Intuitive Value: Sweet Potato Time!

Introduction

Introduction: Mapping Out a Plan for the Rest of My Life and Enjoying the Journey

My Golden Years are an extension of the life I have lived up to retirement which began on December 1, 2011. I have organized this blog to include the top ten relevant topics shown below in the right side column in General Topics. Just click on one and you will see all that I have written on that topic. Click on the Most Current tab for chronological order of all entries.

I have addressed each topic in no particular order other than what is currently on my mind on the day I am posting. I started each topic by describing where I was when I began this blog and then exploring the possibilities of progression and any goals that I would like to meet. After that, I write about the path to reach that goal as it happens. Sometimes I just write about what is happening now.

I welcome any comments and questions either on this blog or email as I travel these paths and hope to share my growth with interested persons who may find some common elements in their own path to the rest of their life. I hope to use my skills as an appraiser for nearly 30 years to continue to observe different perspectives on a subject and reconcile into a conclusion that is of value to me. Please join me whenever you like. Email notice of new posts is no longer available so just bookmark the address.

Of most importance to me is the confidence developed in my intuitive skills over the years and it is that part of my character I am trusting to define value in my life. I believe change can be good and I can be enriched by believing in my true self using my intuition. The analytical part of my life no longer has a financial grip and I can let go of what absolutely made sense at the time in favor of what feels right now. I have done a lot of work since this blog began in 2011 and I hope you will join me as I explore this approach in My Golden Years.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Sweet Potato Time!

Sweet Potato Pie

3 large eggs
2 cups cooked, peeled, mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 medium)
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups light cream
4 tablespoons melted, unsalted butter
1/2 cup pecan halves for top (optional)
whipped cream for top (optional)
1 deep dish pie shell

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Put all ingredients, in order, into blender.

Blend on low until well mixed; about 30 seconds, then high for 5 seconds more.

Pour into pie crust.

Top with pecans.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until filling is set - top of the tip of a knife comes clean when inserted into center).

Cool completely before serving.

Top with whipped cream. This is a low sugar recipe allowing the natural sweetness of the sweet potato to come through. If you like it sweeter, just double the sugar and/or the whipped cream.

So many Sweet Potato Pies! You can see what goes in one and how to make and bake one yourself.

Why so many? Where did they all come from? Who gets to eat them?

Hickory County Master Gardener Service Project - Providing fresh garden produce for senior citizens about 50 feet from the kitchen back door of the McCarty Senior Center, Wheatland, Missouri.

Had a good crowd of members digging sweet potatoes.

After a half day digging, the sweet potatoes were placed on tables in the greenhouse to dry and cure. After about 3 days, they were sorted by size separating the very small ones and the cut ones. They were weighed and hauled into the kitchen of the McCarty Senior Center. There were about 1000 pounds that were placed on open racks for storage. About 300 pounds were very small or cut in the digging process. Those will be used as soon as possible. Of those cut sweet potatoes, I took about 3 pounds to make pies. It takes 4-5 days for the sweet potatoes to cure which allows the starch to turn into sugar and makes them oh so sweet! The sweet potato is highly nutritious too. For more than you ever wanted to know about the simple Sweet Potato: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64

Here we have Chef Mark who has lots of hired help on the days the Master Gardeners harvest from the garden to clean and prepare for delicious meals. This is the Hickory County Master Gardeners Annual Fundraiser Dinner. There was roast beef, fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, and salad. A beautiful quilt was raffled that was made by 3 Master Gardeners along with a large variety of door prizes such as new garden tools, potted plants, decorated gourds, center pieces, PIES, and much more!