Kitchen Krafts

By Corliss Clayton

Sweet Potatoes and Pecans

6 sweet potatoes or yams

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 teaspoon salt

cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1. Boil the sweet potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes. Let cool, then peel and slice.

2. Layer the sweet potato slices in a shallow, greased baking dish. Top each layer with the pecans, brown sugar, salt, and a dash of cinnamon, then dot with butter. Sprinkle 1/4 cup water over the top.

3. Bake uncovered in a 375° F (190° C) oven for 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Crust

1 box yellow cake mix (reserve 1 cup for topping)

1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 egg, beaten

Filling

1 can (29 ounces/812 g) pumpkin

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 can (12 ounces/336 g) evaporated milk

Topping

1 cup yellow cake mix

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1. Mix the crust ingredients together. Sprinkle the mixture on the bottom of a rectangular cake pan.

2. Stir the filling ingredients together until well blended, then spread over the crust.

3. Mix the topping ingredients together, using your fingers if necessary to blend in the margarine. Sprinkle on top of the filling.

4. Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 60–70 minutes. (A knife inserted into the filling should come out clean when the cake is done.) Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Cranberry Salad

2 packages (3 ounces/84 g each) raspberry gelatin

1 can (20 ounces/560 g) crushed pineapple, drained

1 can (16 ounces/448 g) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 cup chopped walnuts

grated rind of one orange

whipped cream or frozen topping

1. Make the gelatin according to the package directions. Refrigerate it until partially set.

2. When partially set, add the rest of the ingredients to the gelatin, and mix. Return the salad to the refrigerator until it is fully set. Serve it with whipped cream or frozen topping.

Illustrated by Taia Morley