Yam Casserole recipe for holiday meals

by T.C. Savage

Well, readers, you can't have missed that a big holiday is on the horizon! Thanksgiving is upon us with all its wonderful feasting opportunities. I am sharing a favorite family recipe with you for the holidays and hope you will give it a try.

I use a mix of 3 baking apples and use both yams and sweet potatoes to equal 2 lbs. and then we have a nice blend of flavors. It is sweet enough that I never put marshmallows on the top, but you can do so if you want. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Poll Results: Thanksgiving Holiday

We were curious how our readers and viewers felt about Thanksgiving this year. So we came up with a few questions to get a feel for how people choose to celebrate the holiday.

We also wanted to know, given the struggling economy, if the overall mood of the holiday would be any different this year. Do we have more to be thankful for, or less? Have our priorities changed in any way?

Here are the results.

Q: What do you like most about Thanksgiving?
spending time with family 53%
delicious food 38%
watching football 6%
having the day off 3%

2010 Thanksgiving Grocery Guide

Thanksgiving dinner is a rare opportunity to join with family and show appreciation for all the positive aspects of life.

Living in the Willamette Valley, we have a lot to be thankful for. The air is clean, water is plentiful, and farmland is fertile. Agriculture is very important here. We have some of the best crops in the world, and some of the most talented and knowledgeable farmers.

November 25th is not only a time to give thanks, it's a time to support the farmers and artisans who provide wholesome, delicious foods we rely on everyday.

This year's Grocery Guide is comprised of Mid-Valley ranchers, farmers, artisans, and grocers, who offer superior products. We also have a section for those in need of food assistance.

Note: This is not a complete list. We know that. If we left anything out, please leave a comment below.

Baked Goods

Baklava Central
503-378-7704
Salem, OR
Products: breads, pastries, desserts, catering, yogurt, special diet foods

Cascade Baking Co.
503-589-0491
229 State St. Salem, OR
Products: sourdough breads, holiday breads, pastries, rolls

The Bread Board
503-787-5000
404 N. Main Street, Falls City, OR
Products: sourdough breads, scones

Dairy Products

McK Ranch
503-623-6214
3415 Ballard Rd. Dallas, OR
Products: fresh milk

Willamette Valley Cheese Co.
503-399-9806
Salem, OR
Products: artisan cheeses

Food Assistance

Marion-Polk Food Share
503-581-3855
Salem, OR

Fruits & Vegetables

Minto Island Growers 
503-799-6967
3394 Brown Island Rd. S, Salem, OR
Products: organic vegetables, fruit

Nikko Farm
503-749-2724
6334 Shaw Hwy. SE, Aumsville, OR
Products: Asian vegetables, mushrooms

Teal Creek Farm
503-623-6605
18360 Bridgeport Rd. Dallas, OR
Products: organic vegetables, fruit

General Grocery & Gourmet Products

E.Z. Orchards Farm Market
503-393-1506
5400 Hazel Green Rd. Salem, OR
Products: fruit, vegetables, nuts, dairy, baking mixes, jams, jellies

LifeSource Natural Foods
503-361-7973
2649 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR
Products: organic produce, bulk foods, meat, turkey, dairy, baked goods

Salem Public Market
503-623-6605
1240 Rural Ave. Salem, OR
Products: produce, honey, meat, eggs, baked goods, gourmet soups, olive oil, mushrooms

Victory Estates
503-393-2128
Keizer, OR
Products: Oregon-grown olives, olive oils

W.C. Kester Apiaries
503-623-5411
Rickreall, OR
Products: Willamette Valley honey, beeswax candles

Meat & Eggs

Fitts Seafood
503-364-6724
1555 12th St. SE, Salem, OR
Products: fresh seafood, free-range meats, turkey, local wine, cheese, condiments

Good Earth Farm
503-508-2803
5141 Vitae Springs Rd. Salem, OR
Products: free-range eggs

McK Ranch
503-623-6214
3415 Ballard Rd. Dallas, OR
Products: grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb, eggs

Rain Shadow El Rancho
541-259-5006
Scio, OR
Products: pastured buffalo, duck, rabbit, turkey, chicken, eggs, custom poultry processing

Rocking K Farm
971-275-4987
33364 S Dryland Rd. Molalla, OR
Products: free-range eggs, chicken

The Chick Inn
503-917-9968
14580 Airlie Rd. Monmouth, OR
Products: free-range eggs

Turkey

Fitts Seafood
503-364-6724
1555 12th St. SE, Salem, OR
Products: fresh seafood, free-range meats, turkey, local wine, cheese, condiments

LifeSource Natural Foods
503-361-7973
2649 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR
Products: organic produce, bulk foods, meat, turkey, dairy, baked goods

Rain Shadow El Rancho
541-259-5006
Scio, OR
Products: pastured buffalo, duck, rabbit, turkey, chicken, eggs, custom poultry processing

Vote in our online poll.

With Thanksgiving coming in just a few short weeks, we were curious how our readers and viewers felt about it. We came up with a few questions to get a feel for how people choose to celebrate the holiday.

We'd also like to know, given the struggling economy, if the overall mood of the holiday will be any different this year. Do we have more to be thankful for, or less? Have our priorities changed in any way?

Please take a moment to participate in our online poll. Vote now!

Turkeys are still available from Abundant Life Farm.

Abundant Life Farm will have whole turkeys available for Thanksgiving.

After the untimely deaths of Scott and Marylin Jondle, who owned and operated the farm, family and friends have worked to sell the remaining livestock and meat products. They plan to butcher 150 turkeys during the first week of November, and have them ready for sale by mid-month. Processed birds will weigh between 12 and 24 pounds.

The turkeys are being raised on pasture, without added hormones or antibiotics.

Place Your Order

Contact: Beth Beach
Cell: 503-917-1476
Farm Phone: 503-623-6378
Pick-Up Date: November 15th and 16th, 7am to 11pm
Location: Abundant Life Farm, 16055 Gilliam Rd. Dallas, OR
Price: $3.75/lb.

Note: Beef, chicken, pork, and lamb may also be available.