paddy's Day is my favorite holiday of the whole year! This recipe, along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage (and green beer!), are sure to continue to be part of our family tradition for generations.

Nana's Bread Stuffing

Ingredients:
2 large loaves of sliced white bread that has become stale (leave fresh bag open 3-4 days)
1 stick of butter
1 or 2 large yellow onions, diced
2 TBSP Bell's Poultry seasoning (sorry, this is a New England thing... the only place I know to purchase it is http://www.yankeegrocer.com/. It's a combo of rosemary, marjoram, sage and ginger)
Water

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Melt butter in a frying pan
*Add onions and sautee until soft and translucent, but not brown
*Set onions aside to cool
While onions cool:
*In large mixing bowl, separate slices of one loaf of bread at a time and add water to them until each bread slice can be molded into 'snowballs.' Do not add more water than needed, bread should not be mushy.
*Place 'snowballs' in a clean large mixing bowl.
*Knead together all the 'snowballs' and sprinkle in poultry seasoning so that it is distributed evenly.
*Once butter/onion mixture is cool, knead it into the bread mixture until it is distributed evenly.
*Place on a greased casserole dish and bake covered at 350 degrees F for one hour. (I usually check it after 45 min to make sure it is not becoming dry)

Serves: 6-8

Source: Passed down from my grandmother (Dorthy Higgins) to my aunt (Cathy Higgins), to me.

Submitted by:  Tara Morrissey

*Personal notes: This is the one and only item I think of when I remember Thanksgivings and Christmases when I was little. When I attempted to make my 1st turkey I asked my aunt to send it to me, and if a holiday goes by without it, I feel like something is missing! This recipe is time consuming, and messy, but the result delicious (especially with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy).

Trash

Ingedients:
1 box Rice Chex (or 1/2 box Rice Chex and 1/2 box Wheat Chex)
1/2 box Crispix
1/2 bag pretzels (sticks or small twists)
3/4 - 1 bag Bugles
1/2 bag Gardetto's rye bagel chips
4 cups pecan halves
3 packages Ranch dressing mix
1 1/2 - 2 cups oil
Red pepper to taste
Garlic salt to taste

Directions:
*Mix ingredients together.
*Bake at 250* F for 1 hour, stirring evey 15 minutes

Submitted by: DeAnne Anderson

Haystacks

Ingredients:
6 oz butterscotch chips
2 tsp oil
1 cup peanuts
2 cups chow mein noodles

Directions:
*Melt butterscotch on stovetop over low setting, stirring frequently (Watch carefully so it doesn't burn)
*When melted and smooth in texture, add oil
*Then add peanuts and chow mein noodles. Stir well.
*Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool
*Store in airtight container.

Source:  MSU State Fountain/Bakery

Submitted by: DeAnne Anderson

Pumpkin Somethin'

Ingredients:
1 large can pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
3 eggs (beaten)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup pecans
3 sticks butter

Directions:
*Mix all ingredients, except for yellow cake mix, butter and pecans, together in bowl.
*Pour into greased 9x13 pan
*Sprinkle yellow cake mix (unprepared, just the powder) evenly over the top.
*Evenly pour 3 sticks melted butter on top of cake mix.
*Sprinkle pecans over the top.
*Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Submitted by:  Lori Cover
*Personal Notes:  This recipe came from a friend of mine (Katie Nichols) that we knew back in pilot training. It is quite rich with all the sugar and butter (although delicious!). If you want a slightly healthier version cut back the sugar and butter as much as you want, it will still be yummy. Or you can just say heck with it, it's the holidays and enjoy as is!
*This will serve quite a few people since it fills a 9x13 inch pan.

Poinsetta

Ingredients:
Orange juice
Cranberry juice
Champagne


Directions:
*Mix all 3 ingredients together (in whatever proportions you see fit) and ENJOY!!!!

Source: Stefanie Ferrell

Submitted by: Meghan Perry

*Personal Notes:  "Our cocktail of choice!"

Roast Chicken

Ingredients:
2 Chicken thighs (with skin)
3 TBSP white wine
2 Potatoes (medium to large)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Rosemary

Directions:
*Soak the chicken with salt, pepper and white wine.
*Add the bite sized potatoes, rosemary, and olive oil to chicken and soak them for 10-15 minutes.
*Lay them on a cookie sheet and cook them in 200-210* Celsius oven. (390-410 F)
*When the out side of chicken changes color to crispy brown color, turn them over (potatoes too) and cook some more.
*When you poke the chicken with a stick and clear juice comes out, it's ready to serve!

Serves: 2

Submitted by: Mai Nauroth