Cranberry Sauce

Another side that is absolutely incredible and delicious is cranberry sauce. Using fresh cranberries this recipe is sweet and tart. In a typical Thanksgiving dinner, most of your side dishes have a more salty taste; this sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce sweeten up your meal.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe 

Ingredients:

2 bags of fresh cranberries (about 16 oz)

1 cup sugar

2 peeled apples cut bite size

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 tablespoons lemon juice

½ cup walnuts

½ cup mix of raisins and craisins

• Wash fresh cranberries, then place them into a cooking pot
• Add sugar
• Let cook on high while mixing sugar and cranberry combination until sugar dissolves

• Add cut apple pieces, orange juice and lemon juice
• Cook for 5-10 minutes while mixing
• Add raisins and craisins
• Cook for 5 minutes

Bon Appetit

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This year’s Thanksgiving made me truly realize how grateful I am for what I have been given. I worked many hours in retail the day before and the biggest shopping day of the year (Black Friday) the day after. Thanksgiving day was filled with cooking, watching the parade and being with family.

Many of us recently have been getting tangled up in the commercial aspect of the holiday and have lost meaning of what the holiday is truly for.

Gratitude.

Being present in all that you have and the family and friends you are surrounded by.

This year I also have decided to fully learn how to cook. Thankful I was given the best chef I know to be my mentor. My mother.

Here is a sweet potato casserole that would accompany any meal perfectly.

Ingredients:

3 cups cut sweet potato (about 5 large sweet potatoes)

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¾ stick of butter

½ cup evaporated milk

2 eggs

Topping Ingredients:

1 16 oz container of marshmallow fluff

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup butter

1 cup crushed nuts (walnuts or pecans)

• In a pot add peeled sweet potatoes cut in thirds, fill with enough water to cover potatoes
• Boil until sweet potatoes are soft and tender
• Drain the water
• Move the potatoes to a casserole dish
• Add all ingredients not including topping ingredients
• Mix together using a handheld mixer until smooth and combined
• Flatten the top
• Spread the marshmallow fluff on the entire top
• In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour, butter and nuts

• Crumble this onto the marshmallow fluff
• Then bake at 350 degree for 35 minutes. It is ready to be taken out when the marshmallow has risen and toasted

Bon Appetit 

My Secret Garden

succulent

(suhk-yuh-luh nt)

-plants having fleshy and juicy tissues to retain water in different climates

I am not a gardener, nor was I blessed with a green thumb. The first plant I called my own was a lucky bamboo tree from the flea market that I killed within a month. After researching succulents, I realized this was a great place to start with my gardening knowledge before venturing onto more difficult plants. Succulents basically take care of themselves and have apparent signs when they need nourishment. 

All succulents follow similar rules.

1)   Light

Bright indirect light is the most desired for these plants. Each species can tolerate different amounts of light so you will need to watch the leaves for indications of adequate light.

If they receive too much sunlight the leaves turn brown or white at the edges as the plant bleaches out and soft tissues are destroyed.

If they receive too little sunlight they will stretch with an elongated stem towards the light and the leaves become widely spaced out.

Rotating the plants every couple of weeks will help with the amount of sunlight the entire plant receives.

2)   Soil

Your local Home Depot or Lowes sells cactus/ succulent soil mixes. The soil allows the water to penetrate easily and drain away rapidly. The soil cannot remain wet for long periods of time or it can possibly drown your succulents. In plant vessels that do not have proper drainage (jars, large bowls or vases) make sure to fill the bottom with rocks or pebbles to help the water drain into the bottom.

3)   Water

Succulents love water. In the hotter months, make sure to water them once a week. In the colder months, you can switch it to every other week. Make sure to feel the soil before watering to make sure it is dry and then water the soil not the plant itself.

How to grow succulents:

• Purchase all materials.
• Fill rocks/pebbles in the bottom of improper drainage vessels.
• Fill succulent soil half way in each pot.
• Remove plant from plastic container and place into your soiled pot.
• Add more soil around to safely hug your succulent.
• You may also plant clippings of other species of succulents into your soil.
• Add pebbles or rocks on top if preferred.
• Water and let them soak the sunshine.