You know how everyone has a dream for something out of their reach. Or supposedly out of their reach. Well, one of mine, for many years, was that I wanted to be in the Pillsbury Bake Off. (Another is that the South Pole Santa series will take off but that's for another column.)

The Pillsbury Bake Off for those not familiar with it, used to be an annual event Pillsbury would put on. People from across the country could submit a recipe and fifty winners would be selected to compete for a prize of $1 million dollars! A woman in our county actually won one year and when the local paper ran an interview with her, it set my dream into place. The whole idea was magical! It combined creativity with adventuring and maybe landing a million dollars.

But, every year the contest came - and went. I dreamed on it but never took any action. I mean I am seriously not a baker. It takes precision and patience and I lack both.

Still, I kept dreaming until finally I got annoyed with myself and decided to take action and enter. It was the very last day entries could be submitted, and I spent the afternoon scheming up appetizers from the listed product list and trying them out. I came up with one, typed it up, sent it off and forgot about it. No expectation to be selected - I mean, again, I'm not a baker - but pleased with myself that I took action.

I didn't hear back from them.

Until I did.  

Six months later, we were in the middle of the English Channel on a cruise that took us from England to Boston (this is the trip I got to go to Normandy per my previous blog post) when I got a call. From Pillsbury!! They had reached out to me through my personal and work numbers and our office assistant told them how to get hold of me! What a call that was. I was in! 

It was the best call ever. 

I didn't officially win but I felt like a winner and boy did I have fun! I met contestants there from all over the country that have become good friends (several have helped me with South Pole Santa). Pillsbury gave each of us a microwave and flew us all to Florida to compete. I was on TV, did radio interviews and in the local paper - my five minutes of fame. 

I share all of this with you because, well, it is one of my favorite stories ever, but more to the point, my appetizer entry is a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving celebrations. I entered it as Sweet Potato Surprise but Pillsbury gave it the far more practical name of Pecan-Sweet Potato Appetizer.

 .My nephews request it every year. Maybe your family will love them too.

Oh Oh Oh! - Jingle

Pecan Sweet Potato Appetizers

1 small sweet potato

2 T sugar

1 T water

1/4 t ground red pepper

1/2 c chopped pecans

3/4 c thinly red onion 

2 T apricot preserves

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls

1/2 c crumbled blue cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Pierce potato and place in microwave 3 to 4 minutes until tender. Let stand 10 minutes and cut crosswise into 8 round pieces. (aout 1/2 inch each)

Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat sugar, water and red pepper to boiling over medium heat. Gently stir pecans until coated. Spread pecans on cookie sheet and bake 8 to 20 minutes in oven. Remove from oven and let cool.

Next, in 1-=inch skillet, heat oil, onion and preserves over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes until onion is tender. Remove from heat.

Unroll crescent dough, separate into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal and then cut each rectangle in half crosswise and press each piece into a 4-inch square.

On each dough square, place 1 potato slice, 1 rounded t onion mixture, 2 t blue cheese and 1 T pecans. Bring up four corners of dough over filling to center and twist at top. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack, cool five minutes. Serve and enjoy the smiles!