Colcannon [Sweet] Potatoes

Both Hali and Mom have been telling me about colcannon potatoes. How is the world have I never heard of this recipe? My image of myself as the cabbage queen is now completely dashed and I am scrambling for new cabbage-licious recipes.

Since I had 3 pounds of sweet potatoes that have been looking at me I used them instead of regular potatoes. It is absolutely F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C. The best thing about it is that it is a simple, earthy, delicious, wholesome meal.

Colcannon Potatoes

3 lbs potatoes or sweet potatoes, cubed and steamed or boiled

1/2 head cabbage, finely chopped

4 strips bacon

Cook the bacon and crumble it on a large frying pan. Throw in the cabbage and cook the cabbage until it wilts. Toss it together.

Mash the potatoes in a ricer or with a potato masher. Throw in some milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Put the potatoes into the cabbage and mix it together.

Enjoy the simple life while savoring this delightful meal.

Pumpkin Bread

As a kid I would look forward to dessert. When dinner was finally over, out would come the brownies and to my horror nuts would be laced throughout the chocolaty goodness. I vowed that no matter what I would never, ever put nuts in desserts. Because that is what old people do. And even now I don't want to admit that I have crossed that barrier that separates the young from the old. So no nuts will ever grace my sweet breads or my desserts.

This bread was calling to me for two weeks before I got around to making it. When it finally would not be ignored any longer, the ingredients came together into a dense, moist loaf of pumpkin goodness.

I brought one loaf to a friend with a new baby and when he picked up the bag his eyebrows shot up and he said, "Whoa! This is heavy!" Yep, it is.

Pumpkin Bread

5 small or 4 larger bananas, mashed

1-28 oz can or 2 15-oz cans pumpkin

3/4 c brown sugar (or leave it out if you want)

1/2c honey

1/2 c oil

4 eggs

5 c whole wheat pastry flour (or whatever flour)

2 t baking powder

2 t baking soda

1 t salt if

4 t pumpkin pie spice

2 t cinnamon

up to 3 C any other extras such as flax seeds, wheat germ, bran flakes, or cranberries.

Mix everything in a large bowl, stir to combine everything, then fill 2 greased, waxed paper lined loaf pans. Bake at 325 for 1 hour.