Better Than Green Bean Casserole Green Beans

1 lb Fresh Green Beans, ends trimmed
4-6 slices of bacon
1/2 onion, diced
2 TB red wine vinegar (or more if you're like me and love vinegar. I usually do about 3-4 TB.)
1-2 TB sugar
Salt & pepper to taste

Boil the beans in lightly salted water for 20-25 minutes. While the beans are cooking, fry the bacon in a large skillet (not too crispy), reserve at least 2 TB of the bacon grease. Remove bacon and set aside to drain on paper towels. Allow the grease to cool a bit, then add the onion and cook until softened. Drain the green beans and add to the skillet. Chop the bacon and add to the beans and onions. Add vinegar and sugar. Cook for a 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Mmm, mmm, good.

Pink Salad

This is my great-grandmother's recipe. We've had this delicious, creamy fruit salad at every Thanksgiving and Christmas since FOREVER.

1 can cherry pie filling
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
1 can Eagle Brand Condensed milk
1 carton whipped topping
2 C mini marshmallows
1/2 - 1 C chopped pecans (optional)

Mix and refrigerate overnight.

You can thank me later.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ever since discovering this delectable, almost dessert-like sweet potato casserole, it is a must-have at every Thanksgiving and Christmas feast.

3 C Sweet potatoes (5-6 fresh cooked or canned)(Stay the hell away from canned, though)
1 C Sugar
2 eggs
1/2 stick butter, softened (don't bother with silly margarine)
1/2 C milk
1 TB vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Topping:
1 C brown sugar
1/3 C flour
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 C pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash the potatoes. Mix in remaining ingredients and beat well with a mixer. (There may be some bits of butter that don't get mixed in completely. It's okay. Don't panic. They'll melt during the baking process.) Pour into a greased casserole dish. Mix together the topping ingredients and spread over the sweet potato mixture. Bake 30-35 minutes.

I typically make two of these casseroles to feed 8-10 adults. These are just as tasty reheated with a turkey sandwich.