SWEET POTATO SOUP

I went shopping at Super Walmart yesterday, and I bought two huge sweet potatoes weighing 3 pounds altogether! Yes I'm make SWEET POTATO SOUP again today after work. I LOVE that soup with the "trinity" of veggies as the flavor base! My son Jesse and I don't eat enough veggies and this is one way I manage to get some into our bellies. Here's the recipe! SWEET POTATO SOUP 2-3 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cubed 1". 1 Medium or large Onion chopped small 2-3 large Carrots chopped small 2-3 Stalks of Celery chopped small 2-3 Tb Canola Oil or Butter if you prefer 2-3 cans of Chicken Broth, according to how thick you like it. OR use Chicken Base and 6 to 7-8 Cups of water 1 clove of Garlic minced (I forgot to add this) 2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes (optional) Not necessary if using chicken base which is salty. 1/2- 3/4 tsp Mrs. Dash Original Salt and Pepper. Saute the onion, celery, carrots until softened, about 5-10 minutes. Then pour into to a large pot and add the cubed sweet potatoes, chicken broth (or) chicken base and water and seasonings. Let simmer for 30 or until the veggies are tender. Then let cool and puree all the veggies in some broth and stir into remaining broth. Remember make this recipe your own.. experiment. Add or take away stuff.

That Buttermilk Wedding Cake

I want to make that wedding cake into cupcakes very soon! I forgot to buy buttermilk and cake flour, although I can make my own cake flour by mixing all purpose flour with cornstarch. I also need some baking powder, butter and almond extract. Gee.. that's at least another 10 bucks! Sheesh!

Buttermilk Wedding Cake with Frosting

CAKE

1 Cup Butter or Margarine Softened.

3 Cups Sugar

4 Cups Cake Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

2 Cups Buttermilk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Butter flavoring (I will omit this)

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

6 Egg Whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 9" cake pans.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Pour in Buttermilk and begin mixing slowly. Continue to mix until well blended. Add flavorings and stir.

In another bowl beat egg whites until stiff. Fold the egg whites into the cake batter. Divide batter between 3 pans. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, then lower to 300 degrees and bake for about 25 minutes longer, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove cakes from oven and cool on racks. After 10 minutes remove from pans and continue cooling on racks.

NOTE: I want to try making cupcakes with this recipe. But I think it will make more than 24 cupcakes. I bet another 12 cupcakes can be made with the rest of the batter. I will try baking them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees and 10 minutes at 300 degrees.


FROSTING

1 Cup Shortening (Or half butter/half shortening)

4 Cups Confectioners Sugar

4 Tb Milk

1 and 1/2 tsp almond extract (or use vanilla or lemon extracts)

Combine all ingredients and beat on low speed with electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.

NOTE: I will use 1 tsp Almond Extract and 1 tsp Vanilla Extract)

Bread Starter

I'm reading a novel and the main character is using a starter for her bread. Maybe I should also try using starters or at least a sponges for bread again.

White Bread

I had no work yesterday so I decided to make a batch of white bread using Grandma H's recipe. Of course I altered her recipe as usual- I usually add Canola oil to the recipe in place of the shortening, but I added less than normal (2 Tb) plus 4 Tb melted butter. I used 3 cups of warm water in this recipe and didn't add the usual mashed potato and potato water. Nonetheless it turned out very soft and flavorful. I guess the butter helped.

Mini Meatloaf Muffins

1 Lb Hamburger

1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 Cup Milk

2 Eggs

1 Tb Onion Powder or 1/2 of an onion chopped fine

1 Tb Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash Original

TOPPING:

BBQ Sauce

Shredded Cheese

Mix meatloaf ingredients. Place 1/3 Cup in oil sprayed (12 count) Cup cake tins. I filled 11 compartments with the mixture.

Poke holes in center of meatloaves and fill with BBQ sauce and sprinkle with Cheese. bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Peanut Butter Eggs or Balls

8 oz Cream Cheese (room temp)

1/4 Pound Butter (1 stick) softened

1 Cup Peanut Butter

2 Lbs Confectioner's Sugar

1 Tb Milk

Thoroughly mix the Cream Cheese, softened butter and Peanut Butter with a mixer.

Now add the Confectioner's sugar a few cups at a time. It will form little lumps.

Now add the milk and continue to mix. Form into a ball and wrap with plastic.

Chill in fridge until ready to form into balls or eggs and dip in melted chocolate. I didn't use the melting chocolate discs because it cost abut $1.50 a bag extra. I'm using semi sweet and milk chocolate morsels. I will insert a toothpick in the balls to dip them. I suppose I should add a Tb shortening to the chocolate.

NOTE: If you want a stronger peanut butter flavor I suggest you add 1/4 cup more peanut butter and only use 4 TB butter.