Yam Praline Casserole

Given to Candice by Janice

2 lbs. yams
Prick skins and place on a lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Remove skins and mash. Combine with:
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix well. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with topping and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Topping:
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. melted butter
1 c. chopped pecans
Combine and spread over yam casserole.

Candice's Black Beans

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
5-6 slices of bacon, chopped and browned
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. crushed garlic
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp. cayenne (add less if you don't like spicy)
1 c. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Combine in a crock pot on low for 3 hours.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

"SouthernLiving - easy entertaining"
8 medium-size baking potatoes (4 pounds)
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 (16 oz) container of sour cream
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cloves garlic minced - (we used 1/2 tsp minced garlic and thought it strong. Use 1/4tsp)
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
4 green onions, chopped
Bake potatoes. Peel potatoes, and coarsely mash pulp with a potato masher. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, sour cream, and next 7 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 13 X 9 baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese, bacon and green onions. Yield: 8 servings.

Killer Mashed Potatoes

6-7 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, chopped
Boil potatoes in a large pot of water for 25 minutes or until they can be easily crushed with a fork. Drain. Mash with a potato masher.
Add:
4-5 Tbsp. butter
3/4 c. cream
Salt to taste
Cream together with an electric hand mixer. Enjoy!!

Great Grandma Carver's Scalloped Potatoes

10-12 medium sized potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly
1 onion, diced small
Whipping cream or milk
Salt and Pepper
Flour

In a 9X13 pan layer potatoes, onions, salt and pepper, and sprinkle flour over entire layer. Repeat layering until potatoes are gone. Pour cream or milk into pan until it is just about to cover the top layer of potatoes. Place strips of bacon on the top layer of potatoes. Bake at 375 for about an 1 hour or until potatoes are soft. (Place 9X13 dish on a cookie sheet in oven for any spillage.) Let stand for 30 minutes. It will thicken as it cools.

Green Beans with Bacon and Onion

4 c. fresh green beans, ends removed
4 slices of bacon
1 small sweet onion, sliced
2 Tbsp. butter
salt and pepper

Fill a large shallow pan with an inch of water and bring to a boil. Add beans, reduce heat to medium high, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Stir once or twice. Saute onions in a little olive oil until translucent and crisp bacon in the microwave and crumble. Drain cooked beans. Combine all ingredients and toss.