Hannah's Mock Pumpkin Pie

For some reason we were blessed with a surplus of 29 oz cans of yams in syrup.  Someone gave us a box of them last year.  Don't get me wrong.  I am a huge sweet potato and yam fan.  I generally eat them baked or in soups though.  So I was left with wondering what to do with all these canned yams in syrup. 

I gave my 11 year old daughter, Hannah, the idea and she went with it.  She wanted Pumpkin Pie, and it turned out amazing.  

2 eggs

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (29 oz) yams in syrup

1 can evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 450°

Drain the yams; discard the syrup.  Mash the yams until smooth.  Mix in the flour, salt, sugar, and spices.  Mix in the slightly beaten egg, then slowly add the evaporated milk, mixing until well blended. Pour the batter into the unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 450° for 10 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 325° and continue baking pie for an additional 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the mixture comes out clean.

Roasted Garlic

There is nothing better, and more practical, than roasted garlic.  It's easy, and it's healthy. 

Peel 4 bulbs of garlic

Put in an oven proof dish (I use a coffee cup) that is large enough to hold them all, but not too large

Pour extra virgin olive oil over garlic until just covering

Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the oil 

Bake 1 hour at 350°

When the garlic is tender and brown it is done.  If it over cooks, it will get hard.  

Easy Crockpot Oatmeal

Some mornings it's nice to wake up and breakfast is already done. This is another great crockpot meal that is incredibly fast to prepare, and is really yummy.


Crockpot Oatmeal

4 cups oats (not quick cooking kind)
10 cups water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Combine in crockpot.
Cover with lid.
Turn to warm for 8 hours.

It's a full crockpot of oatmeal. ;)


Add raisins, cranberries, fruit, peanut butter, or whatever strikes your fancy before serving.

No Bake Bar Cookies

No Bake Bar Cookies

2 cups sugar
4 Tb cocoa
1 stick butter (unsalted)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups oats (rolled)

In heavy saucepan combine sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk. Bring to rolling boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter. Stir quickly until combined. Add oats. Mix well, working fast before mixture cools.

Lightly butter/oil 9x13 pan. Spread and press cookie mixture into pan. Let cool completely. Cut into squares.

Crockpot Teriyaki Beef

We have a big family. This is the amount for 10 people, but we generally eat seconds and there's a little left over. In other words, this is about 15-20 servings (since my little ones get small servings).


Crockpot Teriyaki Beef

5 lbs Beef chuck roast; cubed inch pieces
1/2 a #10 can of Pineapple Tidbits with juice
1 - 12 oz jar Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste & Glaze
1 cup Brown sugar
6 cloves garlic; minced
2 cups Beef Broth
1 Tb sriracha sauce
1 tsp Sesame Chili Oil (found in Asian markets)
1/8 cup soy sauce
1-2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (Lea & Perrins)


Cube beef into inch pieces. Add to 6 Qt crockpot.

Put pineapple over top of beef chunks.

Mix all other ingredients. Pour over beef and pineapple. Cover with lid. Turn to high. Cook 4-6 hours, until beef is tender.

Serve over rice.

Italian Vegetable Soup

All I can say is this soup is a winner. It took no more than 30 minutes from serving the family to the crockpot being empty. I'd call that a good meal.



Italian Vegetable Soup

1 lb Italian sausage
1 onion; chopped
3 potatoes; diced
2 carrots; sliced
4 stalks celery; chopped
1 can red kidney beans (if using dried - 2 cups soaked and boiled)
1 can garbanzo beans (if using dried - 2 cups soaked and boiled)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
6 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt & pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp Mrs Dash
1/2 tsp each dried Basil, Thyme, Parsley
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (Lea & Perrins)
5 Beef bullion cubes

Cook meat and onions together until meat is no longer pink and onions are translucent.

Prepare all vegetables.

Add everything to the crockpot. Mix well (especially the tomato paste).

Set crockpot to high. Cook 4-6 hours until all vegetables are done.

Season additionally if needed.

Vegetable Bake

There are so many variations to this recipe. Basically, throw in whatever vegetables you have lying around. There is no set amount to it. It's not a 'pretty' dish, but it tastes good.



I normally use:
2 lbs Brussels sprouts (stalk end cut off and Brussels sprout cut in half)
3 carrots
4 large or 6 small potatoes
1 lb mushrooms
1 lb green beans (fresh or frozen; not canned)
2-3 sweet potatoes
1 rutabaga
1 large onion
3 stalks celery

I may not put all of these in at once. It's pretty close though.

Preheat your oven to 425°

Chop the vegetables into 1 inch chunks. Put into a large roasting pan (something you roast your turkey in).


You can easily add meat to this. Cube cooked chicken, beef, pork, sausage, etc... Add to finished vegetables and mix well.