Sweet Potato Casserole

Although it's still 90 degrees in West Tennessee, September means fall and casserole season are right around the corner.  (Who am I kidding?  I make casseroles all year long, but more so in the fall and winter months.)  I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe yet!  I've been making it for over a decade and my family has been eating it at holiday get togethers for as long as I can remember.  As a child growing up in AL, my Aunt Cheryl brought it to our house every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love sweet potatoes, so what could be better than smothering them in butter, sugar, and pecans?

Ingredients:

5 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

1/2 cup sugar

1 stick butter

3 eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup milk

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup butter, room temp

1/2 cup flour

1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

1.  Mix first 6 ingredients in bowl and pour in 9x13 baking dish.

2.  Mix topping ingredients and cover sweet potato mixture.

3.  Bake at 350 degrees covered lightly with foil for 25 minutes.

4.  Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Butterfinger Cake

Grant and I first tasted this cake as newlyweds living in Louisville, KY.  We had three other couples who were sweet seminary friends and we hung out with them every weekend.  My friend Lindsay made this for one of our get togethers and emailed me the recipe when she got home per my request.  Since then I've tasted other versions made with chocolate cake and other varieties, but this one is my favorite, and it can be made ahead of time!

Ingredients:

1 box butter cake mix

1 small can sweetened condensed milk

1 jar caramel ice cream topping

4 Butterfingers candy bars, finely chopped

8 oz Cool Whip

Directions:

1.  Make cake by directions on box and bake in 9x13 dish.

2.  When cake is done and still hot, use a straw to poke several holes in cake.

3.  Mix milk and caramel topping in bowl and drizzle over cake.

4.  Sprinkle half of the candy bar crumbles over cake.

5.  Spread Cool Whip over cake.

6.  Sprinkle with remaining candy bar.

7.  Chill overnight or at least one hour.