Submitted by:  Eric Rhodes

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we all gather around with our friends and family at the dinner table.  As the years have gone by, my siblings and I find ourselves sitting around our parents' table but all of us now prepare a few of the holiday dishes to help my mother out a bit.  Here are a few of the recipes I prepare every year.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Homemade Corn Bread
Ingredients:
     1 1/2 cups flour
     1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
     1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
     3 teaspoons baking powder
     3/4 teaspoon salt
     2 eggs
     3 tablespoons oil
     1 1/2 cups milk

Directions:
     1.)  Mix the flour and cornmeal together in a bowl, and when well mixed begin adding each additional ingredient and mixing one at a time until all ingredients are added.
     2.)  Pour the mixture into greased muffin pans or square baking dish.
     3.)  Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
     4 large sweet potatoes
     1/2 stick butter
     1/4 cup milk
     2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
     1 teaspoon salt
     1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
     Carefully peel sweet potatoes and boil until they are softened (approximately 5 minutes).  Let the sweet potatoes cool, then mash.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Candied Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
     3 large sweet potatoes
     1 tablespoon vegetable oil
     6 teaspoons brown sugar
     Small marshmallows
     Salt and butter to taste

Directions:
     1.)  Wash the sweet potatoes and pat dry.  Slice them through the middle (lengthwise) and rub them with oil.  Lay the sweet potatoes in a casserole dish, sliced side up.
     2.)  Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes until they are firm but not completely baked.  Top with a little butter, brown sugar, marshmallows, and salt to taste.  Then bake for another 20 minutes.

Herbed Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
     4 medium potatoes
     1 tablespoon milk
     1 tablespoon cream
     2 tablespoons butter
     Salt and pepper to taste
     1/2 teaspoon each: Thyme, Rosemary, Sage

Directions:
     Boil the potatoes until they are soft (approximately 5 minutes).  Drain well, peel and mash.  Add milk, cream, and butter.  Salt and pepper to taste and stir well, and then stir in herbs.

Wild Rice Stuffing
Ingredients:
     1 onion, diced
     1 cup mushrooms, chopped
     4 tablespoons olive oil
     3 cups wild rice, cooked
     1 teaspoon thyme
     1 teaspoon marjoram
     Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
     1.)  Saute the onions and mushrooms in oil.  Stir in the wild rice and add the spices, salt and pepper to taste.  Loosely stuff the cavity of the turkey.  Rub the turkey with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.