ELVIS PRESLEY'S SWEET POTATO PIE

Place well-scrubbed potatoes in a 3-quart saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until potatoes are very soft; drain. Peel when cool enough to handle. Combine potatoes, margarine, brown sugar and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Beat until very smooth; set aside. Beat eggs, 1 cup milk and vanilla together in a small bowl. Beat mixture into potatoes and mix well. Pour mixture into the pastry shell and drizzle remaining milk over top. Bake at 450 degrees F. (preheated) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F. and bake for 30 minutes longer or until filling is set. Makes 8 servings.

Elvis Aron Presley (1/8/35~8/16/77), who captured the hearts and souls of millions through his music and personality, was born in a small house in Tupelo, Mississippi. Sweet potatoes were one of his favorite foods.

RANDY'S SWEET CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE
(Lib Hatcher, Randy Travis' Manager/Wife, Nashville, TN)

Beat sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and melted margarine until smooth. Spoon mixture into greaed 2-quart baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and sprinkle mixture over top. Bake at 350 degrees F. (preheated) for 30 minutes. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Randy Travis is a self-avowed fitness freak — Running, weight lifting and healthy eating. But, Christmas is the one time of year when the low-fat, low-cholesterol and low-sugar recipes get tossed aside at the Travis house. “I’ll tell you, this sweet potato cassserole is NOT a health dish. It’s dessert! Oh, man, at Christmas time, I eat anything I want. Everyday! Guilt free! I don’t worry about it at all,” says Randy. Lib is a creative cook who loves laying out a feast on special occasions for her appreciative husband. “I worked in a kitchen for 3-1/2 years (referring to his pre-stardom days in Nashville Palace), I know how much work it is, so I try to talk her out of doing so much.”

Combine dry ingredients; set aside. Cream together margarine and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add sweet potatoes and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Add raisins and walnuts. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheet 2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees F. (preheated) for 15 to 20 minutes or until light brown. Cool for 5 minutes and remove. Makes 2-1/2 dozen. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories 124.32; Total Fat 6.17 g; Saturated Fat 2.33 g; Cholesterol 22.01 mg; Sodium 57.59 mg; Potassium 106.25 mg; Total Carbohydrate 15.78 g; Dietary Fiber 1.21 g; Protein 2.25 g; Vitamin A -- 1,898.82 IU; Vitamin C -- 2.03 mg; Calcium 25.39 mg; Iron .69 mg; Phosphorus 51.71 mg.

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