We had plain and simple Shepherd’s Pie for dinner tonight, and it was wonderful. It’s been so long since I’ve had it I almost forgot how nicely the seasoned beef, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and grated cheddar cheese gel together. My husband and the pooches love my mashed potatoes – homemade, and moistened with liquid Coffee Mate instead of milk.

 

Last night I was talking to my Mum on the telephone, and we got around to discussing our various Thanksgiving plans. This will be another year away from my family, but my parents have invited my husband’s mother and brother (who live nearby) to their home for the holiday meal. At least part of our family will be together, while we celebrate the occasion at home in Washington with Foofer and Rainee.

 

Two years ago we had Thanksgiving dinner at my cousin Sheila’s house in Washington, and both my husband and I raved about the “Sweet Potato Casserole” one of her other guests contributed to the meal. The dish was truly divine, and I plan to make it again this year:

Sweet Potato Casserole

(From Theresa & Jim Sporleder)

 

¾ C butter, melted

2 C cooked, mashed sweet potatoes

1 C granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 C milk

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cinnamon

 

Topping:

¾ C melted butter

1 C crushed corn flakes

½ C chopped pecans

½ C brown sugar

 

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl (except for the topping). Pour into a buttered 1½-quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 400º F for twenty minutes, or until set (sometimes cooking time will extend to forty minutes if potatoes prepared and refrigerated the day before are used, so keep an eye on the casserole as it bakes). Mix the topping ingredients together and cover the sweet potato casserole, baking an additional ten minutes.

My husband will be making his special dressing, and we also plan to have the usual side dishes: the sweet potato casserole above, mashed potatoes, green-bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. As a different twist, I will be making Ginger Pumpkin Cheesecake rather than the typical pumpkin pie.