SWEET BANANA MASH

Hi, It's still cold down here, in the 40's at night (well that"s cold for us at least) So I'm thinking about my side dishes for Thanksgiving. One will be Sweet Banana Mash, This recipe was given to me from one of my friends who is a chef at one of Orlando's top restaurants. I made it for the first time last year and it was a big hit the children liked it also. So I think this is a keeper for this year.

SWEET BANANA MASH
10 to 12 servings.
5 pounds sweet potatoes
4 bananas
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 pint heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
Peel and dice sweet potatoes. Place in Pot. cover with water and simmer until tender. While potatoes are cooking preheat oven to 350F Place unpeeled bananas on cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. (Hint: Put foil on baking sheet first for easy clean up) .
Drain cooked potatoes Place in large
mixing bowl. Remove peel from baked bananas. Add to bowl along with sugar, butter and heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
Allisons Kitchen

CRANBERRY ORANGE CHUTNEY

Well it's getting cold down here in Fl again tonight, so I have my fireplace lit and I can't believe it but my favorite radio station is playing Christmas Carols already, Did I miss Thanksgiving? Ha Ha
oh well I guess I'll go with the flow and start posting some Holiday Recipes. My mom would make Cranberry Orange Chutney this smells so good and she used to do it on top of the stove but it works great in the Microwave as well. This tart and tangy chutney goes well with turkey,chicken,or ham and is quick and easy.

CRANBERRY ORANGE CHUTNEY:

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 large orange, sectioned
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup golden raisins
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
1 teaspoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In 1 1/2 quart microwave-safe bowl, combine all ingredients, cover with waxed paper. Microwave on HIGH for 6 1/2 to 9 minutes or until cranberries pop open, stirring twice during cooking. Let stand until thickened and cool. Store in refrigerator. makes 2 cups.
This also makes a pretty hostess gift. just pack into a pretty glass jar.
Well I think I'll put on a pot of chicken soup it's still going to be cold tomorrow
Enjoy the Cranberry Orange Chutney
Allison
Allisons Kitchen

THE DOCKSIDE LOUNGE

The Dockside Lounge located at 35 Sombrero Blvd Marathon Fl. 305-743-0000.
Is another one of our favorite hangouts. You just can't beat the view and the fantastic sunsets
this is a popular hangouts for the locals. So you see some pretty colorful characters hanging out here.
They have to have the worlds smallest kitchen but they really put the food out fast. Good happy hour specials and they have live music every night.
Although one of the nights we we're visiting they had some youth bands playing and we could not hear ourselves think!
So we had to leave but we enjoyed a drink as we walked along the boat slips looking out into Boot Key.
If you ever get a chance to go to the Fl Keys stop in Marathon and check it out.

BOILED DINNER

It's fall and are weather in Fl. has gotten a bit cooler so I've started to think about soups and stews, it actually got down to the 40's last week. So I put on a pot of Cabbage and Kielbasa. My mother and Grandmother made this a lot when I was growing up and the smell of the onions and cabbage took me back to visiting my grandparents and walking in from a cold day of playing outside. You will find that a lot of my recipes don't have exact measurements most of my family recipes are like this, a pinch of this and a dash of that. I try to be exact as possible, and when your cooking you may like to add a bit more or less for your taste. This is one of those recipes. you really can't screw it up who cares if you add 3 carrots instead of 4 no one! So just enjoy and never apologize if you mess something up, I can't tell you how many times I've turned a pie into a cobbler and scooped it into a pretty glass and topped it with whip cream!

Boiled Dinner:

1 Head of Cabbage cut in wedges
4 or 5 Carrots cleaned and cut into large chunks or in half.
2 or 3 onions cut into quarters
About 5 med potatoes cut in half
1 clove of garlic
1 package of Kielbasa cut in large chunks
1 Tab chicken base ( I like to use the paste but bouillon cubes or grains are okay)

In a large pot with a lid put your potatoes in first then carrots and onions garlic then add your sausage and put the cabbage on top take your soup base and add it to 1 cup hot water to mix.
add this to your pot then add enough water to come up half way. and some salt and pepper(watch the salt because the chicken base has salt in it) cover and simmer for about a hour.Test the potatoes to see if they are done, taste the broth to adjust your seasoning.
Serve in large bowls with crusty fresh bread and butter to mop up every bit of the broth!
Enjoy
Allison
Allisons kitchen