Sweet Potato Bread!

 

When Fall arrives and it actually starts to cool down enough to enjoy baking again, I love to make breads!   This "Sweet Potato Bread" is one that turns out really tasty and it's good for several days if it lasts that long!  

This bread smells heavenly while baking!   I love it right out of the oven, sliced and serve with butter or a cream cheese spread.  This is also really good the next day, sliced and toasted with butter and honey on it or cream cheese!   

This recipe makes two nice loaves of bread so you can gift one or freeze one!  It's a nice treat to share with family or neighbors!

Here is what you will need for this:

1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups sugar
3  1/2 cups all purpose flour
1  1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (can use canned or cooked fresh)
1 cup nuts, chopped  ( walnuts or pecans)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the oil, eggs, water and sugar,  Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.   Add the mashed sweet potatoes and the wet mixture (eggs, oil, water, sugar).  Blend just until the dry ingredients are wet.  Stir in the chopped nuts.

Spray  2   9" x 5" loaf pans well with nonstick baking spray. I like Baker's Joy.  Divide the mixture evenly between the two pans.   Bake for 1 hour.   A pick inserted into the middle should come out clean. 

Turn it out after it cools slightly! 

Slice and serve!!! 

It's delicious!!! 

Peppermint Bark!

This "Peppermint Bark" is one of my son's favorites during the holidays and I really like it also!!!  This is probably one of the easiest homemade candies you can make!!!  It's a great for gift giving!!!  Here is all you need:

1 lb. white candy coating, chopped

1 Tbs. butter

1 Tbs. vegetable or canola oil

1/2  tsp. peppermint oil
1 cup crushed hard peppermint candy ( you can use candy canes or hard candies)

Melt the bark in the microwave using 1 minute intervals and stirring after each minute.  When it's melted stir in the butter, oil and peppermint oil.   Add the crushed candy.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil and pour the mixture over it evenly.  Refrigerate until firm, about two or three hours, then break into pieces.   Store in a airtight container.

Easy Peasy Butter Toffee!!!

I love butter toffee candy and if you do also, you won't believe how easy it is to make!  It's just a few simple ingredients and very little time!!!  This would be great for gift giving!!!  The trickiest part of this is not burning the toffee mixture!!! 

 Here is what you will need:

2 cups butter (do not use margarine)

2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring

1  1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts

2 cups milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate  chips

Cover a large sheet pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper.  Sprinkle evenly with the chopped nuts.

In a heavy, large sauce pan melt the butter, sugar and salt together over medium heat.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly.  After it comes to a boil turn the heat down just a little so it doesn't burn and cook, stirring constantly until it turns the color of peanut butter.  If you are using a candy thermometer it should reach 285 degrees.  Once it thickens and turns the color of peanut butter, remove from heat and add the vanilla flavoring.   This will burn quickly at this stage so be sure to get it off the heat now.   Pour mixture over the chopped nuts and spread it out evenly.  It might seem thin, but that is ok.

Let it sit for a minute or two and then sprinkle the chocolate chips even over the top.

 Let the chips set for about 5 minutes to get soft.  

When they are melted, spread the chips like icing with knife.   Then place in the refrigerator and chill for about an hour or two.  Then peel it off the paper and break into pieces.  Store in an airtight container!

It doesn't get much easier or more delicious than this!!!