It is with great faith that I say that this is the only way to eat sweet potatoes at Christmas time!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:
4 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons dry sherry
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated if possible

1. Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C.

2. With an electric mixer whip all the ingredients (except walnuts and nutmeg) until light.

3. Stir in walnuts and put into a buttered casserole dish.  Spread evenly and great fresh nutmeg over the top.

4. Bake 45 minutes or until golden.

Last week was Thanksgiving, and the turkey was great.  I want to share a secret for making sure your turkey is not dried out.  Brining is an age old tenderizing technique that I have recently discovered.  My evangelical zeal for this is a combination of altruism, control-freakery, and enthusiastic faith.


Spiced and Super Juicy Roast Turkey

Ingredients:

6 quarts water
1 large orange or 2 smaller, quartered
1 cup kosher salt of 1/2 cup table salt
3 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 bouquet garni
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
4 star anise
2 tablespoons white mustard seeds
1 cup sugar
2 unpeeled onions, quartered
1 x 2-3 inch piece unpeeled ginger, cut into 6 slices
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
stalks from medium bunch of parsley (optional)
12 lb turkey

For the Basting Glaze:
1/3 cup goose fat or butter
3 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Put the water into your largest cooking pot or bucket.  Squeeze the juice from the orange quarters into the water before you put the peels in.  Then added all the other ingredients, stirring to combine the salt, sugar, syrup, and honey.

2. Remove any string from the turkey, shake it free, remove the giblets, if not already done, and put them in the refrigerator.  Put the bird in the liquid, topping up with more water if it is not completely submerged.  Keep covered in a cold place, even outside overnight or for a day or two before you cook it.  When you are ready to cook it take it out of its liquid and wipe it dry with paper towels.  Preheat the oven to 400F.

3. Melt the goose fat (or butter) and maple syrup together slowly over a low heat.  Paint the turkey with the glaze before roasting in the oven, and baste periodically through the cooking time.  Roast for 2 1/2 hours.

4. When you think it's ready, pierce the turkey with the point of a sharp knife where the body meets the leg, and if the juices run clear, it's cooked.  If it is still pink, cook it until the the juices run clear, or use an instant-read thermometer.  Take the turkey out of the oven, and let it sit for 20-40 minutes, or longer if you like, before you carve it.

For me, this recipe is probably the ultimate Christmas cookie without the fuss of decorating.  Unlike the last post, it is not healthy at all but the contrasts in the tastes make up for that.

With Christmas season upon us, it is time to start baking!  For me, this recipe is the beginning of baking season.  It is the healthiest banana bread recipe I know of.  You try.

SUNFLOWER BANANA BREAD

Ingredients:
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup sunflower kernels

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Grease a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.

2. Combine honey, vegetable oil and eggs in a large bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer set at medium speed until blended.

3. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium sized bowl.  Add this to the honey mixture alternately with bananas, beating well after each addition.

4.  Reserve 2 teaspoons of sunflower kernels.  Add the remaining sunflower kernels to the batter and mix well.  Spoon into the prepared loaf pan.

5.  Sprinkle the top of the loaf with the reserved sunflower kernels.  Bake until browned, about 50 to 60 minutes.  It is done with a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.