Japanese Sweet Potato Casserole

We had to do some improvising this Thanksgiving.  My kids went on a field trip to pick Japanese sweet potatoes from a local farm...so I tried this recipe to replace Kurt's beloved marshmallow yams.  They were a hit. 

Ingredients

• 2 very large Japanese sweet potatoes
• 4 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 egg yolks
• sesame seeds for garnish

Cooking Directions

1. Peel potatoes and chop into small pieces of roughly the same size.
2. Boil potatoes until tender (approximately 15 to 20 minutes.) Drain and pour into a large mixing bowl.
3. Mash with butter, sugar, cinnamon, and milk while still warm. Allow to cool, then mix in one of the egg yolks.
4. Pour into a 9 inch round or square baking dish and use the back of a spoon to make a design of your choosing on the surface.
5. Break apart the remaining egg yolk with a fork and brush the entire yolk over the surface of the casserole being careful not to flatten the design. Sprinkle on sesame seeds if desired.
6. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees to heat it through then put under the broiler for up to 10 minutes to brown the top.

LESLIE'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream*
2 tsp soda
1 tsp vanila


Mix together with beaters then mix in 1 cup boiling water. Pour into greased cake pan and cook at 350 until done (fore white cake omit cocoa)

*add 2 TBSP vinegar to milk to substitute sour cream

GRANDMA KEYSER'S CHOW MEIN

Ingredients: amounts to taste
Pork - cubed
Celery - sliced on a slant 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick
Onion - slice 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick
Sprouts
Water Chestnuts
Chow mien noodles

Cook pork in fry pan cover with 2-4 cups of water and simmer until tender (plan about an hour) add water as needed.

In a large pot place onions and cover with water, bring to a boil. Add celery and boil for another minute.  Drain vegetables, reserve water. Add sprouts and Water Chestnuts

Pour water from meat to another pan, add corn starch to thicken adding  vegetable water as needed. Pour gravy into vegetables, add soy sauce to flavor. Stir gently to mix careful not to break sprouts.

Serve over chow mein noodles

KAUAI BANANA BREAD

Recipe is from a true Hawaiian princess (and ward cookbook)

Cream: 2 cups sugar
             1 cup butter or margarine

Add:     6 very ripe mashed bananas
             4 well-beaten eggs


Mix:     2 1/2 cups plus 1 TBS flour
             1 tsp. salt
             2 tsp. baking soda

 Blend wet and dry ingredients. Do not over-mix.  Pour into 2 (one pound) loaf pans and 1 small pan.  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. 

Gyudon

I took this from an About.com recipe and changed it a little to taste.
Simmered beef is served on top of steamed rice. It's one of the most popular rice bowl dishes (donburi) in Japan.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
4 cups steamed Japanese rice
1 lb thinly sliced beef loin, cut into 2 inch lengths
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 1/3 cup dashi soup
1 cup water
4 Tbsp soy sauce
1Tbsp fresh ginger juice (grate and filter by wringing the mush through a paper towel)
1 crushed garlic clove
3 Tbsp mirin
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp sake (optional)
benishoga (pickled red ginger) for topping *optional
Preparation:
Put dashi, soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sake in a large pan and bring to a boil on medium heat. Add onion slices and simmer for a few minutes or until softened. Add beef in the pan and simmer for a few minutes. Serve hot steamed rice into individual deep rice bowls. Put simmered beef on top of the rice. Top with some benishoga if you would like.

Fresh Peach Salsa

2 TB fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper
2 peaches (or nectarines)
2 medium tomatoes
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 TBS  Extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar

Chop cilantro and place in medium bowl. Cut jalapeno pepper in half (remove seeds); chop pepper finely and add to cilantro.  Cut peaches into small pieces, add to peppers. Cut tomatoes into small pieces; add to peaches. Add onions; gently stir in vinegar and oil.

* I added mango
* Left out jalapeno

Recipe comes from grocery store, they serve it with a pork tenderloin, we have had is with fish and skirt steak so far. It tastes great and adds a nice color to the plate.

SNICKERDOODLES

1/2 cup butter or margarine softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, sugar and eggs.  Blend in flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt.  shape by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.

Mix 2 TBS sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon; roll cookie balls in mixture.  Place on ungreased banking sheet.  Bake at 400 for 8 to 10 minutes.