My Mom's Cranberry Salad

Not the most original name, but I'm not feeling super-creative today. :) My family always had this in lieu of more "traditional" cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's tangy, but also really sweet. You can cut the sugar back to 1 cup to reduce the sweetness, if you prefer.



My Mom's Cranberry Salad



1 bag frozen cranberries, chopped in blender

1 can crushed pineapple

2 cups sugar

1 container Cool Whip (you could make 2 cups of real whipped cream)

1 package marshmallows

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)



Combine cranberries, pineapple, and sugar in bowl. Let sit one hour. Pour into colander, and let drain over bowl (covered) for two hours (I usually leave it overnight). In a larger bowl, combine Cool Whip and marshmallows. Fold in cranberry mixture and nuts (if using). Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Candied Coconut Sweet Potatoes

Can I just say, "Yummmmmmy"! These were so good that even my brother-in-law, Jordan (who hates sweet potatoes) went back for seconds! Everyone raved. I found the recipe at ourbestbites.blogspot.com.

4 c. mashed sweet potatoes (roast potatoes in oven at 400 degrees for 40 min - 1 hour)
6 T. butter, melted
6 T. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all together and spread in 9x13 inch pan.

Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top. The topping can be doubled. I did!

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. coconut flakes
1/2 stick butter

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. I didn't take pictures but you can check out our best bites for pictures of theirs.

Green Bean Casserole

Gage and Amberly had Thanksgiving Feasts at school today. My assignment for Amberly was easy -- plates and silverware. Gage's teacher asked me to bring green beans. I decided to make green bean casserole and found this recipe over at realmomkitchen. Honestly I didn't think the kids would touch it. It's green beans after all. I'm a fan, but these are 2nd graders we're talking about. Well...the kids loved it and I was named by Gage's peers, "The Best Green Bean Casserole Maker".

Picture snagged from realmomkitchen.blogspot.com 2 T. butter
2 T. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 c. sour cream
3 cans cut green beans, drained
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 (2.8 oz) can or 1 1/3 c. French's french fried onions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add flour and stir til smooth. Continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add salt, sugar, and sour cream. Mix well. Add green beans and stir until coated. Pour into 2 1/2 quart pan (I used a 9x13). Sprinkle with cheese and then sprinkle with onion. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.