Thanksgiving side dish that'll have them asking for a straw

Thanksgiving usually features the regulars, staring the turkey with co-stars like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing and sweet potatoes drenched in butter and topped with tons of marshmallows. This year, introduce a new co-star!

Brandied Sweet Potatoes

4 medium sweet potatoes
2/3 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 c. water
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 c. seedless raisins
1/4 c. cognac

Wash the sweet potatoes, but do not peel them. Boil in water to cover until barely soft, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and peel. Slice into a greased casserole. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring the brown sugar, water, butter and raisins to a boil. Add the cognac and pour the mixture over the sweet potatoes. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, basting several times with the syrup in the casserole.

Serves 4.

It's Seafood Festival time in Ruskin!

If you're in the mood for fresh seafood, live music, and a chance to get outside and enjoy yourself the 24th Annual Ruskin Seafood Festival is right around the corner. 

Heralded as the best event of the year, this SouthShore Chamber of Commerce event celebrates every ocean creature imaginable. 

Here are the other details:

Where: E. G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin

When: November 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; November 4, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cost: $5; children under 12, free and a $2 per carload entry fee into the park

Canning classes

Of all the things I make in my kitchen, canning my own tomato sauce is one of the most fun. It's just so cool to have control over what goes in it, to watch how it comes together and to end up with a whole bunch of delicious sauce that's all my own.

You can learn to do it, too. The Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service, 5339 C. R. 579, Seffner, will be hosting the following home-canning classes:

Canning Tomatoes and Pickles at Home from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 17, or 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Oct. 20

Canning Vegetables at Home, 12 to 3 p.m., Oct. 19, or 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Oct. 20

These classes will demonstrate canning procedures and the use of equipment, and answer all your canning questions. A $5 donation is requested.

To register, go to www.hillsboroughnutrition.ifas.ufl.edu/ or call (813) 744-5519.

Check out this great video on pressure canning by Mary Keith, who teaches the canning classes at the Hillsborough Extension Office:

SouthShore Sunday Market: It's baaack!

The SouthShore Sunday Market  at the corner of U.S. 41 and Shell Point Road in Ruskin, kicks off its second year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 30.

The open-air market has more than 40 vendors. Offering everything from fresh bread, herbs and local honey; a delicious assortment of baked goods; jewelry, produce, artisan cheeses and much more!

For information, call 813-732-5338 or 813-846-2000.

Meet Curtis Stone at the Rolling Pin

If you're one who swoons over adorable Aussie Chef Curtis Stone, why not catch him up close and personal? 

He will be at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon at 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 to present his new line of cookware, Curtis Stone Kitchen Solutions, meet guests and sign his current cookbook, "Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You In My Favourite Mood."

Cookbooks for the event may be pre-purchased on the Rolling Pin's website or in-store.

I've got to say, I'm giddy with anticipation.  Hope to see you there!