Sweet Potato Hashbrowns

(Taken from foodnetwork.com's Emeril Lagasse)

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound diced bacon
• 1 cup chopped onions
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 2 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and grated (or chunked in some way as we did)

Directions

In a large skillet, render the bacon until crispy, about 8 minutes. Add the onions. Saute the onions until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sweet potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve warm.

Note: This made quite a bit for the two of us, but leftovers tasted great the day after!

Apple Cheese Quiche

1 pie shell - uncooked
6 oz. sliced swiss cheese
1 Tbls flour
1 1/2 c applesauce
1 1/4 c light cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 eggs

Cut cheese slices in halves and line sides and bottom of pi shell.  In small bowl, combine applesauce, flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.  Pour over cheese.  Beat together eggs and cream; pour evenly over applesauce.  Bake at 375 for 40 to 45 minutes.  Cool completely before serving.

*I didn't let it cool completely and it was still delicious!

Canadian Cheese Soup - (2-1/2 quarts)

Cook in microwave (or on stovetop), and set aside:

3/4 cup diced carrots, (or more to 1 cup)

3/4 cup diced celery, (or more to 1 cup)

Saute in soup pot until onion is transparent, but not brown:

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup butter

Add and cook on low heat for 5 - 10 minutes:

1 cup flour

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

(Note: the above mixture is REALLY thick, so I don't usually let it cook for more than a minute or two before I begin adding the liquid)

Add, stirring constantly, until thickened (I usually stir regularly, and keep a close eye):

1 quart half-and-half or milk

1 quart chicken stock (water and boullion)

Add:

Cooked Veggies

Adjust seasonings to taste

Just before serving, stir in:

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Christmas Punch Base

5 packages Orange Koolaid, unsweetened (package size makes 2 quarts)

5 packages Cherry Koolaid, unsweetened (package size makes 2 quarts)

10 cups sugar

2 cups pineapple juice

2 cups orange juice

Water to make 1 gallon

Mix well. [I use HOT for some of the water so that it mixes easier]

To dilute: Add 3-1/4 cups base, 3-1/4 cups 7-Up, water to make 1 gallon

or in other words - 3 parts water, 1 part base, 1 part 7-Up

Amounts for smaller batch: 2 packages each of the Koolaid, 4 cups sugar, 3/4 cup each of the juices, and water to make 50 ounces (just over 6 cups)

New Year's Day Black-Eyed Peas

Ingredients

1 pound dry black-eyed peas

5 cups water or broth (we used chicken broth)

2 cups chopped cooked ham

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 onions, diced
1 large carrot, finely diced

1/2 cup bell pepper

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Rinse and soak beans according to package directions. We did a quick soak which took just over an hour.

Place black-eyed peas in a slow cooker. Add water, ham, diced onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook on high for 4 hours, or until black-eyed peas are tender.

Turkey Seasoning

1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. paprika

1 cube softened butter

Combine all ingredients and put under the skin of your turkey. When we did it a lot of it was in globs under the skin. The cook the turkey like normal. We also cooked the turkey on a cookie sheet covered with foil, both the pan and the turkey.