What day is this?

[wesleysgirl]

Actually, I know it's Monday, which is saying something. Something impressive. No, really.

I gave blood today. Unlike the previous time, I didn't feel faint when I sat up, so yay me! The boy and I also made trips to the craft store and the natural foods store -- we didn't buy too terribly much at either store, but I now feel that my holiday shopping for the boy and Mr WG is done. We still have a few things to buy and get done between now and Mr WG's vacation, but I'm less insane than I usually am at this time of year.

Argh! I have to write fic for Secret Slasha! I haven't even started yet, and I have no ideas. Eep.

ETA - I need a recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole. Ideally I'd like one that starts with fresh sweet potatoes, includes brown sugar, and is topped with mini marshmallows. I have never made this before, so I'm hoping someone with experience will share a recipe that's not too difficult to follow and results in much yumminess.

Comments

[ely-jan.livejournal.com]

Sweet Potato Praline Souffle

6 pounds sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon cane syrup
1/3 cup non-fat sweetened condensed milk
2 sticks butter, softened
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 orange, juiced
1 lemon, zested
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon sugar
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins
2 cups pecans, chopped
8 ounces (about 6) large pralines, broken
Italian Meringue, recipe above

Bake sweet potatoes in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour until fork tender. Remove peels. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine potatoes, cane syrup, condensed milk, butter and brown sugar. Add the orange juice, lemon zest and juice. Blend thoroughly with the paddle attachment until smooth. Sprinkle in the cinnamon sugar, nutmeg, raisins and pecans. Finally, remove the bowl from the mixer and add the pralines; fold gently through the mixture.
Transfer mixture to a 2 1/2 quart glass baking dish. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Top with meringue. Return to oven and broil 7 minutes until the meringue is golden brown.


You can substitute marshmallows for the meringue, but the meringue is really quite easy and lovely!

Italian Meringue

1 cup superfine sugar
1/3 cup water
5 egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

In a small pot over low heat, combine sugar and water. Swirl the pot over the burner to dissolve the sugar completely. Do not stir. Increase the heat and boil to soft-ball stage (235 to 240 degrees). Use a candy thermometer for accuracy. Wash down the inside wall of the pot with a wet pastry brush. This will help prevent sugar crystals from forming around the sides, falling in and causing a chain reaction. Prepare your meringue.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the eggs whites on low speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar, increase the speed to medium, and beat until soft peaks form.

With the mixer running, pour the hot sugar syrup in a thin stream over fluffed egg whites. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and glossy. Spread the meringue over a hot cake or pie, and bake as directed.

For Meringue Cloud Cookies: Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Dollop spoonfuls of meringue onto baking pans, alternatively you may use a pastry bag with a star tip. Bake for 2 hours until crisp. Turn off the oven and allow meringues to cool and completely dry out.

Ahhh...I so love the Food Network! *drools*

*hugs tight*

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Oooooh thank you. That sounds unbelievably good. :-)