mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog, written by Kirk and a few friends. Today Cathy is talking about cooking.
Hi. I hope everyone is getting ready to have a day or two off from work next week and planning on a little feast with family and friends. It is Friday, when I try to show an inexpensive meal for two, however I figure I'll just show some easy(two or three ingredient) and tasty side dishes that you can prepare for home or to take to someone's home as your contribution to the meal. 
Yep, you're seeing it correctly. Sweet potatoes, yams, whichever you prefer- on sale this week and next. Get about as many as will fit in the casserole dish you are using
Then there is that can…of frosting. Coconut pecan frosting. It has all the ingredients you'll need. Really
Chop the tubers into about the same size pieces. DON'T peel.
As always, put root vegetables into cold water and then turn on the heat.
Boil, put a fork in to see if tender.
Cool. Don't rinse.
See how easily the peels come off…
Put the cooked and peeled potatoes/yams in the casserole dish, top with the frosting and into the oven it goes! (I just toss things in the oven while the turkey is cooking)
Take it out when the frosting is kind of melted. It is already cooked and can be served and eaten hot, warm or cooled (like, um at a tailgate…)
Next two ingredient side dish: Bacon and Brussels sprouts. Also on sale this week.
There are no measurements you know. You can make this for yourself for lunch, with two slices of bacon and five sprouts or the pound of bacon and a casserole dish of sprouts.
Chop and cook the bacon until crispy. *Leave* the grease in the pan and remove the bacon.
Peel any bad outside leaves from the sprouts, chop the stems off the bottom, cut the sprouts in half. Place centers down into hot bacon grease first.
The steam from the grease will help cook. Remove when tender and bright green color.
Mix bacon with Brussels sprouts.
Serve.
OK. Next ingredients. Fresh cranberries (12 ounce bags are how they are sold.
You also will need one cup of sugar.
One cup of water.
Put the sugar and water in a pan. Heat until boiling.
You can see the sugar has melted and what is now formed is called "Simple Syrup"
Add the cranberries. Bring back to a boil.
Then lower the heat and simmer for about ten minutes. The cranberries will pop.
Let cool to room temperature. Then you can refrigerate. The cranberry skins have helped form a pectin gel and it is done. Fresh and simple.
Really lazy dessert. You all know I don't crave sweets, right?
These pie crusts come like this.
Unroll, cut out ( I used one of my thick walled coffee glasses)
This is pie crust, so is not at all sweet, but will come out flaky. I sprinkled some sugar on top before baking.
Put in the oven and take out when the bottom is light brown, like those two upside down in this photo. You can see the cookies puffed up and are basically flaky layers. If they are not sweet enough for you, grab some of that cranberry sauce and dollop on top….
Finally, my mom's "Hot dish".
Frozen potatoes, cream of chicken soup and cheese.
Let the potatoes thaw. Put a layer onto the bottom of a casserole dish, half the can of soup, some grated cheese. Do this again with another layer. Top with a layer of potatoes and cheese and maybe some pats of butter.
Put into the hot oven. The potatoes are cooked so this is another more or less heat through item.
This is a good side dish, or if you add leftover chicken, a good casserole.
I hope you've enjoyed this episode of a $5 Friday and that maybe you'll try these simple tasty sides for one of your meals.
Have a good weekend (and week, if you are taking a little vacation)!