Robin's Random Recipes

No picture, forgive me.

Even L devoured these, and she's the queen of "new is bad".

4 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 4 pieces
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 medium-small potatoes), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
pinch ground black pepper

1. Combine butter, cream, salt, sugar, and sweet potatoes in 3 to 4 quart saucepan; cook, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until potatoes fall apart when poked with fork, 35 to 45 minutes.
2. Off heat, mash sweet potatoes in saucepan with potato masher, or transfer mixture to hopper of food mill and process into warmed serving bowl. Stir in pepper; serve immediately.

I can't believe I've made it this long without posting a lasagna! Well, I can since it's one of the few things I make without a recipe.

1 lb sausage, browned
1 jar (yes, jar, I know) spaghetti sauce, I prefer Barilla's marinara
dry red wine

16 oz. ricotta
1 egg
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan (divided)
fresh chopped oregano & basil, if available
salt & pepper

1 lb mozzarella, shredded
1 lb Barilla no-boil lasagna noodles

You can use non-no-boil noodles, or other brands of no-boil, but I vastly prefer Barilla.

Preheat oven to 350F, spray 9x13 baking pan with Pam.

Drain the sausage, add the spaghetti sauce, and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add a healthy splash of wine and simmer for another five minutes. Set aside.

Combine ricotta, egg, half the parmesan, herbs, salt, and pepper.

Combine mozzarella & remaining parmesan.

Ladle a half cup of sauce into the pan, top with three noodles.
Top the noodles with half the ricotta mixture, 1/3 the sauce, and 1/3 the cheeses. Top with three more noodles, then repeat the last layer. Top with three more noodles, the remaining sauce, and the remaining cheese. Be sure the noodles are completely covered with sauce or you'll have unpleasantly crispy edges.

Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another ten minutes to brown. Let sit for ten minutes, and enjoy! We like it with garlic bread, red wine, and a salad.

This is from a guy named Lou (surprise!) on the Cook's Illustrated forums.

24 oz freshly ground chuck
4 strips of cooked bacon, crumbled
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. crumbled blue cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

Gently mix meat, salt, pepper, W. sauce in a bowl.

Make eight thin patties.

Evenly divide the toppings among four patties.

Add another plain patty on top of each and gently seal edges.

Grill to your content, I like 3-4 minutes per side.