Thankful For The Simple Gifts

"May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize, and may your

Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!"

PEACE LOVE & JOY TO ALL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving

The beautiful Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts" as used in Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring".

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'Tis gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
Till by turning, turning we come round right

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

May all your roads be safe ones and may

you have loving hands to hold

What Yam I Gonna Do?

From now until Thanksgiving, I'll be passing along some favorite recipes. Some will be traditional and others ones I've tried out as something a little different each year. Up First: Three recipes for Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Cajun Yams

1 can yams or 2 to 3 boiled fresh yams mashed with a fork
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/3 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 stick melted butter
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine mashed yams with all ingredients, except topping, until evenly blended. Pour into greased dish and pat down. Prepare topping by combining ingredients until well blended. Spread topping over yam mixture keeping the topping about 1/2 inch from the sides to prevent sticking Bake 40 minutes covered at 350F. Serves 8.

Jamaican Yams

2 large sweet potatoes
5 small apples
1 cup brown sugar
2 shots dark rum
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 cup applebutter

Bake sweet potatoes at 350 F for an hour.

Meanwhile, simmer all other ingredients to liquid. Peal and slice potatoes and apples. Layer both in baking dish, spooning liquid ingredients over each layer.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (or until tender), basting with liquid from bottom of dish every 10 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes, to allow potatoes to absorb juices.

Some Like It Hot & Easy

Two cans of sweet potatoes drained
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Brandy
1 tablespoon pepper flakes
1/2 cube butter

Melt butter, add brandy, brown sugar & pepper flakes. Stir until blended. Pour over sweet potatoes and heat through in either the oven or microwave.