By Family Features



For many home cooks, the choice of a main dish is simple — but choosing all the other dishes isn’t always easy. Do you serve the same side dishes you always do, or try something different? What appetizers should you make — and can you find recipes that aren’t complicated and time consuming?

If choosing holiday starters and sides is leav­ing you stressed, relax. These recipes will let you serve up some traditional flavors with a fun twist — and they won’t keep you trapped in the kitchen.

Put a fun — and delicious — spin on the holiday favorites of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Bob Evans Mashtinis were created by the chefs at Bob Evans as part of the Mad About Mashed recipe collection to spice up your enter­taining options this holiday. They start with Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes (found in your grocer’s refrigerated section), so a lot of the work has already been done for you. Served up in a martini glass, they’ll be the talk of the party.

- The Sweet Tater Twist Mashtini gives you all your favorite sweet potato casserole flavors and adds a little smoky bacon and sweet maple syrup.

To get the full Mad About Mashtini recipe collection, visit http://mashed.bobevans.com.

You’ll enjoy cooking for the holidays when you choose easy starters and sides like these. Find more holiday recipes at www.bobevans.com.

Sweet Tater Twist Mashtini

Prep time: 8 minutes

Yields: 4 Mashtinis

    1/2     package (12 ounces) Bob Evans
            Original Mashed     Potatoes

    1/2     package (12 ounces) Bob Evans                 Mashed     Sweet Potatoes

    1/4     cup mini marshmallows

    1/4     cup honey roasted pecans

    1/4     cup cooked bacon, crumbled

    1/4     cup maple syrup, warm

Prepare sweet potatoes by following the recommended microwave instructions on package.

Place about 1/3 cup mashed potatoes in bottom of each martini glass.

Layer about 1/3 cup (1/8 package)sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes.

Repeat layers, using about 1/3 cup mashed potatoes, then 1/3 cup sweet potatoes.

Top with 1 tablespoon each marshmallows, pecans and crumbled bacon.

Drizzle with 1 tablespoon warmed maple syrup.