Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, and a Simple Sweet Potato Casserole

Make Ahead Mashed PotatoesSimple Sweet Potato Casserole Here are a couple of potato dishes I have used and reused for Thanksgiving . The beauty of these is that they can be assembled ahead of time freeing up some of your precious time on Turkey Day!!

Let's start with potatoes. I usually make a few different kinds. Different strokes for different folks you know. Anyhow, let's begin with these make ahead mashed potatoes from Pioneer Woman. These are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful and can be made 2 days in advance. I am sending this off to the new group Ive joined Foodie Fans of the Pioneer Woman, headed by Debby and Muneeba. Read about it here, there is also a giveaway for 2 of Ree's new cookbooks!!! Twice a month round up and who doesn't love PW and dare I say marlboro man.... oh my good lord in heaven..those wranglers.. Anyhow, these potatoes, original recipe here, are perfect for Thanksgiving. Begin by peeling and rinsing 5 pounds of russet or yukon gold potatoes cutting them in chunks cooking them in boiling water till easily pierced with a fork. Drain. Now mash them for a few minutes. Add cream cheese, butter, and half and half. Mash till creamyAdd freshly ground black pepper, and Lawry's seasoned salt. Make sure to taste and season to your family's liking. I found I had to add more pepper and more Lawry's than called for. Butter a medium baking pan and plop them in, smooth the top. Put more butter on topand now the best part, you can refrigerate up to 2 days... Take them out of fridge 2 hours before baking. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Covered or not, If you don't cover them you'll get a lovely crispy crust. These are fantastic and a real time saver for Turkey day!! I also make a simple sweet potato casserole. Recipe from a hospital community cookbook. Grab these,and combine in your kitchen aid, your drained yams, sugar, condensed milk, melted butter, 2 beaten eggs, and vanilla. Mix till smooth. Pour into a buttered dish. For the topping combine coconut, chopped pecans,brown sugar, and flour. Now mix in your melted butter. Sprinkle over sweet potatoes and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. It is sweet and yummy, special holiday treat. Best part about this one is that you can assemble this day before and store dry ingredient topping separate from sweet potatoesDay of Thanksgiving , all you have to do is combine topping with melted butter and bake. Talk to you soon. Lotsa more cooking to do.