Tis the season for food!

Entertaining our family and friends is our way of showing the ones we love how much we do love them.  There is nothing more satisfying than sitting down to a meal prepared with a pinch of love, a dash of hope and a teaspoon of sugar! 
We start the celebration of the importance of food with Thanksgiving.  We all have our favorites that we bring to the table each year.  One of my fav's is the sweet potato casserole. No marshmallows here, but a sweet delight that, if you are lucky to have leftovers, is great cold with a cup of coffee the next morning.  It's on my menu for holidays again this year and I hope you will put it on yours.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sweet potato, cubed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees  Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

So, on the 23rd we will be celebrating with the sweet potato dish, the 24th will bring our annual pierogie night, Les gets in the kitchen and prepares the homemade dumplings in 3 varities.  Then  we gather the family and watch them disappear in record time.  With bellies full we turn in for the night, awaiting Santa's arrival.  Then up and at 'em Christmas to another tradition, biscuits and gravy.  Every meal has a new table setting, from the formal Christmas tree themed plates to breakfast with Santa juice glasses.  I get to set the table 3 days in a row, love it!