holiday traditions exchange

I finally mailed off my holiday traditions

swap package today...

...sorry, Susan, it's a few days late!

The little package I mailed off included:
3 delectable recipes
1 homemade card
1 Ray Charles: The Spirit of Christmas CD
1 Doll Baby milk chocolate and caramel bar
1 copy of Carve (a local ski mag)
*you guessed it, skiing is my fav holiday tradition :)
1 homemade (mostly by my mom) Christmas ornament


baaaah!











My mom sewed his body out of black felt. Then, we wrapped him up in fuzzy yarn and tied a bell around his neck with jute cord.

the recipes

sweet potatoes
**serves 10-12, 375 degrees F oven

4 lbs. sweet potatoes (6-8 med.)
1/2 c. oj
4 oz. mascarpone
1 orange (for zesting)

1. Bake sweet potatoes for ~1 hour or until a fork can be inserted easily. Remove peels.
2. In a food processor, combine cooked pulp, oj & mascarpone. Puree just until mixed.
3. Heat through in a baking dish for ~15 minutes.
4. Garnish with orange zest.

mixed greens salad

mixed greens
pomegranate seeds
avocado, chopped
bacon, crumbled
red onion, chopped
* quantities are up to you :)

dressing:
3/4 c. oil (1/2 veg & 1/2 olive)
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
pinch of pepper

banana nut muffins
**12-15 muffins, 400 degrees F oven

2 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1 egg, beaten
1/3 c. mashed bananas
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1. Grease muffin pan or use liners.
2. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder & salt into a medium bowl. Make a well.
3. Mix milk, egg, oil, banana & walnuts in a small bowl. Pour into well.
4. Mix until just moistened. Spoon into muffin cups (3/4 full).
5. Bake for 15 minutes.