Hi, I'm Macy Fisher, the Mifflin County Dairy Princess.
My week has been hectic. The beginning of the week was kind of slow except for a few tests at school, which I did really well on. Then over the weekend, mom decided that we were going to replace our living room floor. We went from having tan carpet to laminate wood tiles. I like it a lot better than the carpet; however I did not like putting all of the tiles down. All weekend I was sliding around on the floor, squaring up all the tiles, and slapping them down.
I also had to write a college essay and work on my make believe business for my grad project class. Then on Monday, I went to Star Country. After I visited the radio station, I had to go straight home to work on everything I needed for Tuesday.
On Tuesday I had a presentation at school that I had to dress up for and it was also the open house at school for the FFA chapter. I had to make refreshments for the open house and learn my part for the presentation.
At the open house, our chapter pulled the winning ticket for our pig raffle. The first place person won one half of a pig, second one quarter of a pig, and third a smoked ham. We also presented multiple members with awards for what they have done over the summer.
Today is kind of like my down day for the week. I think tomorrow maybe mom and I will start to put up our fall decorations. I am really getting into the fall spirit. My sister and I decided that we are going to go trick or treating this year. It may sound silly that an 18- and 16-year-old would want to go trick or treating, but we thought it would be fun. When I was little I dressed up as the Dairy Princess for one Halloween. Amanda said that this year she should dress up as the Dairy Princess and I can be demoted for one night and dress up as a Dairy Maid. I'm not sure what I will dress up as, but it will be good.
One of my favorite fall ingredients to cook with is sweet potatoes. My dad doesn't like them very much, though. He says that he doesn't like his sweets mixed with his savories.
I like them though, and decided that this week I would find some of my favorite recipes that include sweet potatoes. These sweet potatoes are going to be played up a bit with dairy products instead of mini marshmallows. You can have these delicious dishes without the scare of the sugars from the marshmallows.
Mashed Potato
Layer Bake
4 large white potatoes, peeled, chopped and cooked
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled, chopped and cooked
1 tub (8-oz.) chive and onion cream cheese spread, divided
1/2 cup sour cream, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place potatoes in separate bowls. Add 1/2 each of the cream cheese and sour cream to each bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mash until creamy. Stir 1/2 the parmesan cheese into the white potatoes. Stir half the cheddar cheese into the sweet potatoes. Alternately layer 1/2 each of the white potato and sweet potato mixtures in 2-quart casserole dish. Repeat layers. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; bake 5 minutes or until melted.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
7 tablespoons cold butter, divided
3 tablespoons shortening
1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
6 tablespoon milk
In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Cut in 4 tablespoons butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine sweet potatoes and milk; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 10 times. Part or roll out to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with a floured 2 1/2 -inch biscuit cutter. Place 2-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Melt, remaining butter, brush over dough. Bake at 420 for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from pans to wire racks.
Serve warm.
