Nov 28, 2008

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Pecan and Marshmallow Streusel

The new Thanksy Tradition!

From Food Network


Ingredients

  • 12 large sweet potatoes
  • 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.

Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.

Nov 8, 2008

Foil-Pack Chicken Fajita Dinner


From Kraft Foods

1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1-1/2 cups hot water
1 Tbsp. TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 each: green and red pepper, cut into strips
1/2 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Taco Cheese

HEAT oven to 400ºF. Fold up all sides of each of four 18x12-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil to form 1-inch rim; spray foil with cooking spray. Combine rice, water and taco seasoning; spoon evenly onto centers of foil. Top evenly with remaining ingredients.

BRING up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Place in 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF). Let stand 5 min. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening packets.


My NOTES: One of the reasons I love to make casseroles, is that they are so simple and clean up (if there is any) can be done during the bake time. This is equally easy but with the added comfort of a throwback from days gone by. My mom was a gourmet camp chef (according to me) and she would make all manner of foil pack dinners over the grill (or in the fireplace). Anything baked or grilled in foil is #1 with me.

Nov 7, 2008

Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos

from Suite101
  • 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups canned kidney beans, drained
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 4 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
  • 12 10-inch flour tortillas, warmed
  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
  • sour cream (as garnish)
  • green onions, chopped (as garnish)
  • salsa (as garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sauté onion and garlic in hot oil in a medium skillet until soft. Stir in the beans, then mash them a little. Stir water into the mixture gradually and continue heating until warm. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper (if using) and soy sauce after removing from heat.

Spread the bean mixture and the mashed sweet potatoes evenly onto the warm flour tortillas. Add cheese. Form into burritos by folding the tortillas.

Bake for 12 minutes.

Makes 12 burritos.


My Notes: This recipe is AMAZING! I half'd the recipe for B and I but I wish I doubled it and froze some to reheat at my whimsy. Make it. Make lots of it. You will not regret it. The next time I make it, I will take pictures for the blog. I didn't this time because we were so ravenous that I forgot all about taking pictures until I was licking my plate.


UPDATE: I made these again - only this time I substituted curry for the cumin (sometimes it is a good thing to have a pre-dinner adult beverage). It was a mistake but it turned out soooo much better than normal. I highly recommend "messing them up" with curry.