Happy Healthy Families

Are you cooking a holiday meal this year and need some quick, cheap delicious side dish recipes? Here are two easy to prepare dishes that you can make without needing a lot of time or money (in fact, you can save even more time using ready-cooked potatoes in the Sweet Potatoes Recipe!)

 Maple Sweet Potatoes (from TV chef, Sandra Lee)

1 can (29.oz.) cut sweet potatoes, drained (this will be enough for 4 servings)
2 Tbs. butter
2 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup toasted pecan pieces

Microwave the potatoes, drained, in a micro-wave safe bowl until hot (try cooking for 2 minutes at a time until potatoes are hot)

Drain any liquid in bowl. Add butter, spice, salt, pepper and maple syrup. Mash with fork and stir in pecan pieces, if desired.

And remember, sweet potatoes are a healthy choice as well as inexpensive, because they are full of antioxidants!!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce (from Top Chef's Tom Colicchio)

Bring 1 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in saucepan. Stir in 12-oz bag of fresh cranberries. Continue cooking over medium heat until cranberries burst.

Cool and enjoy!