Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Very Tired Tuesday

The turkey is no more, we've pretty much recovered from the feast, the So You Think You Can Dance Canada marathon with the oldest girl is watched and finally deleted from my PVR, and the girl put on the bus yesterday and safely sitting in her class this morning. Putting her on the bus is always tiring as it involves about a 3 hour round trip car ride for us as she catches the bus in another city. Throw in an hour lunch and then waiting for her to board the bus and it's about a 5 hour trip for us. Long story short but us taking her to the other city saves her about 6-8 extra hours sitting sitting on the bus. Four buses a day leave from our city to her school city and not one is a straight through. Go figure.

And I am tired! Bone tired. I don't know, but this staying up until one in the morning 3 nights in a row is different at middle age than it was when I was twenty something. But I had to get in every second I could with Kay. That 4 days goes so fast!

And I did not take one single, solitary picture! Can you believe it? Maybe it had something to do with being a tad busy visiting and then cooking turkey and stuffing, the best yam casserole I have ever had, recipe to follow. But no picutre. Also on the menu was spaghetti squash, whipped potatoes, gravy, california mix veggies, pumpkin cheesecake, toffee apple tarts (another recipe I'll have to post), and ice cream cake I made myself on the spur of the moment. Today I'll be making cranberry walnut muffins with the leftover cranberry sauce and homemade turkey soup! Perfect to warm our insides as it snowed again this morning! What is up with the weather? Brrrr!

So before I fall asleep at the keyboard I'll give you this yam recipe because I know you over the border will be planning your Thanksgiving in the next while. And this got rave reviews from everybody at dinner. Even from the kids. Trust me on this one, 'k? I combined and changed up a few recipes I had on hand to make it so it's kinda, sorta my own. Anyway. Forgive my rambling. I stand by my excuse of lack of sleep.

Susanne's Maple Walnut Yams

-4 pounds yams (I used 3 very large yams)
-2 eggs
-1/4 cup maple syrup
-2 Tbsp. butter, melted
-1 tsp. salt
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1/8 tsp all-spice
-1/8 tsp nutmeg
-walnut halves (depending on your casserole dish about 1-2 cups)

-scant 1/4 cup maple syrup
-1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 375*F. (190*C)

Poke holes into the yams and cook them on high in the microwave until soft, approximately 20 minutes. You will have to check on them at the 10 minute mark as yams come in different shapes and sizes and microwaves vary in power. Let cool enough to handle, then strip the peels off, slice in chunks and place in a large mixing bowl. (I did this step the day before and then just refridgerated and finished the rest up the next day).

Beat with mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. With mixer on slow speed, add maple syrup, 2 Tbsp melted butter, salt and spices. Beat until light and fluffy.

Place into ungreased 3 qt. casserole dish. Arrange walnuts on top in a single layer. Whisk together remaining butter and maple syrup and drizzle over the walnuts.

Bake for 25 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Try not to dig into it before the guests arrive.

16 comments:

nikkipolani said...

Oh Susanne. I'm glad your time with family was fun but glad you will have some days to catch up on your sleep! Your recipe sounds more like dessert -- no complaints here :-)

Marg said...

You look like your are in recovery mode like myself...I'm feeling wasted and you know what? I hardly took any pictures of the events, only pictures of the scenery...Yikes, what will I have to share for Friday?

Barbara H. said...

Sounds like a wonderful time! I'm with you on the the nights, though -- fun, but tiring. Sometimes my son and new daughter-in-law will be here visiting and will stay late -- sometimes they'll ask if we want to watch a movie at 9 or 10 pm. I have to say no, not if we have to get up for anything the next day. Can't go on 4 hours sleep like I used to!!

Anonymous said...

No pictures? pffft...50 lashes with a Turkey feather. LOL Glad you had a good time with your family and hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Get some much needed rest my friend. :)

Karen said...

That casserole sounds incredible—I'll try it at Thanksgiving for sure. Did your daughter have her fall break from school? My 19 yo daughter was home for four days last weekend also. We made the most of it by eating at Chipotle (a Mexican place that has organic beef--she's allergic to rBGH) not once but twice! And raced go-karts and went shopping. Glad you had a great weekend too!

Karen

ellen b. said...

Oh girl I feel your exhaustion after such a late night working hard in the kitchen weekend! Yikes...
The recipe sounds really good. I'll have to make it for another meal other then Thanksgiving as my family rebels against any changes to the traditional yams they expect on that day :0)

Willow said...

I love time with family too. We were together the past TWO weekends, and guess what? No photos here, either.

I always figure that I will spend as much time as possible with my kids. I can sleep later. (And I do, for days, it seems.)

Carrie said...

Wanting to hop out and buy yams RIGHT NOW. =D That sounds fabulous. And I confess to not clueing in right away as to why you've already had a Thanksgiving dinner. ;)

Melli said...

Ohhhhhh my goodness! That recipe does sound divine... but I'm not sure how mashed (or whipped) sweet potatoes would go over on my Thanksgiving table... they are used to having candied yams - chunks. But I really wonder if I couldn't somehow MAKE this work! (maybe I could do a little dish of each - so they could TRY the new - but still have the OLD to fall back on!) LOL! My family takes their candied yams pretty seriously!

I'm sO glad you had a wonderful holiday - and so sorry that it's left you completely drained! Get some rest!

Beck said...

I hope you had some rest today!
I love sweet potatoes. LOVE. Seriously, I eat them at least twice a week!

Karen said...

Yams are my very favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe looks to die for. I know what you mean about late nights. Our baseball team made it to post season and they've had late games for the past week. DH and I stayed up until after midnight one night, watching a game. I don't bounce back like I used to the morning after!

Linda said...

You're making me long for Thanksgiving!
I'm so glad you had a lovely, exhausting time with your family. Precious memories in the making.
Now get a nice long rest.

Brenda said...

You probably forgot to take pictures because you were so fully engaged in the activities that surrounded you. I hope you recover quickly! Thanks for the recipe, it looks delicious!

Laura said...

So glad you had a great weekend! It does sound tiring though LOL. The toffee apple tarts sound yummo so can't wait for that recipe :)

Tina Leigh said...

I wish you had time to take pictures but I understand. Sounds like you had a great time!

Sarah said...

Heaven's to Betsy...those Yam's sound splendid!!!!!!