Fruity Roasted Sweet Potatoes

With the addition of apples and cranberries, these sweet potatoes define comfort food.

Joan made as as side to go with an orange-glazed pork tenderloin.

Ingredients:
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 Granny-Smith apples, cored, peeled, and cubed
2 T. olive oil
1 c. fresh cranberries
1 T. honey
1 1/2 T. brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 1/2 T. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. sweetened flake coconut
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt

Directions:
Combine potatoes, apples and oil in a lightly greased 13”x9” baking pan. Mix well. Sprinkle cranberries on top of potatoes mixture and drizzle with honey. Bake, uncovered, at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake 45 to 50 minutes more, or until potatoes are tender. Mix together brown sugar and remaining ingredients. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle brown sugar mixture over top. Bake 5 more minutes. Serves 4 to 6.

Forentine Spaghetti Bake

Joan spiked our appetites with this belly-filling spaghetti dish.

Total time:
    Preparation:        30 min.
    Bake:                 1 hour + standing

Ingredients:

8 oz. uncooked spaghetti (Joan used Barilla gluten-free)
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 large onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 jar (24 oz.) pasta sauce
1 can (4 oz.) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cups (16 oz.) 4% cottage cheese
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage and onion, crumbling meat, until sausage is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in pasta sauce and mushrooms. Bring to a boil.Reduce heat; cover and cook until heated through, about 15 minutes.
2. Drain pasta. Combine egg with the next five ingredients. Spread 1 cup sausage mixture in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with spaghetti and remaining sausage mixture. Layer with egg mixture and mozzarella cheese.
3. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until lightly browned and heated through, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Makes: 9 servings