Yams

Peel and boil with salt until soft
Mash
Butter to taste (6 yams ~½ stick)
Brown sugar to taste (½ cup)
1/2 cup Walnuts or pecans
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice

Just before, 1 layer of big marsh mellows (warning they expand)
Bake 150° to 200° until melted

½ yam per person is plenty

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni

• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 3 cups milk

• 1/4 cup butter

• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (or ritz crackers)

• 1 pinch paprika

Directions

Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain. In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well. Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

Cut up leftover hotdogs for extra credit.

Marie's Chili

Ingredients

• 1 8oz can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 28oz cans stewed tomatoes, crushed
• 2 yellow onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2-3 jalapeños diced
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 4 15oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 5 pork chops (~2 lbs)

Directions

Cube and fry pork chops in garlic with olive oil until brownish. Add remaining ingredients into a big pot with kidney beans. Let simmer for a couple hours.

Brown Butter and Sea Salt Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• sea salt for sprinkling (preferably fleur de sel)
• optional: chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter until it starts to caramelize. It should smell nutty and you will see brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Be careful not to burn the butter - in which case you will have to start over. Pour browned butter into a medium bowl and stir in brown sugar and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to butter mixture until combined. Let cool to room temperature. Using a tablespoon or small scoop, drop dough onto cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt and lightly press into top of cookies. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Don't overcook, or cookies will be too dry and crumbly.

Flour-less Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chocolate chips (we like semisweet)

Directions:
Mix together and scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.