I have to admit that I am not the best cook. I often just choose not to cook, let the Hubs deal with it, or make tried and true easy meals (i.e. tacos and speghetti AT LEAST once a week). I'm always worried that if I DO try out a new recipe it won't turn out or the Hubs won't like it.
Well, it's time to get over it! I want to finish out 2010 strong and start trying new things in 2011...including COOKING! I know that as our family grows cooking HAS to become a habit. Even if I get home late and don't feel like cooking, I don't think our future kiddos would be too happy with us if we told them to fend for themselves.
So in these "Adventures in the Kitchen" posts, I'll share a recipe I've tried that's hopefully not too hard to make, tasty, and healthy. And hopefully....practice will make perfect and cooking will become a habit!
The first recipe up is a family recipe that my mom makes for every holiday gathering, including Christmas Eve (which I can't believe is TOMORROW). I had never made these Candied Sweet Potatoes before by myself, so I had my mom come over and supervise while I documented my first attempt! This isn't necessarily the healthiest dish, but boy is it delicious. I look forward to every holiday just so we can have them!
Ingredients • 5-6 sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• Splash of water
• Mini marshmllows
Directions
First, be sure to wash and scrub the sweet potatoes very well. Remeber, dirt wasn't part of the ingredients list!
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes and allow them to boil.
Check the sweet potatoes by poking them with a fork. You'll know they are done when they are just soft enough to be poked through with a fork. Try not to over boil since it will make the potatoes so soft they break apart.
Once the sweet potatoes are done, strain out the water and let them cool. Once they are able to be handled, peel the skin off.
Next, slice each sweet potatoe into slices about 1/3 of an inch thick and lay them in a baking dish.
Now you're ready to make the topping. Place the butter in a sauce pan on a low heat setting. Move the butter around in the bottom of the pan until it is completely melted.
Next add the brown sugar.
Keep stiring the mixture until the brown sugar has completely melted.
Add a splash of water so that the mixture is just thin enough to pour. Don't add too much or it will make the sweet potatoes soggy. Once the ingredients are all well incorporated, pour the sugar mixture over the sliced sweet potatoes.
Top the sweet potatoes with handfuls of mini marshmallows. I like to add lots, as it makes a nice crispy sugary crust over the top of the sweet potatoes!
The Hubs and I are definitely going to continue the tradition of making this dish at all of our family holiday gatherings!
Do any of you have any special dishes that your family makes year after year during the holidays?
Teresa's family makes stuffed cabbage (glumpkies). Beef, rice and onions rolled up in boiled cabbage leaves stewed with tomatoes. Pretty good. My mom makes armadillo eggs: biscuits wrapped around breakfast sausage with a jalapeno and cheese inside. She also makes a monkey bread which I found too hard to explain so here is a recipe! http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,133185-255198,00.html
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