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These gingered sweet potato pancakes are quite capable of carrying the meal for a vegetarian dinner. I only added slices of ham to the plate because we had them leftover. Naturally sweet applesauce sets off the salty-earthy flavors. A food processor's shredding disk makes quick work of the potatoes you'll use in this dish. Go ahead and chop the onions with it too for tear-free preparation. GINGERED SWEET POTATO PANCAKES 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded 1 medium potato, peeled and shredded 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 3 teaspoons Canola oil, divided In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients; toss to mix well. In a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, heat 1 teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls into skillet; press lightly to flatten. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining

Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper Thank goodness it's only a limited edition. Dr Pepper debuted a cherry chocolate version of its diet cola for the holidays. It's supposed to tasted like chocolate-covered cherries, which is why I keep typing the chocolate before the cherry. I tried one bottle of Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper and I don't care to have more. I didn't think it was disgusting, like the checker who rang me out did. I just couldn't taste any chocolate flavor. All I could taste was fakey, mothbally flavor characteristic of all diet sodas. My husband, however, had the best description of Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper after just one drink. He said Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper tastes like a stale Tootsie Roll. To which I add only: Avoid. Pizza Hut's Pizza Mia I'll be sad when Pizza Hut's limited-edition Pizza Mia reaches the end of its run. It is really yummy. The Pizza Mia crust is hand-tossed and lightly topped with a sweeter, less herby tom

When I was a kid, my mom would get me to eat my Cream of Wheat by making a face in it with m&ms. Now I do that with Bella. She calls it "funny face" cereal. Here is what my family looks like as m&ms. (Sizes are not to scale -- Bella's tall and getting taller but she has yet to pass me up. Maybe in kindergarten.) A more recent family food tradition is making this cinnamon candy-coated popcorn for Valentine's Day. It's also yummy at Christmas, but I usually don't make it for all the other traditional holiday goodies. CINNAMON POPCORN 32 cups plain popped popcorn (If you're using an air popper, this is 1 1/4 cups unpopped kernels.) 1 cup margarine or butter 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 9-ounce package Red Hot candies Grease with shortening or cooking spray three 13-by-9-inch pans. Put the popped popcorn in the pans. Melt margarine, syrup and candy together; bring to a boil (the candies will sort of clump at first, but they do eventually dissolve.) Bo

This sun-dried tomato bread is dense and flavorful. It bakes up as a tall, golden, pretty loaf. For lunch today, I sliced two pieces and made a grilled cheese sandwich with fontina cheese. WOW! The recipe originally came from a Junior League cookbook but the Miami Herald adapted and reprinted it. SUN-DRIED TOMATO BREAD 1 bunch green onions 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 5 ounces provolone cheese, grated 2 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature 2 tablespoons sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 9-inch loaf pan or three 5-by-3-by-2-inch pans. Slice the green onions thin, and include 1 inch of the green part. Drain and chop the tomatoes, reserving 2 tablespoons of the oil. Heat the tomato oil in a small saucepan