In just a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating my favorite holiday — my favorite because of the food!
I’m rounding up some recipes from the Christofferson Family Cookbook. Let me know if you try them!

Sweet Potato Casserole
3 cup sweet potatoes, drained and mashed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
Mix potatoes, sugar, vanilla and melted cool butter and eggs. Beat until fluffy. Place in a buttered casserole dish. Mix topping to crumb stage and sprinkle on top. Bake 30 minutes at 350º degrees.
Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
4 tsp. cinnamon
½ to 1 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup butter/not melted
Mix well together with fingers until crumbly. Place on top of sweet potatoes.

Pie Crust
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2-⅔ cup flour
1 tsp. salt
7-8 Tbsp. cold water
Measure dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the whole mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Spoon in the cold water, a little at a time, mixing dough together with a fork. Finish forming dough into a ball with your hands. Separate into two equally-sized bowls and roll out the crusts between two pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate dough before rolling out if it is too soft and warm. Makes two crusts for a 10-inch pie.
When baking the pie, brush the top crust with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar to make the crust look shiny.
Mulled Cider
2 qts. apple juice
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. whole cloves
1 tsp. ginger powder
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. nutmeg
Garnish:
Cinnamon sticks
2 oranges, sliced
2 lemons, sliced
Mix all ingredients in crock pot and heat. You can let it stay warm there for a while. Strain to serve. May be garnished with fresh orange or lemon slice, or a cinnamon stick in each mug.
Ellie’s Chex Mix
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
¾ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
3 cups corn Chex
3 cups rice Chex
3 cups wheat Chex
2 cups cheerios
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-sized pretzels
Heat oven to 250˚. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Gradually stir the cereal and nuts until evenly coated. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container. Makes 12 cups Chex Mix.